Opinions
2023: Why Tinubu, Shettima hits the road to Birnin Gwari before the APC Rally in Kaduna
2023: Why Tinubu, Shettima hits the road to Birnin Gwari before the APC Rally in Kaduna
By: James Bwala
The Emir of Birnin Gwari commended the APC presidential candidate for braving the odds to visit the volatile community, a gesture he described as uncommon. This informed the decision by Mai Gwari, Mallam Zubairu to bestow the chieftaincy title of Dakari of Birnin Gwari on Tinubu. According to him, Tinubu and Kashim Shettima were the first presidential candidate and Vice-Presidential Candidate to visit the bandits-ravaged community. Birnin Gwari is one of the most attacked areas by Bandits in Kaduna State. Residents and travellers have suffered loss of loved ones due to persistent killings, maiming, and destruction meted on them by terrorists in the last six years.
In politics having onions is one thing and knowing your onions is another. The strategy being adopted by the APC and its candidates is that of building relationships across the state rather than just selling candidacy.
Many perhaps would have concluded that the APC Presidential Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in Birnin Gwari for the honour in their political thinking or perhaps to sympathise with the people. Well, they could be both correct. But what has kept the others from doing so? While the occasion presented opportunity to be honoured as well as to show humanity by condoling the people that have suffered consistent attacks by Bandits, the road to Birnin Gwari was also politically strategic to open opportunity for the success of the All-Progressive Congress, APC in Kaduna and the northwest states in the unfolding events.
Both Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are thinkers and so are many strategic followers and supporters who surround them. Those who know the politics of Kaduna, the headquarters of the northern region, would always say ‘an acceptance in Birnin Gwari is an acceptance in the Northwest region.’. Therefore, one cannot deny the fact that Birnin Gwari has played ranks in successive political outings in Kaduna state.
It appeared also to have combined key ingredients in the making of the person’s riding to the political helm of affairs according to history. Perhaps, the APC Presidential Candidate and his words “I Know the road”, should be a subject of political research for young politicians who are aspiring to lead in the future.
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Aside from the coordination of power, history also revealed that Birnin Gwari is Nigeria’s biggest gold mine. It was said that the gold deposited in Birnin Gwari is much more than the gold in South Africa. Therefore, Birnin Gwari is Nigeria’s biggest market in the future. While other Presidential Aspirants are battling to convince the electorates on what they may bring on the table to fix Nigeria’s problems, Tinubu and Kashim Shettima have constantly reminded the electorates of their knowledge of the road to solving Nigeria’s problems.
Birnin Gwari happens to be one in many areas of concern, which informed their ride and the historic visit on Monday. This is another knock on the opposition psyche in the ongoing political events. ‘Perhaps the Birnin Gwari classical guitar was the reason for PDP’s Atiku call for Nigerians to vote for A-PDP in Jos rally, while Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are adding to their tally in Kaduna.
According to Mai Gwari, “Birnin Gwari has gold deposits all over. My father told me that we had gold underneath. In the mid 60’s and the early 70’s, Russians and some Australians came and explored Birnin Gwari. They told my father that there were lots of solid mineral deposits like gold, iron ore and petroleum. But nobody was ready to do anything about it and the experts took their findings away. That time, the government was not interested because of oil.”
Recalling that, speaking at the palace of the Mai Gwari, the APC Presidential Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu explained that the visit to Birnin Gwari was to have first-hand knowledge of the area and its peculiar security and socioeconomic challenges. “I stand before you, sir, to say that there is a good opportunity coming. The election is near,” he said, adding that “we serve them notice again that we will not relent in our efforts to eliminate banditry. I can assure you, that will be our priority.” With that few words, he passed the message.
The visit indeed opens another chapter for the government if elected in 2023 to have a closer look at the economic potentials at the Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state and other parts of the northern regions where Nigeria’s deposits of oil and gold is becoming Central to the country’s growth in the economy of nations.
2023: Why Tinubu, Shettima hits the road to Birnin Gwari before the APC Rally in Kaduna