Abubakar Malami Emergence As The ADC’s Gubernatorial Candidate For Kebbi State And Matters Arising -By Hadiza Mohammed

The news of the emergence of Abubakar Malami, SAN, CON, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate for Kebbi State did not come to many as a surprise. Many observers believe that the nomination is a step in the right direction. It goes to show that the people of Kebbi State believe in their son despite his current ordeal and legal battles traceable to his political association and belief, in the hands of state security operatives. The Kebbi State ADC party faithful have made a statement by electing Abubakar Malami to fly the party’s flag in their state. First, they have affirmed his leadership qualities and expressed faith in his ability to lead the state. Secondly, the election is more or less a statement of solidarity to their leader and son who is believed to be undergoing persecution because of his political affiliation. Thirdly, the success of Abubakar Malami at the ADC primaries is like a protest by the people to the authorities to hand off the harassment of one of their own. And I wish the authorities would understand the signal and desist from the harassment and intimidation of perceived political enemies. Democracy is a system of government that allows freedom of association without which citizens’ participation is imperiled.

No doubt, the legal luminary has shown himself to be a man of principles who faithfully adheres to sound ethics and his belief system. He was with the Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the legacy parties that merged into the APC, as the party’s national legal adviser. He left the Tinubu’s APC for the ADC because the party and Tinubu’s government have failed Nigerians. His people see this in him and believe that he will not betray them. He will keep his words and campaign promises and hence the nod for him to contest for the state governorship position despite the move by the ruling APC to frustrate it.

Again, Malami has proved to be a dogged fighter who fights for what he believes in. This has always guided his conduct and actions; something that aided his performance while he occupied the position of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. As a courage and justice, he refused to be cowed or intimidated into abdicating his ambition to fight to lead his people already impoverished by the harsh policies of the present regime. Despite the arrests and many legal battles, he remains steadfast. Recall as I have noted in an earlier essay that, Abubakar Malami together with his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami are being hounded on charges bordering on conspiracy and laundering proceeds from unlawful activities using proxies to conceal the origin of funds, acquiring properties in Abuja, Kano and Kebbi states and holding 46 bank accounts. They are also being charged for abetting terrorism financing, failing to prosecute suspect terrorism financiers and illegal storing of fire arms in his Kebbi residence, something they have emphatically denied.

Furthermore, Abubakar Malami is a grassroots man who is close to his people. He identifies with his people and is known for his acts of philanthropy. He was a co-founder of Khadimiyya for Justice Development Initiative (KJDI), an NGO dedicated to the advancement of human society through fostering access to justice and investment in human capital development. Since its formation, the organization has worked to support the weak and the vulnerable by giving them essential items, water supply by digging over 200 boreholes in rural communities, donating cash and materials to victims of flood disaster and medical care and employment opportunities. While some Nigerian politicians were hoarding palliatives meant for the poor during the COVID 19 pandemic in secret warehouses as revealed during the ENDSARS protest, Malami, the grassroots man was working for his people for youth empowerment and poverty alleviation.

According to some concerned observers, Malami’s emergence in spite of his travails is an indication that his people see this as an opportunity to repay him for his many good deeds to his and state and to allow him to continue the good works that he has already begun. The implication of this is that many Nigerian people are ready to vote personalities and not party in the forth-coming election and it seems the ruling APC knows this truth and hence the fight to prevent the opposition from fielding credible candidates. The 2027 general elections will witness many protest votes and Abubakar Malami may be one of the beneficiaries of this’. The battle to unseat the APC in Kebbi State and in Nigeria has commenced. Nigeria, we must reclaim our country and take our rightful place in the comity of nations. Long live Nigeria!

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK