There are clear signs that some senior members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State are working hard to secure the state’s cabinet position. The State is experiencing significant lobbying, with many powerful politicians examining their ties. In order to help him lead the government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must choose a minister from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Although two ministers came from Bauchi under the immediately preceding president, Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu will decide whether to offer Bauchi two berths. Sen. Abubakar Markafi, a former chairman of the Education Trust Fund, who serves as the APC’s national internal auditor, is one of those being considered for the role. and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees TETFund, Dr. Musa Babayo.
Others include Mallam Isa Yuguda, a former governor of Bauchi state, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar Retr, Capt. Bala Jibrin, a party’s first internal auditor, and Capt. According to information obtained by DAILY POST, several stakeholders have been pleading with the president to nominate Abubakar as a minister. Abubakar is the party’s nominee for governor in the 2023 elections in Bauchi. The action is intended to make amends for his efforts on behalf of the party in the state, which resulted in him casting more than 25% of the votes for Tinubu in the elections of 2023.
Though Abubakar is contesting the result of the election, it’s believed the national leadership might be hatching a plan B in case he loses again at the tribunal.
“It’s at the discretion of Mr. President to appoint anybody but Abubakar is not just a member but a governorship candidate of the party and it’s a clarion call that will not affect his fortune in the ongoing litigations in court having worked so hard for the party at the 2023 elections” a source told DAILY POST.
Babayo, who oversaw planning, research, and strategy for the Tinubu/Shettima campaign, is also said to be in a strong position as a result of his alleged friendship with vice president Kashim Shettima. Yuguda, a former Minister of State for Transport in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is regarded as another politician who is important. According to sources, the former governor who was among the first in Bauchi to begin contacting potential supporters for “Jagaban” is also in a strong position.
Meanwhile, it’s believed in some quarters that if the president decides to go for technocrats, Muhammad Ali Pate, a former Minister of State for Health may be considered due to his antecedents in the health sector.
“Pate is a technocrat but the challenge is that he does not have much political base in Bauchi.
“However, democracy sometimes cannot be predicted. If the government of Tinubu feels he is qualified due to the experience he has garnered so far, he may get the appointment.
“The Tinubu government may find him to be suitable because of his experience and connections. As far as running the system is concerned, the government can use him to achieve some of its aims and objectives,” a party source said.
Moreover, indications emerged recently that Pate may be heading back home to take up a ministerial appointment in Tinubu’s administration after GAVI announced his decision to decline his appointment as its next CEO.
Pate had told GAVI, a group established in 2000 as a Global Health Partnership that strives to give vaccines in developing nations, that “he has taken an incredibly difficult decision to accept a request to return and contribute to his home country, Nigeria,” suggesting that he might be one of President Tinubu’s ministerial favourites.
On Monday, June 26, 2023, GAVI revealed Pate’s choice to reject the position.
