By Honorable Hajiya Bilkisu Ilyasu Bogoro
Mohammed Aliyu Pate, still grappling with the enormous responsibility of delivering accessible primary healthcare to Nigerians and addressing the ongoing crisis in the health sector, has now set his sights on the Bauchi 2027 gubernatorial race in his typical faux pas fashion.
His recent TVC interview exposed him as a politician suffering from delusions of grandeur, an inflated sense of self-importance, and, above all, opportunism. While no one begrudges his ambition, it must be pursued within the bounds of reason. Unfortunately, those advising him have made a grave error in judgment.
Pate’s current strategy in Bauchi State revolves around selectively distributing procurement contracts, drawing from government appropriations and grants under his ministry. His apparent objective is to enrich local politicians who, in turn, would support his candidacy. However, this patronage has largely bypassed the party’s leadership and broader membership, breeding discontent within the ranks.
The party’s structure in Bauchi depends on donations and welfare initiatives—areas where Pate has consistently fallen short. Rather than strengthening the party through strategic resource mobilization, his only notable effort was a meeting with political stakeholders a few months ago. Beyond that, he has presented no clear roadmap for uniting and fortifying the APC in the state.
His so-called attempt at unifying the APC in Bauchi is a task far beyond his reach. Being an appointee of the ruling party does not automatically make him a party leader in the state, and his claims of fostering unity remain hollow at best.
The truth is, Pate—a registered party member under the Kukadi/Gundari Ward—is not a formidable candidate and stands little chance in a free and fair election. Despite his bold claims on national television about having a stake in the party, the reality paints a different picture. His influence has been so minimal that his only notable political maneuver was the appointment of Deputy Chairman Alhaji Saleh Danburam just three days ago.
It is worth recalling that after being absent from the political scene for four years, Pate resurfaced in 2023 as one of several uninspiring APC governorship aspirants. In that primary election, Sadique Abubakar secured 370 votes (36.24%), Haliru Dauda Jika garnered 278 votes (27.23%), and Nura Manu Soro received 269 votes (26.35%). Meanwhile, the so-called political gladiator, Mohammed Ali Pate, failed to secure a single vote—ending with a humiliating total of zero (0.00%).
So, what has changed since then? Absolutely nothing.
Hajiya Bilkisu İlyasu Bagoro is the Co-convener of the Bauchi Yau Da Gobe Solidarity Group
