*Deputy Senate President’s Ambition Fuels Crisis In NWDC
*The Forces Against Shettima
By Abdullateef Bamgbose
The newly established North West Development Commission, NWDC, an intervention agency recently signed into law by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is currently embroiled in internal crisis over moves by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau’s ambition to replace Vice President Kashim Shetimma as the running mate to Tinubu in 2027.
The rumours that there were plots to replace Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in the run down to the 2027 general elections recently reared its head at the All Progressives Congress, APC, North East zonal stakeholders’ meeting held in Gombe, as supporters of the Shettima attacked the party zonal vice chairman, Mustafa Salihu, over his refusal to endorse Shettima as the running mate to Tinubu.
AljaziraNigreria reliably gathered that the zonal meeting was another script by those against the return of Shettima in 2027.
Recall that Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, recently accused Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser of allegedly destroying every Northerner, to realise his vaulted ambition to become Nigeria’s president.
Sources close to the Presidency disclosed that while the Shettima’s camp is pointing accusing fingers at Ribadu; Barau, currently representing Kano North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is most likely to replace Shetimma in 2027.
Barau alluded to this much at a press briefing last week in Abuja.
At the event to brief the Senate Press Corps on the proposed zonal constitution review exercise across the six geo-political zones, Barau told the newsmen that “Whatever the president wants me to do, I will do”.
Sources close to him told our Correspondent that the recent internal crisis in the NWDC might not be unconnected to Barau’s ambition to extend his grips on the party beyond his senatorial district.
According to a reliable source, the Deputy Senate President had initiated several projects including the
Senator Barau Jibrin Foundation, JIBF, to use the NWDC as a smokescreen.
The Senator Barau Jibrin Foundation, JIBF, a personal Foundation, was used to award scholarships to both domestic and foreign students.
While the Managing NWDC, Abdullahi Ma’ aji, a senator Barau’s alter ego, claimed the scholarship scheme was discussed at the NWDC Board meeting, Lawal Abdullahi Yakawada, Chairman of the Board denied knowledge of recieving any memo to the effect.
Barau had earlier launched a scholarship programme including both domestic and foreign scholarship for post-graduate students as well as initiatives to empower young farmers.
To realize his ambition as running mate to Tinubu, Barau must spread his tentacles across the seven states in the North West geo-political zone.
It was gathered that the Barau Jibrin Foundation hurriedly compiled the list of 558 young farmers from the 186 local government areas in the North West as beneficiaries of N2.7billion which he expected the NWDC to fund.
Signs that Barau wanted to run the NWDC spread early enough when the list of the board members submitted for approval were all his personal and legislative staff.
For instance Abdullahi Ma’ aji from Kano was appointed Chairman; Yahaya Umar from from Sokoto; Amir Sulueman, Kebbi; Tijani Yahaya Kaura, Zamfara; Abdulkadir Usman, Kaduna; Mohamed Ali Wuldi, Kano; Shamus Suleiman, Katsina; were initially submitted to run the NWDC.
Worried by the list, Tinubu forwarded a modified list of members of the inaugural governing Board of NWDC which made Lawal Abdullahi, chairman of the Board.
President Tinubu had earlier in July assented the two bills passed by the two Chambers of the National Assembly, sponsored by Barau and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives.
The bills were the NWDC and South East Development Commission, SEDC.
The BUA Group which was to assist for the take off of the Commission donated a fully equipped multi-purpose building to the newly created NWDC to serve as its temporary headquarters in Kano State.
The handover ceremony, held at the donated facility on Court Road, Kano, was attended by dignitaries from both the public and private sectors, including representatives of the Commission, community leaders, and officials of BUA Group.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Founder and Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Khalifa Abdul Samad Rabiu, described the donation as a symbolic and practical expression of BUA’s belief in transformational partnerships between the private sector and public institutions.
“At BUA, we believe inclusive development starts with providing institutions the tools to succeed. This gesture by my father and Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, is more than just bricks and mortar. For us at BUA, this donation is about laying a foundation for people-centred growth in the North-West to support President Bola Tinubu’s regional development drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” said Khalifa Abdul Samad Rabiu.
In his comments, the Chairman of the NWDC, Alhaji Lawal Sama’ila Abdullahi, expressed profound gratitude to BUA Group for the timely support, noting that the facility would provide the Commission with the operational footing it needs to kickstart its mandate of fast-tracking infrastructure and economic growth in the region.
“This support from BUA is not just generous – it is strategic. It gives us the necessary momentum as we commence the Commission’s work to transform lives and unlock the immense potential of the North-West,” the Chairman said.
But our correspondent gathered that after the colourful ceremony, the offer was rejected by Barau.
Interestingly, while the Commission merely exists on paper, the Managing Director, Ma’ aji, has continued to use the Commission to campaign for Barau.
In the same vein, Ma’ aji recently launched Ma’ aji youth Coalition for Barau Jibrin 2027.
Our investigation revealed that several months after the NWDC and the SEDC were inaugurated, the latter has acquired a temporary office for its operations in Abuja, but the NWDC has yet to take off due to the interest of lawmakers in the upper legislative chamber.
