2027: Ali Pate, best option for Bauchi governor — Old boys

…urges him to aspire for party’s ticket

Nigeria’s current Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, has been described as the best option as Bauchi Governor, come 2027, he should therefore, heed the call on him to aspire for the office.

The assertion was made by Bakaro/Dangikka Primary School Old Boys Association, Bauchi under what it tagged, ‘Vision For Bauchi Governorship 2027’.

According to Umar Musa, Secretary General, Old Boys Bakaro/Dangikka  Primary School, in a statement, he signed, titled: “Why Bauchi needs Professor Ali Pate as Governor, 2027”, stated that, “It’s time for a new era of purposeful and progressive leadership in Bauchi State with a vision, experience and dedication to Public Service.”

The Old Boys Association stated further that, “In our view and candid opinion, the present Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate is best man for the job.”

The Association added that, “Pate is Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development. Achievements and qualifications makes him the best candidate that has all it takes to become the next Bauchi State Governor 2027.”

 “Professor Pate is a trained Medical Doctor, was at several times the Director-General, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and Minister of State, Health and as a Coordinating Minister, has shown exceptional skills, in his policies of free ambulances for pregnant women across the country, and his experience in various s health sector reform and programmes in Africa, United States and East Asia which a a great valuable asset in governance,” The Association stated. 

According to the Old Boys Association, “Professor Pate’s track record and successes, is in no way comparable to many politicians the state can boast of.  After his undergraduate medical degree at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, from which he graduated in 1990, he became a Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership fellow at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts.”

The Association added that,”In 2019, he was appointed Global Director for the World Bank Group’s programme for health nutrition and population Global Practice as director of its Global Financing Facility in Washington, DC. Before then, he had served as CEO of Big Wind Philanthropy, a private foundation helping leaders across Africa invest in their youths to reap the demographic dividend of their populations.”

He also helped to create so many medical centers and Teaching hospitals, he repositioned the teaching hospitals, today they are responsive to the needs of Nigerians in health care.

The Association stressed that it is a known fact that Citizens of the state today’s discussions border on issues, that have direct contact with the living standard of the people, especially electorate.

“Today, they aspire for better education, healthcare, agriculture, housing, pipe-borne water supply, security and safety, as well as employment and pay. There is also a growing concern for a more effective House of Assembly in the state,” It added.

According to the Association, “Given that no democracy can endure with a weak legislature, there is the feeling in certain quarters that, were there a more active legislative arm, Bauchi state would have been a better place to live and work.”

“So, in order to have it placed on a higher threshold of development, in future, the state will need a more people-oriented executive arm of government and a legislature that can check its excesses and truly represent the people. All these problems identified, Professor Pate has all it takes to address them politically,” It stressed.

The Association opined that, “Today, Bauchi State stands at a crossroads. In an ever-evolving political landscape, If Professor Muhammad Ali Pate will accept our call and decide to enter into the governorship race, it is more than a political move—it is a call to action.”

It added that, “It is a rallying cry for those who believe in progressive leadership, integrity, and transformational governance. His candidacy is not just about an election; it is about a vision for a better Bauchi State all that knows his can testify.”

The Association also stated that, “His entry into the Bauchi governorship race is not driven by ambition alone, but by a pressing need for leadership that is people-centred, transparent, and forward-thinking. For too long, the people of Bauchi have sought leadership rooted in competence, accountability, and vision.”

“Many Bauchi People we have spoken to, told us that today ,the journey ahead demands resilience and determination, but with Professor Muhammad Ali Pate at the helm, Bauchi has the chance to emerge stronger, more prosperous, and more united than ever before.”

“We are happy and praying, as the 2027 election cycle approaches, that Professor Pate will agree and say he will be ready to serve the Bauchi people. So, it’s not about personal animosities and other parochial things. That’s not our style. Our focus is really to see what we can do to build, not to really divide the polity in Bauchi,”

“We  believe Professor Pate has the capacity to nip the bud because he is a man with a mission to develop the state,” it concluded.

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