Muhammad Ali Pate: The man Bauchi deserves in 2019

As the clock ticks towards 2019 general elections, the consciousness of the people of Bauchi State as other states now tilt towards producing the next elected officials. The electorates should this term around look out for the best so as not to sacrifice merit in those that will lead and represent the state. We need leaders who will not govern with negativism and fear of the future, but with vigor, vision and aggressive leadership- leaders who will not be isolated from the people, but who will feel our pains, share our dreams and take his strength, wisdom and his courage from us.

We want Bauchi State where there will be a sound, effective, reliable and affordable agricultural, health, education, job creation and infrastructural development policies. Now that we are heading for another election, it’s vital that mandate is given to aspirants that are endowed with knowledge public and private sector experience willing to kneel and embrace those who are not like them. Everyone seeking to lead and represent us must profess great loves for our State and its progress. The candidates should not only offer us grand promises about new leadership and new solutions; but a comprehensive blue print on how they will lead and turn around things for good and betterment of the masses. We need visionary and charismatic leaders that are in knowledge of current global challenges of utilizing its natural and human resources to the development of the State. We need elected officials humble enough to see leadership not as an entitlement but as a privilege.

X-raying Dr. Mohammad Ali Pate’s credentials, he is one of the candidates that will not be a round peg in a square hole if elected as the Governor in 2019. Going by his rich experience of public, private and international public service; his election would definitely open the door to a balanced Solution to the State’s daunting challenges going by his numerous achievements. He stand qualified having achieved a giant stride while as a House Officer, Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria, July 1990 - July 1991, Medical Officer, Nassarawa Hospital, Kano, Nigeria, July 1991 - August 1992, Assistant Lecturer/ Senior House Officer, Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Nigeria, August 1992 - February 1993, Medical Officer, British Medical Research Council Laboratory; Fajara, The Gambia Republic, February 1993 - June 1995, Resident Physician and Chief Resident (in 1998), Howard University Hospital, DC General Hospital Greater South East Community Hospital, Washington, DC, July 1995 - July 1998, Instructor in Medicine and Infectious Diseases Fellow, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA, July 1998 July 2000, a young Professional/Health Specialist of Africa Region, World Bank Group, Washington, DC, USA, 20002001, Health Specialist seconded from World Bank to the District of Columbia Government Department of Health, USA, 2001, Senior Health Specialist at World Bank Group, 2001-2006, Human Development Sector Coordinator/ Senior Health Specialist, East Asia and Pacific Region at World Bank Group, Washington, DC, 2006-2008, Chief Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), 2008-2011, Federal Cabinet Minister (Minister of State for Health), 2011-2013, Chair and Vice-Chair, Global Agenda Council on Population Growth at World Economic Forum (WEF), 2011-2013, Visiting Professor at Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA, 2013date, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chigari Foundation, Abuja, Nigeria, 2014-date, Co-chair of Harvard-London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Independent Panel on the Global Ebola Response 2014-2015, Board member of Merck for Mothers, Merck & Co. USA, 2014 to date, Member of Advisory Board, Family Health International (FHI360) 2015date, Co- Chair and Founding Board member, Private Sector Health Alliance (PHN) of Nigeria (supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), 2010 to date, Richard L. and Ronay Menschel Senior Leadership Fellowship at the Division of Policy Translation and Leadership Development; Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA, 2016, member of African Development Bank (AFDB) Health Initiative 2013 to date and currently as the Chief Executive Officer, Big Win Philanthropy, July 31, 2015 to date.

Pate’s election would curb the growing power of pockets of special or quack interests, which so often conceal their self-serving agendas behind a facade of fist-in-the-air patriotism and unfulfilling promises. Dr. Pate is both the key to a brighter future and the bulwark to move the State to a greater height; his deep knowledge of public, international and private sector investments will be a great asset in opening the doors of foreign investment in the State that will help to creates Jobs, small scale industries, transfer of knowledge and technology. He’s been meticulous, transparent, focus, visionary, thorough and responsible to a fault. If anything; he’s a marvelous professional, administrator, medical Doctor, academician, consultant, technocrat, politician and a miniphilanthropist. Today, Professor Pate represents the fountain of humility, wisdom, loyalty, discipline, hardworking, know-how, patriotism and accountability. He had a realistic view of the avant-garde world; he is a great analyst, pragmatic and also a tactician to get things done. He is God fearing man, a type who will inspire and to galvanize, not to share our distract thoughts. He is a type who will not surround himself with melancholy appointees and advisers. Going by his track records and achievement; he is an aspirant that if given the opportunity in 2019 will lead the State to a sustainable path, with an economy built on human capital, not financial engineering.

Finally, to my fellow citizens of Bauchi State and other residents, 2019 general election should be by the integrity, idea, vision, know-how, charisma, ability and the experience of individuals seeking to lead and represent us. We want to have faith again, we want to perceive the evidence of good governance in every nook and cranny of the State, we want to be proud again and we just want the truth again. Now that we are prepared to make another choice, let’s choose wisely in order not to put our lives into the hands of those gamblers, opportunists, deceivers or chance takers. The verdict is therefore ours to either choose to rebuild our future, by voting the right candidates or sustain the legacies we will inherit; unfulfilled promises and disappointments.

Mr. Yahaya wrote from this from Abuja piece