The election of Pharmacist Samaila Adamu Burga as the Chairman of PDP in Bauchi State in the last year’s state Convention of the party was seen as another master stroke aimed at consolidating the achievements of the party in the state. The convention, which was adjudged to be peaceful, saw swapping of party positions among the three Senatorial Districts of the State, namely Bauchi South, Bauchi Central and Bauchi North, with little adjustments of some positions.
But of significant importance was the position of the party head in the highly unpredicted and sensitive political atmosphere of Bauchi State. And the party, through the wise guidance and counsel of the Leader in the state, Gov. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Kauran Bauchi, got it right by electing Burga to steer the course of its affairs. A strong party stalwart and one-time Secretary of the party in the state, Burga is conversant with party and political calculations in the state, especially as it concerns the political manoeuvres to fish out electable and eligible candidates for the various elective positions in the state.
Burga, a renowned pharmacist, farmer, administrator and politician, has had experiences in variety of spheres of life in the state, the latest being the immediate Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to Governor Mohammed before his election last year to man the affairs of the party in the state. As soon as he was elected into the office, the Chairman immediately swang into action by ensuring that the party machinery was ready to brace up for the challenges, especially ahead of the 2027 General elections.
One major strategy the party and the Governor have sustained is the stakeholder engagements to ensure that ‘political wounds” (if any) arising from the convention were healed. In fact, one can rightly say there was minimal of such cases. However, the stakeholding which forms the cardinal strategy adopted by the PDP government is the state has been sustained to ensure that everybody is carried along in the scheme of things. It is worthy to note that the stakeholding, which the governor puts high priority on, is being reinforced by the party since Burga mounted the position of leadership of the party.
The recent of such gathering was the recent meeting of the critical stakeholders of the party and government at both the state and Local Government levels of the state, which gave the opportunity to the party stalwarts to participate in decision making in the administration of the party and state in general. “Äs soon as the new Chairman came to office, he has adopted the policy of meeting stakeholders to avail himself with pulse from stalwarts, party supporters and other associates on issues regarding the party in the state. You can see how members of the opposition and other former members who left have started returning to the party. “This is a very good strategy in ensuring membership drive and Burga knows the party very well that is why you see people trooping into the party, a staff of the party secretariat Bauchi, said.
In recognition of the giant efforts being made by the new chairman to reposition the party machinery in the state and across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, a group known as PDP Youth Forum felt it was worthwhile to honour Burga in a reception it organised in Tafawa Balewa town of the state on Monday this week. The group said the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency in the Bauchi South were proud to have its son occupy the exalted party position. Speaking during the ceremony, which also included an award to the chairman, the Chairman of the group, Comrade Sanusi Adamu Kobi said Burga’s election was a the most desirable master stroke for the party’s continued victory and progress. Sanusi said Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed had done a lot for the Constituency, including projects, appointments and that his support for Burga’s Chairmanship was an additional gesture and worth commendation.
“We are a peaceful people in our constituency and Governor Bala, Kauran Bauchi and Kauran Daular Usmaniya, has ensured that all areas in the state benefitted from his government, including our Constituency, the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency. You can now see that besides all the projects executed, appointments, he loves us so much that he supported Burga’s candidacy which led to his victory”, he said. Speakers at the event eulogised Burga’s leadership qualities, especially the decision to engage all people, saying that informed the defection of some party stalwarts to the party. It is worthy to note that ever since Pharmacist Burga assumed the mantle of leadership in the state, the State Secretariate of the party has been a bee-hive of activities. Party stalwarts and supporters, as well as groups and other personalities from the 20 Local Government areas of the state have been trooping to the secretariat on courtesy and solidarity visits.
There is no doubt that if the tempo is sustained, coupled with the performance of the PDP-led government in the state, the party will be consolidating its victory in the state in 2027.
Habila is a Bauchi-based journalist and public relations practitioner.
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