By Ibrahim Biu

Months after Sen. Bala  Mohammed left office successfully as FCT Minister, a few critics or do I call them dissidents still haul insults at him. Though Bala is not a saint but many people will certainly not agree with the desperate attempt by his opponents and perceived enemies to disparage him.

Some of my senior colleagues have told me that there is a widespread belief that politics could taint noble people. This reporter believe that the same thing is happening to Bala after serving as the longest serving FCT Minister (from 2/10/2010 to 29/5/15) his impeccable record speaks volume about his efforts and contributions to the development of not only Abuja but the whole nation. He has really done his best towards delivering    services to the people as required of him. He has also supported worthy causes during the period under review.

This writer is of the view that at a somewhat tender age when his peers were still seeking relevance, Bala, had surprised even his critics by the far – reaching reforms he had successfully introduced at the FCTA through his dogged determination and commitment to what he believed was needed to uplift the Federal Capital Territory and put it on a very sure foundation for development as envisaged by those who conceived Abuja many years ago. When projects like the land swap and the FCT revenue board eventually takes off FCTA will get billions of Naira to take care of its problems annually.

The achievements made by Bala are verifiable and could be seen on the ground. Bala is a complete gentleman of repute. He is humble, calm in his approaches, very receptive, level headed and above all a de-tribalized Nigerian. He is also loyal to a fault.

Bala had during his stay at the FCT introduced and implemented far reaching programmes  like the land – reforms, land – swap initiative, provision of critical infrastructure, restructuring of the FCT civil servants for optimum performance and protecting the Abuja master plan from illegal developers, among many other achievements recorded by his team.

Nobody can deny that Bala’s role in the development of the FCT within the last five years has become the reference point for others, as he was able to do what many FCT ministers before him were unable to do. His intellectual contributions to the development of Abuja are recognizable especially to the actualization of the Jonathan transformation agenda. He did this quietly without making too much noise like his predecessors.  He was only concerned with making Abuja, a great city where things actually work.

Before his memorable stint at the FCTA, Bala had an unblemished record in the federal civil service where he rose to the envying position of a substantive director and later went through the drudgery of grassroot politics to etch his name as a senator apart from his appointment to the enviable position of Secretary of the Northern senators forum for many years.

Apart from what Bala had succeeded in achieving at the FCT and as a senator, he has become a bridge builder of sort, with a huge followers and he is respected almost all over the country. Bala is also a leader who is trusted and accepted by many politicians including even his peers and people who have occupied ministerial positions like him.

I am without doubt that Sen. Bala is the right leader to be given the post of the PDP chairman.

I therefore feel that allowing Bala to be the chairman of the PDP will be of advantage to the party as he will be able to properly reposition it and succeed in bringing those who have earlier left the party.

This is because senator Bala is a strategist and will surely use his huge experience and contacts to woe those who have left the PDP. In other words he will be able to make the party a much more vibrant one and ready for the 2019 elections.

Biu writes from Abuja