What Bantex Told Me About Governor el-Rufai

BY SIMON REEF MUSA

His death on Sunday July 11, 2021 came as a shock, though I knew he was not in the best of health. Former Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Architect Barnabas Yusuf Bala, popularly called Bantex, was a consummate politician who turned out a shining star when he was elected the chairman of Kaura Local Government Area. Before then, he was appointed a member of the National Constitutional Conference in 1994 by former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

In appreciation of his excellent leadership traits, his constituency elected him on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had denied him a ticket for the House of Representatives where he served from 2007-2011. He would later announce his retirement from politics to attend to his health challenges when he failed to get re-election in 2011.

Ahead of the 2015 polls, he was convinced by no other person than Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai to come out from retirement and contest the chairmanship position of the Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Bantex won and would later be nominated as running mate to Malam el-Rufai. Intrigues and complexities involved in resolving the bloodshed ripping across Kaduna State would later redefine the promise the duo gave to the electorate.

As el-Rufai assumed the reins of power in May 2015, expectations were high as the electorate were self-assured of development strides as the state was lucky to have first class graduates as the main pilots of the machinery of the state. Less than a year after being sworn in, despair set in and attacks on communities across the various states returned in a recurring deadly manner, especially in the southern part.

To make matters worse, Governor el-Rufai had shocked Nigerians on national television that he had traced and paid foreign herdsmen attacking Southern Kaduna to halt further assaults. This disclosure by the governor would later become a tactical error as conspiracy theories soon emerged to allege that the governor was complicit in the attacks that were then assuming frightening levels.

In a bid to quench the fire ignited by the governor over payment to foreign herdsmen, it became Bantex’s burden to appear on television to address the issue that had kindled a fiery national discourse. Sadly, Bantex added fuel to public angst when he flatly declared that he was unaware that the governor had paid compensation to foreign herdsmen over killings in Southern Kaduna.

Unable to galvanise his people to support el-Rufai, Bantex’s popularity began to diminish. When on November 3, 2017, the deputy governor carpeted the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), a group whose logo he had designed and was its pioneer National Secretary, Bantex came under bashing. The Kaura-born politician had contended that in a democracy where elected representatives are expected to speak on behalf of the people, SOKAPU had outlived its usefulness.

Commenting on his address during an event organised by SOKAPU at Hamdala Hotel in November 2017, I had written, “Bantex should note that he ultimately carries the failures of his people upon his shoulders. Badly behaved children are products of bad parentage. As of today, he is the political leader of his people and cannot excuse himself from their challenges. That Southern Kaduna has become a political wasteland is largely due to Bantex’s uninspiring leadership”.

As 2019 drew closer, speculations were rife that el-Rufai had resolved to nominate a Muslim as his running mate. Someone had hinted me in 2017 that, considering the seeming hatred Southern Kaduna had for the governor, el-Rufai was considering the choice of a Muslim for the 2019 polls. The governor would later confirm this when he said that even if he had chosen the Pope to be his deputy, Southern Kaduna would not vote for him.

It was clear that the waning popularity of Bantex made it indispensable for him to be sacrificed. However, a soft landing was needed. Out of the blue, the public was told that the then deputy governor would contest for the Southern Kaduna senatorial position. After biting the bullet and declaring interest for the senatorial contest, he reached out to me through Hon Husseini Dembo for a meeting. I was excited as I had missed a dinner appointment with him earlier. The reason: the then Vanguard Bureau Chief, Mr. Luka Binniyat, had been thrown into jail over a story the state considered fake. I had considered it inappropriate to be seen dining with the deputy governor, while a colleague of mine was being persecuted by the state government.

When finally I arrived at the Bantex’s home in Kaduna, we quickly relocated to one of the many rooms in his official quarters. Dressed in his usual white dress, we spoke on several matters, especially on el-Rufai and the need to close the widening gulfs of differences trailing our politics, among other issues.

First, he told me that el-Rufai was committed to the good of  Southern Kaduna and was not in any way adversarial to our communities.  He noted that the politics of Southern Kaduna had become a hindrance and there was need for patriots across party, ethnicity and religion to unlearn the past and relearn new strategies in pulling our communities from the hole of despair it had found itself.

Describing him as someone who knew what the state needs, Bantex whose legendary loyalty to his principal was unequaled disclosed that Southern Kaduna needed to change its politics and embrace inclusiveness, stressing that no society progresses without retooling its ways to meet challenges of modern society. As someone who has known el-Rufai for many years, the man expressed optimism that the governor was committed to justice and equity.

Unity of purpose, according to the deputy governor, was key in pushing for a common front. He added that Southern Kaduna people had shown open hatred for the APC and must be ready to plot their way to mainstream politics. He recalled several instances when he had tried to convene meetings aimed at uniting Southern Kaduna, but the inability of major players to see beyond immediate gains has frustrated the dream.

Every situation, Bantex recalled, needs a new strategy and that what our people were presently doing was simply a reaction premised on anger. For a society to survive and rise above their failings, the need to deploy emotional intelligence, the deputy governor added, was key for the overall good of our communities. He told me that he had decided to throw his hat in the ring for the 2019 senatorial contest and requested me to join his team in order to stamp out the negative perception of our people about the APC.

I thanked him profusely for the honour by inviting me to join his Team. However, I made it clear to him that I was convinced beyond all reasonable doubts that he would not win. More so, I reminded him that the APC had not taken advantage of the many inadequacies of the PDP but had instead by their actions assisted in reminding the people of the southern part of the glorious era as symbolised by the development strides of the party in the southern part. I told him that as someone monitoring the pulse of the people, it was obvious that the PDP was irrevocably bound to carry the day in the Zone 3 senatorial contest.

I recalled telling him of my respect for his past and my regrets over his then present disposition towards the people. I reiterated that Southern Kaduna people  had expected much from him as a political leader, but he had come short on delivering on the goods. We spoke but mostly argued on Binniyat and other issues.

We never agreed on any issue, apart from sharing a similar view that there was a need for the setting up of a non-partisan group to chart a new roadmap for our people. We also agreed that while charting a new course for our people may require sincerity of purpose, those to be engaged in the new venture must have forwarding address, besides active political participation. Getting professionals, we agreed, was crucial in assisting our people make sense out of politics.

For someone who had served Governor el-Rufai with an unflinching commitment, I find it inscrutable why Bantex was left in the cold without any political appointment. I am always wary of politicians and their eulogies for loyal associates. In his valedictory in 2019 after his re-election, el-Rufai had applauded his former deputy and assured him that something was in the offing for him as President Muhammadu Buhari had great respect for his long term loyalty. Till Sunday July 11, 2021 when he breathed his last, Bantex was never appointed as a member of any committee of either the state or federal agency.

I am aware that el-Rufai never abandons political associates. The governor may have picked the bills for the deputy governor who was engaged in battling health challenges even when he was in office, but allowing him to die without any political appointment after el-Rufai had promised tells much about the intrigues of politicians. There was no doubt that Bantex loved his people, but his commitment to el-Rufai had pitched him against them. He never said anything negative about his boss even when it was glaringly on the contrary. Such uncommon loyalty demonstrated by the deputy governor enraged his people against his person.

As Kaduna observes a public holiday in remembering the life and times of this politician of repute, Kaduna State from which Bantex hailed from is passing through one of its darkest periods. Not only were 120 students abducted by bandits and still in the forest, a monarch, with 13 others, was kidnapped on the day Bantex died. Kaduna, among other states, is almost being taken over by brigands who have turned the state into oases of bloodshed.

The best Governor el-Rufai can do for the memory of his former deputy is to resolve that peace and security should flow to every nook and cranny of the state. It is not enough to express overflowing emotional outburst over the demise of a cherished associate; but el-Rufai should work towards bringing peace and safeguarding the lives and property of Kaduna citizens, no matter which area of the state they reside.

Governor el-Rufai should note that the security situation he inherited in 2015 has degenerated and only concerted efforts, in collaboration with attacked communities, can stamp out banditry and other criminal elements unleashing terror on our communities. Most importantly, el-Rufai should complete the less than six-kilometre road to Bantex’s country home that had been abandoned in 2019 to serve as a fitting memory for someone who was greatly misunderstood by his people for being loyal to his principal.

Bantex’s death should serve as a lesson on how to avert the tragedy of political leadership in Southern Kaduna. Despite the animosity and loneliness that trailed the dusk of his life, the late brilliant architect never let go of friendship. He may not have conquered all that came his way, he certainly lived a life worthy of emulation. For us, the living, we must examine the essence of Bantex’s life and see how it can be deployed in broadening discourse for mainstream integration and development of our politics that have been always rancorous and fraught with ego and greed. Bantex built bridges across parties, ethnicity and religion.

Some three weeks ago, I met a prominent politician from Southern Kaduna who told me he was looking forward to meeting the former deputy governor as he believed he once held the keys to some of the solutions bedeviling our communities. That was the true essence of Bantex who joined the other deceased political titans who once made politics thick for an area in search of political leadership. That many of us disagreed with him on several issues never diminished his political relevance.

As Kaduna State observes a work-free day today in his honour and Nigerians mourn the death of this illustrious son of our nation, I pray to the Almighty God to grant his soul eternal repose.