By Rauf Oyewole
The governorship candidate of the NDC in Bauchi State, Barrister Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim, has defended his aspiration for the 2027 governorship election, insisting that his ambition is driven by a commitment to consolidate the achievements of the present administration while addressing the state's outstanding development challenges.
Kashim, who was responding to an opinion article titled "Bauchi 2027 Guber Race: The Joke is on MA and Kashim," said public debate was essential to democracy but argued that the piece shifted from objective analysis to advocacy for a particular candidate.
In a statement he personally signed, the former Secretary to the State Government acknowledged the role he played in promoting and defending the policies of Governor Bala Mohammed's administration, saying it was both his constitutional and moral responsibility while in office.
He said he remained proud of the administration's achievements, including infrastructure development, institutional reforms, investment attraction, and efforts to make governance more inclusive.
According to him, those accomplishments belong to the people of Bauchi State and should be preserved.
However, Kashim maintained that acknowledging the successes of the outgoing administration should not prevent honest reflection on areas requiring improvement.
He identified poverty reduction, youth unemployment, healthcare delivery, quality education, agricultural productivity, industrialisation, water supply, and job creation as critical issues that still require urgent attention.
He said: "Every administration, regardless of its successes, leaves behind unfinished business. Recognising these realities is not a criticism of the outgoing administration; it is an honest acknowledgement that governance is a continuous process," he said.
Kashim rejected the suggestion that his previous role in government meant he should only support a candidate perceived as the custodian of Governor Bala Mohammed's political legacy.
He argued that the 2027 governorship election should not be framed as a contest between continuity and discontinuity but as an opportunity to build on existing achievements with fresh ideas, practical solutions, measurable outcomes, and renewed energy.
"My vision has never been to erase what has been achieved. Rather, it is to consolidate genuine progress, honestly confront existing shortcomings, and accelerate development where the pace has fallen short of the expectations of our people," he stated.
The NDC governorship candidate further stressed that leadership should be judged by commitment to citizens' welfare rather than loyalty to political personalities.
He urged the electorate to assess candidates based on competence, integrity, vision, character, and their ability to deliver meaningful results.
Kashim expressed confidence that voters would make informed decisions after evaluating the programmes, records, and ideas of all contestants, rather than relying on political endorsements or narratives.
He said his campaign would focus on presenting what he described as a practical roadmap for a more prosperous, secure, and inclusive Bauchi State.
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