Ali Pate Is Not An Opportunist – Abdurrahman Sade

By:  Abdurrahman Sade

Recent negative vituperations, remarks and commentaries by some pen named political stooges is to say the most laughable cum disappointing statement in the history of Bauchi politics. I have read with dismay some of our people calling people like the present Coordinating Minister of health Prof Mohammed Ali Pate. Pate is Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development.

The trained medical doctor was at several times the Director-General, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), and Minister of State, Health. Pate has contested the governorship position of Bauchi state in the past under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). In the APC governorship primary election ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Chigarin Misau contested.

Professor Pates track record and successes are in no way comparable to many politicians the state can boast of. He recorded what I refer to as excellence in Public Service including, refurbishing and expansion of the infrastructure of many of our primary health care centres, development of the resources for the training of frontline health workers, including building consensus around and printing of material, delivery of vaccines, including launching of the human papillomavirus vaccine and the second phase that is going to come in a few months’ time.

He also points at investors coming to invest in our health sector and the timely response to the outbreak of diphtheria in August to September of 2023. Pate will help President Tinubu to leave a legacy in the area of health sector, his administration will be judged to be one that has shifted the curve and the population health of Nigerians has measurably increased, I would be very satisfied that we have done our job well,” he quips.

After his undergraduate medical degree at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, from which he graduated in 1990, he became a Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership fellow at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2019, he was appointed Global Director for the World Bank Group’s programme for health nutrition and population Global Practice as director of its Global Financing Facility in Washington, DC. Before then, he had served as CEO of Big Wind Philanthropy, a private foundation helping leaders across Africa invest in their youth to reap the demographic dividend of their populations. He also help to create so.many medical centers and teaching hospitals, he repositioned our teaching hospitals today they are responsive to the needs of Nigerians in health care.

 My attention was drawn in one article published by online medium universal reporter. One could have ignored the write up that one can easily understand it was sponsored by political opponents of Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. But as a citizen of Bauchi, a Media consultant and political analyst I felt it will not be out of context if I explained the little truth. I know Professor Pate is not a novice in politics and is not an opportunist, considering his academic background, his exposure, the positions he held, his contributions in nation building and his effort to strengthen democracy in Nigeria. The writer wrote whatever she wrote to get cheap political scores and to black mail Professor Pate.

In any democratic setting, politics is perennial. Even as governance occurs, political actors make permutations, align and counter-align ahead of future elections. In fact, many times the actions of politicians in power largely determine what becomes of the political terrain.  Largely, the performance of an administration eventually tells of the kind of political game that will be played in the next elections.

Politics in Bauchi state is always hot, the citizens look at politics as an everyday thing, and the electorate play particular roles in the democratic process. And I want to assure you there are a lot of other intellectual politicians with the credentials that are willing and getting ready to contest for the number one seat of my state come 2027

It’s a known fact that Citizens of the state todays discussions border on issues, that has direct contact with the living standard of the people especially electorate, today they aspire for better education, healthcare, agriculture, housing, pipe-borne water supply, security and safety, as well as employment and pay. There is also a growing concern for a more effective House of Assembly in the state.

Given that no democracy can endure with a weak legislature, there is the feeling in certain quarters that, were there a more active legislative arm, Bauchi state would have been a better place to live and work. So, in order to have it placed on a higher threshold of development, in future, the state will need a more people-oriented executive arm of government and a legislature that can check its excesses and truly represent the people. All these problems identified Professor has all it takes to address them politically

This is the period when many politicians indicated interest through actions, some are believed to be testing the waters from the background. .

Today Bauchi State stands at a crossroads. In an ever-evolving political landscape, If Professor Muhammad Ali Pate’s decided to enter into the governorship race is more than a political move—it is a call to action.It is a rallying cry for those who believe in progressive leadership, integrity, and transformational governance. His candidacy is not just about an election; it is about a vision for a better Bauchi State all that knows his can testify. Professor Pate is no stranger to governance and public service. His track record speaks for itself—his tenure as a global health leader, policymaker, and reform advocate has earned him a reputation as a leader who delivers. His entry into the Bauchi governorship race is not driven by ambition alone but by a pressing need for leadership that is people-centred, transparent, and forward-thinking. For too long, the people of Bauchi have sought leadership rooted in competence, accountability, and vision. in an even we found his credentials and intentions bot people oriented we’ll shop for another candidate .  Professor Pate embodies these values, bringing extensive experience in public health, economic planning, and governance—skills essential for tackling the complex challenges of modern leadership. His context will marks the beginning of a new era, where public service takes precedence over self-interest and policies are designed to uplift communities, not sustain the status quo. When one look at the State critically will know that, Bauchi faces significant challenges—economic constraints, healthcare deficiencies, infrastructural gaps, and governance inefficiencies. Addressing these requires more than just promises; it requires a leader who understands the problems and has the expertise to implement solutions. Professor Pate is that leader. His vision is clear: empowerment through development. His policies will drive sustainable change, from healthcare reform to economic revitalisation, from education to infrastructure growth. This is not just about politics—it is about restoring faith in leadership and building a government that truly serves its people. We need strong action from Professor Pate now because this is not a time for spectatorship; Professor Pate’s vision for Bauchi can only be realised with the support of those who believe in his mission.

Every citizen who desires a prosperous, transparent, and progressive Bauchi must stand up, speak out, and champion the cause of true leadershipPate is working hard without blowing his trumphet to unite APC and to help on restoring decent politics without bitterness that is the reason why political thugs will never understand the language of development in Politics. The journey ahead demands resilience and determination, but with Professor Muhammad Ali Pate at the helm, Bauchi has the chance to emerge stronger, more prosperous, and more united than ever before. The time for transformation is now. The leader is here. The future is ours to shape.

We are happy and praying as the 2027 election cycle approaches, that Professor Pate said he will be ready to serve the Bauchi people, even though he’s currently preoccupied with delivering on the mandate given him by President Bola Tinubu and he is working to see that all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state move in one direction if the plan to displace the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state will come to fruition. “I think we are very closely connected with the grassroots in the state. And I think the issues facing the state are very clear. But it will not come to be if the party is not united. And my singular focus is to unify APC in Bauchi, to support the president to achieve what he is trying to achieve now, and also what comes off in 2027″. “Now, as to what happens at the state level, and I hope that the state stakeholders will align so that we have a successful alignment between the president’s success and also what happens at the subnational level. “So it’s not about personal animosities and other parochial things. That’s not my style. My focus is really to see what we can do to build, not to really divide the polity in Bauchi,” I believe he has the capacity to nip the bud because he is a man with a mission to develop the state, and to develop our country,” Please stop making any accordions on or  about Professor Pate.

 Dr Abdulrahaman Sade a media consultant wrote in from Abuja