BY ADEYEMI AKANJI – BAUCHI – Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Babachir Lawal, has warned that concerned leaders in Nigeria are conscious of the fact that if the people make the mistake and allow the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to continue post-2027, Nigeria may probably be no more.
He therefore warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu must not be allowed to retain powers in 2027 to avert catastrophic situation in the country.
Lawal stated these in Bauchi after a closed-door meeting with the Governor Bala Mohammed, the Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon Abubakar Y Suleiman, Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hamza Koshe Akuyam, State Chairman, Samaila Adamu Burga and members of the State Executive Council on the possibility of joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Lawal said the ADC delegation were in Bauchi at the instance of the National Chairman, Senator David Mark, being fully aware that the coming battle in 2027 to elect new people to lead Nigeria can only be successful if all the various segments of the country that have good intentions and goodwill towards Nigerians are able to unite to stand and resist the impending disaster that is waiting the people in 2027.
According to Lawal; “We are fully aware that if we make a mistake and allow this government to continue post-2027, Nigeria will probably be no more as we know it.
“By then, we probably will be packing people of starvation in trailers. By then, we’ll be packing people in trailers who are unable to afford medical services and everything, and the insurgency will get to the level that they will be running from room to room, harassing and killing and maiming people.
“So, with this in mind, the Senator David Mark sent us to speak to the current Bauchi State Governor to join the ADC because he is a noted fighter, he is a warrior, he is fearless. And his synergies will contribute to what we already have in ADC. And so that’s why we are here.
“We have had very fruitful discussions in a very friendly, brotherly manner. We understand the task before every Nigerian and the task before Kaura Bauchi as a Governor that, when he joins ADC, he will be one of our field commanders. And that’s why we are here. And as I said, we’ve received a very warm reception and we thank you for it.
“And we hope that the subsequent discussions will be concluded by our massive registration of the people of Bauchi, as did happen in Kano yesterday.
“We know that the entry of Kaura Bauchi into ADC will frighten this government to the extent that they will manipulate the situation and what they intend to do to rig the 2027 elections.
“But we are all Nigerians and we know the strength of every one of us. We are confident that if we carry our agenda, we will have invited the state party-ready people to confront this government, and victory will be ours,” he said.
Speaking in turn, Governor Bala Mohammed said that as a leader in the PDP, he and his supporters found themselves in a very serious ambivalence, where the party is headless, and pursued all avenues for reconciliation, but it did not work, adding that the people are putting him under extreme pressure.
Mohammed said that he and his supporters believe in winning elections, adding that elections are done and won at the polling unit, stressing that he is not scared of anybody.
Mohammed said; “We set up two committees, one in Abuja at the national level, because of my position as a leader of the party on the one side, and one here in Bauchi, to look at where to go. We laid all our options on the ground, including the APC itself, but sadly we have discovered that we cannot be where we are not wanted. We have to find a place within the opposition.
“That is where our future and political destiny is taking us to. And ADC appears to be a very enduring, and of course alluring, and more acceptable platform by the people that are talking to me so far. And because I’m managing two constituencies, both here and the federal, so that we don’t make mistakes. And that is where we are.
“We are very grateful for that recognition, because when you are facing a very serious political problem like ours, and somebody will offer a hand, we are very modest, and our humility is so that we are nothing until we go to the field.
“We have to face the challenges of this existential solution that is being provided to us by ADC. We, on behalf of the people and government of Bauchi state, and indeed the PDP, the other party that helped me to scout, thank the National Chairman of the ADC for offering this opportunity to us,” he said.
The ADC delegation included former Minister, Senator Batagarawa, Sen Tunde Ogbeha and other leaders of the party.
