Gubernatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Bauchi State in the 2027 general elections, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Kashim Mohammed Ibrahim, has declared that he is not afraid to contest against the candidate of the incumbent government under the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Yakubu Adamu, back by the Governor Bala Mohammed.
He made the declaration while speaking with a selected group of Journalists on Saturday, after he was affirmed as the 2027 gubernatorial candidate of the NDC.
Asked on how he intends to compete against the APC and MA Abubakar SAN, who is reportedly backed by the Federal Government through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, and the State Government backed APM candidate, he said that will not be a problem considering past experiences where Government backed candidates were defeated by opposition.
On the former Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN, who is coming a comeback, Ibrahim Kashim said that, “He made a political miscalculation by seeking a second term,” insisting that, “Bauchi voters, not federal backing or godfathers, decide elections.”
Ibrahim Kashim said, “A wajen Allah muke nema,” (it is from Allah we are seeking power). Seriously, there is nothing that is beyond Him. But we’ll also go out and reach the people,”
The former SSG dismissed the influence of federal support, citing MA Abubakar’s 2015 loss despite incumbency and belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
According to him, “M.A Abubakar, SAN, was in APC in 2015. He was even the Governor. The APC government, supported by the federal government and all the big politicians in the state, but he lost. So if you’re going to lose, you’re going to lose regardless of whoever is supporting you.”
Still speaking on MA Abubakar, SAN, second term bid, Ibrahim Kashim was blunt: “Time will come when we’ll talk about M.A. But if I were him, I would not even start contesting a second-term election in Bauchi State.”
“But since he has been pushed, the time will come, then we will be able to put the facts before the people in the state for them to judge his competence,” he said.
He buttressed his argument with an Islamic proverb attributed to Mustafa Zubairu Al-Mustafa: “Islam says a believer does not put his hand in the hole of a snake twice. You can put your hand once and probably not be bitten by the snake. If you put it back again, then you don’t even know what is faith.”
“People of Bauchi watch and are observant, but like I said, time will come and we will talk about this and that,” he added.
Turning to the Allied People’s Movement (APM) candidate backed by the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim argued that Bauchi State voters have a history of rejecting imposed successors.
According to him, “I kept saying that the governments have been defeated in Bauchi State, and if you look at the history of Bauchi State again, no Governor in Bauchi State has brought a successor. No Governor in Bauchi has been able to get a successor.”
He also cited a pattern for former Governors seeking Senate seats at the end of their tenures: “The other time I granted an interview on Zahmani TV. I said, no Governor in Bauchi State has become a Senator. I wasn’t saying it because I wanted to run down His Excellency, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed. I’m saying it because it’s a fact.”
“Every Governor that has attempted to go to the Senate in Bauchi State had lost. I don’t know whether His Excellency, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed will win or he will not win, but I’m stating it as a matter of fact.”
Kashim said that, “People of Bauchi State know what they want and know the people that would work for them, and then when they are tired of you, they are tired of you. Whatever you do, they will remain tired of you.”
He stated that his party will go to the people and put all the issues before them and seek their mandate.
He said that, “By the grace of God, like I said, you can have all the godfathers you want. You can have all the resources you want, but He that is with God is the majority.”
The gubernatorial candidate of the NDC expresed optimism that the people of Bauchi State know his antecedent and will vote for him as the next Governor of the State as well as other candidates of the NDC.
