“With his vision so grounded in compassion and a record of tangible accomplishments, Senator Barau has stepped up to step into the shoes of late President Muhammad Buhari to fill the vacuum”.
BY ALI MAJE
In an era where politics is often marred by controversy and the pursuit of self-interest, Senator Barau Jibrin Ibrahim has distinguished himself, as he stands out as a shining example of public service, effectively redefined leadership.
His unwavering dedication to lawmaking, people’s empowerment, and commitment to good governance, is making Senator Barau stands tall as a beacon of hope and inspiration. He is humble and willing to listen, learn, and grow, while recognizing the value of others’ contributions and ideas.
As former member of the House of Representatives for Tarauni Federal Constituency and later as Senator, representing Kano North, the Deputy Senate President (DSP), Senator Barau has been very pragmatic and generous to the people.
From the outset, as Chairman of Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives in his early years as lawmaker and later at the Senate Chambers, Senator Barau’s outstanding contributions to lawmaking has demonstrated his exceptional commitment to the legislative process.
Overtime, he has championed a range of bills that addressed pressing societal issues, from healthcare reform, educational advancement to environmental protection and good governance and his legislative record is replete with bills and motions that prioritize the needs of the common man.
Senator Barau has proven to be a tireless advocate for the people, making the voices of his constituents heard in the halls of power.
The skills he demonstrated in legislative practice during his sojourn between 1999 and 2003 while in the House of Representatives, and as Committee Chairman of Appropriations, as well as his two consecutive tenures in the Senate as Chairman, Appropriations and Chairman, Tertiary Institutions Committees of the Senate has clearly demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the welfare of his constituents and the nation at large.
Through his outstanding contributions to lawmaking, people’s empowerment, and good governance, Senator Barau has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and the public – who popularly “referred” to him as “Maliya” (Ocean of generosity and goodness), for his respect of human dignity.
One of his major landmark achievements that stands him out is the passage of North West Development Commission (NWDC), and the eventual signing of the bill into law by the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he always looks up to as his political godfather.
Now that he led the passage of several bills, Senator Barau has always been humble to attribute his successes to the broader goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Political Agenda that are gradually making life better for all Nigerians.
For instance, the establishment and upgrading of the Federal Polytechnic to Federal University of Science and Technical, Kabo and the upgrading of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano to Federal University of Education, Kano, which was renamed Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano are two critical decisions that will engrave his name in gold as they will assist the State in bridging the existing educational gap.
Senator Barau has also made it possible for several students to accomplish their educational journeys by providing scholarships to particularly indigent ones to study in some Nigerian universities while others were sponsored abroad to study robotics and other fields of educational endeavours.
He had also built a number of hostels at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) to address accommodation scarcity, and this particular philanthropy had prompted the university’s management to confer on him an honorary doctorate degree, last year.
Senator Barau is also inspiring a generation of leaders who are committed to fostering change in their own neighborhoods, as he initiated and supported the formation of Barau Football Club, a team that has already metamorphosed into the nation’s premier league circle.
Senator Barau has also been up and doing in terms of providing medical assistance to indigent people, providing youths empowerment on ICT, as well as helping Kano indigenes who have excellent academic records in various human endeavors to secure Federal Government appointments.
For Senator Barau, however, true governance extends beyond policy-making. Though a lawmaker, whose primary responsibility is to make laws for good governance, yet he has placed significant emphasis on empowering his people with various development initiatives, such as the Kano North Transportation Project that equipped thousands with the tools they need to live a better life and actively participate in democracy.
Good governance is the bedrock of a prosperous society, hence Senator Barau has clearly exemplified this principle throughout his legislative career.
The hallmark of Senator Barau’s career lies in his ability to identify and address the roots of systemic challenges through impactful policies. His transparent approach to governance, coupled with a commitment to accountability, is gradually restoring faith in public institutions.
By setting measures that have had a profound influence on the socio-economic landscape of his constituency – Kano North, his State as a whole and the country at large, Senator Barau has endeared himself to many and this of course, explain why the people of Ghari came out massively to give APC candidate Hon. Garba Ya’u Gwarmai, a resounding victory during the last bye election for the state House of Assembly that was held on August 16th, 2025, a gesture widely seen as a demonstration of appreciation to the Senator for his people’s oriented policies and programs in the area.
As the Bagwai/Shanono State Assembly result that gave victory to NNPP candidate is still contentious following allegations of vote buying, electoral malpractices and voter intimidation, the APC has resolved to challenge it at elections tribunal, that will soon commence sitting to decide on the veracity of the allegations.
Undoubtedly, a leader of Sen. Barau’s pedigree is constantly reminding us of the power of integrity and selflessness in governance, as he is paving the way for returning Kano State, and of course the entire Northwestern States to APC fold. With his vision so grounded in compassion and a record of tangible accomplishments, Senator Barau has stepped up to step into the shoes of late President Muhammad Buhari to fill the vacuum. His people-centric approach continues to endear him to people, since he prioritizes their needs and ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
By all standard, destiny has automatically placed Senator Barau as APC natural leader in the Northwest region after the demise of late President Muhammad Buhari.
Now, as we look into the future, Senator Barau has paid his dues not only to the people of Kano State but to the whole of Northwest. He has given the people what will add value to their lives and it is expected that by the time he rolls out his sleeves to seek support for the APC, that will be the payback time to achieve the ambition he has that will further make Kano State, Northwestern States and Nigeria great.
…Ali Maje, a retired Permanent Secretary, former Clerk of the Kano State House of Assembly, is a Development Expert based in Kano.
