AS ZAMFARA FINALLY DECIDES
Dr. Dauda Lawal Dare has been declared winner of the 2023 Governorship Elections for Zamfara State. I congratulate him and his numerous supporters -a great deal of which are my friends. I wish him and Zamfara State well in Steering the affairs of the state.
In all my campaign engagements on the other side of the process, I refrained from any direct attack on the person of Dr. Dare. One of the major reasons was the mutual respect that existed between us in the little and few contacts we had during the merger of most G8 members with H.E Yari Group. Another reason is of course that I believe he is competent enough in the light of his education and experience. One and only one reservation I have which I preserved for a day like this is that he looked too elitist for a state like Zamfara. I truly wonder how much he can adjust and engage to meet the yearning and aspiration of the state even in routine interpersonal communication and more frequent residency that the office of the Governor demand for efficiency. I sincerely hope that he would disappoint me on this for the success of his administration and good of the state.
On a different note, I appreciate the opportunity granted to me by Governor Matawalle to serve in his campaign team for both Governorship and the sub-regional role in the APC Presidential Campaign Council. It was indeed a wonderful opportunity coming closer to His Excellency Governor Matawalle and learning about his heart of gold filled with sympathy and empathy. As a personal observation, part of the challenge with the administration of Governor Matawalle is that he is somehow too kind within that he attempts attending to the many needs that come before him thereby starting so many things than can be accomplished at a time. I trust the people of the state would miss his simplicity and humility in words and action even as deeply believe a second opportunity for him would have been great. I will be for ever grateful to H.E Matawalle for the confidence and affection to my humble self; it was very startling to know early in our close engagements that he knew the names of all my children -“Danbaiwa baban Muhammad da Ahmad da Fatima da Khadija”.
Senator Marafa has been a great mentor whose recommendations and affiliations facilitated and amplified my political experiences. It may suffice to say that it is an honour to lose with Senator Marafa than win with others! Senator Marafa is an embodiment of unlimited wisdom, logic and principled stand from whom I always want to continue learning.
In the direction of thanking political leaders through the present outing, former Governor Yari has been a good role model for his patience, generosity and dedication.
Many people, too numerous to mention, have supported me and wished me well. The Baiwa team in its formal and extended scope believe in me even when I made difficult decisions relative to popular and trending ones, and I don’t take that in anyway for granted. I note with appreciation the polite demeanour of many colleagues through the time of our campaign engagements in this space.
Overall, an outing that supported in winning the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the top three highest percentage votes out of 36 states in Nigeria is a great one. I thank God the Almighty in the beginning and end for that among many favours. This is a good time to enjoy with some leave which is just timely with the coming Ramadan in some three days time.
Mikailu Barau
