Beyond Emotional Storytelling: Why Bauchi Needs A New Direction

Barrister Mukhtar Muhammad Mk

The recent article by Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar  titled “Beyond Roads and Buildings: The Real Legacy of His Excellency Mohammed A. Abubakar, SAN” was emotionally written and clearly intended to humanize the former governor. Nobody disputes that Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar may possess personal kindness, compassion, or moments of empathy. Those are admirable human qualities.

However, governance is bigger than personal generosity, private acts of kindness, or emotional recollections from close associates. Leadership must ultimately be measured by the collective condition of the people, the visible impact of government policies, and the ability to move a state forward socially and economically.

The people of Bauchi State cannot continue recycling old political faces based solely on sentimental narratives while the state struggles with poverty, unemployment, poor infrastructure, insecurity, and limited opportunities for young people.

The article attempts to shift attention from governance failures by romanticizing personal morality and isolated charitable acts. But governance is not philanthropy. Paying school fees for individuals, settling private debts, or assisting loyal aides with medical bills, while commendable, cannot replace the responsibility of building strong institutions and delivering widespread development for millions of citizens.

No serious democracy evaluates a governor based on how many aides he privately helped. Citizens evaluate leaders based on how effectively public resources were managed and whether governance improved the lives of ordinary people across the state.

Even the writer himself indirectly admitted the limitations of the administration when he stated that the former governor “didn’t build a thousand bridges” and “couldn’t fix everything.” That acknowledgment alone reflects the frustration many citizens felt during the administration.

Furthermore, the attempt to portray the refusal to manipulate the 2019 election as extraordinary leadership raises another important question: should obeying democratic principles now be treated as a rare favor deserving eternal political reward? Respecting the will of the people is not an act of heroism; it is the minimum expectation in a democracy.

For the record, many of us once supported Barrister Mohammed A. Abubakar because, at that time, we genuinely believed he was a better alternative compared to the options available. Political support is not blind loyalty; it is based on expectations, performance, and evolving realities. Unfortunately, the events of the last eight years have exposed the deep limitations of the old political order in Bauchi State.

Today, the political reality has changed. Citizens are more politically conscious. Young people are demanding results. Communities are demanding competent leadership, economic opportunities, infrastructure, accountability, and a government that genuinely understands modern governance.

With the emergence of the ADC coalition as a credible political force, it has become increasingly clear that Bauchi State now has a better and more reliable alternative. Rather than attempting another return to power through the same exhausted political structures, Barrister Mohammed A. Abubakar should respectfully remain in his Fortuna Chambers and observe how actual governance is performed by credible, competent, and experienced leaders who understand the present realities and future demands of Bauchi State.

The truth remains that Bauchi people today are tired of endless internal battles within the APC between different camps struggling for control and succession. One faction attacks M.A. Abubakar. Another defends him emotionally. Others quietly undermine each other. The APC has become consumed by its own contradictions and rivalries while the aspirations of ordinary citizens remain secondary.

At this critical point in Bauchi’s political history, the people deserve more than recycled political arguments between old power blocs. They deserve a fresh, credible, and united alternative capable of responding to the genuine yearnings and aspirations of the state.

That is precisely why the emerging ADC coalition represents hope for many citizens across Bauchi State.

The ADC coalition is increasingly becoming the meeting point for progressive minds, young people, professionals, grassroots mobilizers, and citizens who are tired of the endless cycle of political quarrels within the APC and PDP. It offers a platform built not around personality cults or factional supremacy, but around the urgent need to reposition Bauchi State for inclusive development and responsible governance.

Most importantly, the ADC candidate has already begun to provide the kind of political balance that resonates with the expectations of the people, balancing competence with accessibility, experience with youthful energy, and leadership with genuine connection to grassroots realities.

At a time when citizens are yearning for unity, stability, development, and purposeful governance, the ADC coalition is presenting itself as a reliable and dependable alternative capable of uniting different interests under a common vision for Bauchi State.

The future of Bauchi cannot be built on nostalgia alone. Emotional stories about past leaders may inspire sympathy, but they cannot substitute for a forward-looking agenda capable of addressing today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges.

Bauchi people deserve leadership that moves beyond defending the past and focuses on building the future.

As 2027 approaches, citizens must carefully examine the deep divisions, contradictions, and exhaustion within the APC and ask themselves an honest question: can a party constantly at war with itself truly deliver stability and progress for Bauchi State?

For many people across the state, the answer is becoming increasingly clear.

The time has come to move beyond the politics of recycled factions and embrace a coalition that reflects the hopes, aspirations, and future of Bauchi State. That alternative is steadily emerging through the ADC coalition.

Barrister Mukhtar Muhammad is Lawyer, Writes from Bauchi.