Senator Barau Jibril: A Legislator Per Excellence

Abu Mahmud

Even though the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has not made any decision on zoning of positions or offices of the 10th Assembly. APC won a majority in the Senate with 60 seats, while the PDP has 32 seats. The Labour Party has six seats. The NNPP and the SDP have two seats each; APGA and YPP have one each.

Since 1960, the Northwest as a geopolitical zone has never produced a Senate President. Most of the time, the Southeast geopolitical zone produced the many senate presidents. North-central geological zone came after in leading the hallowed chamber. Iyorchia Ayu is from North-central, Ameh Ebute David Mark, Bukola Saraki (2015–2019) APC/PDP and now Ahmed Lawan of APC 2019 to date from North-east.

The tenth national assembly is expected to be led by a person with considerable legislative experience and expertise who can be able to preside over its affairs and also wither the storms at any given time. If that is criteria, the incoming assembly needs no other person than Senator Barau Jibril as a leading candidate for the Senate presidency from the northwest, as he earned legislative experience per more than his peers.

Pursuant to Section 2(a) of the Standing Orders of the Senate, only a ranking Senator-Elect with legislative experience can be duly elected as the president of the senate. Indeed, by virtue of Order 3, Rule 2 of the Senate Standing Orders 2022 as amended on the nomination of presiding officers and appointments of Principal Officers and other Officers of the Senate, it shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators. In determining ranking, the following Order shall apply: (i) Senators returning based on number of times re-elected; (ii) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives, (iii) Senators elected as Senators for the first time.

In addition to this section, Barau Jibril is the most ranking and experienced senator elect from North West geopolitical zone seeking to lead the next senate. If the postulation is anything to go by, Senator Barau Jibrin (Maliya) can be entrusted with the challenging responsibilities of becoming the Senate President, his interest of vying the position is not about himself but rather the sanitizing of the nation’s national assembly and will ensure about practicing what he always preaches, global best practices of legislation.

The success of every democracy rests squarely on the quality of the parliament, hence the need to always have in place a solid legislature with sound players. Senator Barau Jibril has become a household name from his days as a member ar the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 to the Red chamber from 2015 to date. Recently, close monitors of lawmakers’ performance in the country acknowledged Senator Barau’s triumph during the last presidential and national assembly elections, which Maliya emerged victorious in the Kano North senatorial district election, despite the political turbulence caused by the NNPP in the state, this serves as evidence of his political credentials.

Despite Kwankwasiyya’s tsunami which caused serious damage to the governing ruling party in the state. The tsunami unseat 17 serving APC members in the green chambers with 2 senators in the red chamber by New Nigeria peoples party( NNPP). Barau Jibril proved himself as political heavyweight in the state by emerged victorious by a considerable margin, receiving 234,652 votes and defeating the candidate of Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Baffa Bichi who garnered 177,014 votes.

Academically, Barau has all what its takes to be the senate president. Senator Barau I.Jibril holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Masters certificate in Financial Management and Pricing, Masters Certificate in Management and Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He also holds a Certificate in Financial Management for business decisions from the prestigious Cornel University, United State of America.

On the returned of democracy in the country in 1999, he contested for House of Representatives to represent Tarauni Federal Constituency of Kano State which he won and serve for only one term having he and other lawmakers defeated tenure elongation of than president Obasenjo. While in the House of Representatives, he served as the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations and also a member of the House of Representative’s Committee on Power. He was appointed in 2001 to serve as a member of a committee set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to review the Nigeria’s Budgetary process.

On his return to the electoral contest in 2015, Senator Barau contested and won election to the Senate, representing Kano North Senatorial District. He was appointed the Vice – Chairman Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) of the Senate and subsequently became the Chairman of the same Committee. Re-assigned to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETfund as the Chairman of the Committee. Member of the Committee on Niger Delta, Industries, Land Transportation and Appropriations. Senator Barau is also the Secretary of Northern Senators Forum.

Since 2015, Senator Barau has initiated and executed almost uncountable interventions and projects in both his constituency and other parts of Kano State, which has directly impacted the lives of the common people positively.

Some of the projects and programs he has successfully implemented include the construction of the multi-billion naira Kabuga- Dayi Road, the establishment of Kabo Federal Polytechnic, the construction of access roads in all the 13 local governments of Kano North, the construction of five (5) General Hospitals in Kano North, securing employment for a total of 1,459 youths in both state and federal levels as well as empowering thousands of women and youths in different trades. The Senator Representing Kano North Senatorial District, Senator Barau Jubrin, donated 18 patrol motor vehicles to Kano State police Command.

An active senator from kano who has sponsored bills and motions with unequal legislative experience. Senator Maliya has all the requisites knowledge to lead the red chamber. Willing to carry everybody along irrespective of political parties, religion, ethnic and language differences.

It’s on public lips that the nation’s National Assembly is in dire need of reform that will have a far-reaching positive impact on the lives of Nigerians. With him as the nation’s number three citizen, the far-reaching change can be possible because he can handle the multifaceted future challenges in the Senate. He is the only senator of the APC stock from Kano State returning to the 10th National Assembly.

Barau Jibrin possesses the leadership qualities and experiences to stir the ship of the Senate. He has built bridges across party lines and cultivated the positive attitude in the senate for him to be considered. Even though so many factors will come to play on the floor of the Senate when it comes to the leadership consideration but Maliya belongs to everyone in the senate. commands lots of respect from his colleagues as ranking member. That is why it would be difficult to find him wanting because he’s a grassroot mobilizer.

Senator Barau CON worked briefly in the accounting department of the Kano State Foundation, before he resigned in 1992 to begin his private business with vast interests in the manufacturing, insurance and the construction sectors of the Nigerian economy. His success in the private sector prepared him adequately to begin a process of championing the cause of his people through the instrumentality of politics.

Abu Mahmud wrote in from Dutse