2027: Group consults District Head of Bauchi over Pate's governorship ambition

By Ahmad Saka

The District Head of Bauchi Alhaji Nuru Adamu Jumba has given his royal blessing to the governorship ambition of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate to contest for the seat of Bauchi State Governor in the 2027 election.

Alhaji Nuru gave his blessings when he received the Ali Pate support group, The Coalition Grassroot Network for Ali Pate, led by its State Chairman Alhaji Adamu Ahmad and wards coordinators of the group in his office.

The District head said "as royal fathers we are not in politics, all political contenders are our own, we know the minister as our son we know what he is doing to support the growth and development of our state through Cigari Foundation.

“We also know what he is doing in Nigeria and the world at large in the area of health care. We are praying whatever will be good to the State and the country at large may Allah help him, May Allah give us peace and stability in the state and the country at large.”

Represented by Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed Bashir Dan'iyan Bauchi, Alhaji Usman Mohammed Hardon Bauchi and Alhaji Zailani Abdulkadir Dankaden Bauchi, Alhaji Nuru pray for the group to succeed in their enlightenment visit. He thanked them for the visit and assured them that their doors are always open for them and assured them they are always ready to support work that would better the lives of the people of the State .

The district head, even though he declared that by his position, that he has to be politically neutral, prayed that God should give the State the best come 2027.

Alhaji Nuru expressed delight to hear that Ali Pate has accepted to contest; he said Bauchi State has a lot of intelligent and smart children but stressed that definitely one of them will become the Governor in 2027. He prayed that Bauchi People would choose the best among them.

Earlier in his speech, leader of the group Alhaji Adamu said as a son and daughters of Bauchi Emirate they visited to formally inform the district head that his Son Minister of Health Professor Pate has accepted their call to contest for the seat of Bauchi State Governor in 2027 and at the same time to get his blessings and prayers.

Adamu said when the time for electioneering campaign come, Pate would declare but as his foot soldiers who mounted pressure on him to come out, since he accepted to contest, even though he openly told us it's not yet time for campaign he is now working to deliver the work assigned to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister of Health, but they felt it's now their turn to enlighten the electorates and Political stalwarts on the essential leadership qualities of Professor Pate.

He said as part of their quest to carry out this assignment as lawful sons and daughters of the Emirate they should start with seeking prayers and blessings from their father, District Head of Bauchi.

Adamu said Pate will provide excellent and exemplary leadership of the State if given the chance by being elected by the electorate as a Governor in the 2027 general elections.

He said, “Professor Pate as exemplary leader knows the needs of our people, he always feel their pulse, so, he will give a good leadership, he will coop co-operate with,legislative arms and all other stakeholders especially the Federal Government to bring infrastructure into the State that will be sustainable by the people of the State.

The chairman said. “This visit is part of our mission and plans as his foot soldiers to feel and sound out the electorate; to know their needs, so, that we can collectively bring development to the State."

Adamu said Pate focus is really to see what we can do to build, not to really divide the polity in Bauchi, ”We are happy that he accepted our call by explaining his readiness to serve our dear State, if political stakeholders align towards a common goal and we are working tirelessly to see the unity and acceptability within the party.

Prof Pate is a globally recognised public health expert who has held top positions, including serving as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and as the former Global Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population at the World Bank and in February 2023, he was appointed CEO of GAVI –the Vaccine Alliance, an organization dedicated to providing vaccines in low-income countries.

His recent appointment as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu further solidified his standing as a key figure in national governance. He achieved a lot in the transformation of the Nigerian health sector.