Politics
The Gentle Power of Giving A Life Story of Dr. Bala Maijama’a Wunti
By Usman Abdullahi Koli, ANIPR
Some lives are measured in years, others in titles, and some in possessions. The rarest and most enduring lives are measured in the hearts they touch and the hope they restore. Dr. Bala Maijama’a Wunti belongs firmly in that rare place. His journey has been one of resilience and quiet strength, of rising from hardship to become a fountain of generosity whose waters reach far beyond the place where they spring.
Born on 8th August 1966, his earliest years were marked by a loss that would shape the rest of his life. Losing both parents as a child meant entering the world with an emptiness most could never imagine. Those days were not kind, survival was his only option. There were no easy comforts, no safety nets, only the will to push forward and the dream that tomorrow could be better.
Instead of allowing hardship to harden him, it softened him in extraordinary ways. The hunger he knew became a hunger to feed others. The loneliness he endured became a desire to stand by those who had no one. The obstacles he faced became a determination to clear the paths for others. He did not allow pain to turn into bitterness; he transformed it into kindness.
Over the years, giving has become so woven into his life that it no longer feels like charity, it feels like breathing. He has lifted burdens that would have crushed families, stepped in quietly where hope was fading, and turned despair into relief for people who may never know his face but will always remember his help. For him, giving is not a grand event; it is the natural rhythm of his days.
Only yesterday, on the eve of his birthday, he paid the full registration fees for Bauchi State indigenous Law students across Law Schools in Nigeria and added incentives to support their journey. For those young men and women, it was more than a payment. It was belief in their dreams and a reminder that someone cares enough to invest in their future. Acts like this are not exceptions in his life, they are the pattern.
His foundation, Wunti Alkhair, is an extension of his own values. It reaches into communities, lifts the sick from their sickbeds by clearing medical bills, opens doors of opportunity for young people to acquire skills, and creates moments of dignity where they seemed lost. It strengthens faith by building and restoring places of worship, not as monuments of wealth but as sanctuaries of hope.
What makes him remarkable is not just the scale of what he gives but the sincerity with which he gives it. There is no fanfare, no calculation, no search for applause. Many of those who have felt his kindness will never meet him, yet they carry a piece of him in their stories, in their survival, and in their renewed strength to face life again.
As we celebrate his birthday today, we celebrate far more than a date. We honour a man whose life is proof that greatness is not in what we take but in what we give. A man who rose through the storms of his own childhood to become a shelter for others. A man who, in a world too often cold and self-serving, has chosen to be warm and selfless.
May Allah grant him long life, good health, and the strength to keep shaping lives for the better. May his journey remind us all that no matter where we start, we can choose to live in a way that makes the world a little softer, a little fairer, and a little kinder.
Happy Birthday, Dr. Bala Maijama’a Wunti. Your life is not only a blessing to those who know you but to many who never will, and that is the highest form of legacy.
Usman Abdullahi Koli,
mernoukoli@gmail.com.
By Our Political Reporter
The Gombe APC Councillor Aspirants Forum has announced plans to hold a gathering aimed at demonstrating its support and solidarity with a candidate ahead of the forthcoming political activities in the state.
The event, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 3:30 p.m., will take place at the Educational Resources Centre, Tashan Dukku, Gombe State.
According to the invitation notice issued by the Gombe APC Councillor Aspirants Forum (GOCAF-2020/2026), the gathering is being organised to demonstrate the forum’s support and unity among APC councillor aspirants.
The organisers said the event will also provide an opportunity to present the activities, contributions and plans of the forum towards strengthening the All Progressives Congress (APC) and contributing to what they described as the success of the party.
The invitation specifically describes the programme as “A Gathering in Support of Candidate”, although the name of the candidate is obscured on the copy of the invitation available for publication.
The forum said the gathering is expected to bring together members and stakeholders associated with the APC councillorship aspirants’ platform to discuss issues concerning the party and its grassroots structures.
The development comes as political activities and preparations for the 2027 general elections continue to intensify across Gombe State and other parts of Nigeria. Recent reporting has also documented increased political activity involving major parties in Gombe ahead of the 2027 elections.
The organisers invited members, supporters and other relevant stakeholders to attend the gathering, which they said would provide an avenue to showcase the forum’s activities and its contribution to the development of the APC.
The invitation listed the contact numbers 08062863525, 09116706265 and 08031107293 for further enquiries.
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: Educational Resources Centre, Tashan Dukku, Gombe State.
By Our Political Correspondent
The Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Gombe State has unveiled a 21-member campaign structure for its governorship campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The structure, described in the document as the “Approved Structure of the Alliance for Progressive Movement (APM) Gombe State Gubernatorial Campaign Team,” is headed by the Director-General, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Jibrin of Akko Local Government Area.
The campaign structure was formally approved and endorsed by the party’s Gombe State governorship candidate, Dr. Lamela L. Silas, according to the document.
The development comes as the APM continues to strengthen its organisational structure in the state ahead of the 2027 governorship election. Dr. Silas and Alhaji Wadaji Umar Lawan were unveiled as the party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively in August 2026.
Under the approved structure, Hon. Jethro Usman of Billiri will serve as Deputy Director-General, while Alhaji Sani Bappah Nafada is designated Assistant Coordinator North.
Mallam Baba Sama Kuri of Yamaltu-Deba will serve as Assistant Coordinator Central, while Hon. Garba Abubakar of Billiri will coordinate the Southern Senatorial District.
The position of General Secretary goes to Alhaji Hassan Dawaki of Dukku, with Hon. Abdullahi Muhammad of Yamaltu-Deba serving as Assistant General Secretary.
Other members include Hon. Baba Manu Kwami, Financial Secretary; Dr. Muhammad Basuna Lano, Treasurer; and Hon. Gaddafi Haruna, Director of Contact and Mobilisation.
Hon. Zakari Kwapondi of Kaltungo was named Assistant Director of Contact and Mobilisation.
In the media and communications arm, Hussaini Sani Babangida of Gombe was appointed Director of Media and Publicity, while Abubakar Abdullahi of Akko was named Director of Social Media.
The structure also names Isah Muhammad Lasdon as Youth Leader, with Yohana Peter Lalapido serving as Assistant Youth Leader.
The women’s wing is headed by Haj. Aishatu Yakubu Tula of Kaltungo as Women Leader, while Binta Maikudi Shamaki of Gombe was appointed Assistant Women Leader.
For organisational affairs, Comr. Abdullahi Batari of Balanga was appointed Organising Secretary, with Alhaji Muhammad Manu Isa of Funakaye as Assistant Organising Secretary.
The legal department comprises San. Luka Haruna of Akko as Legal Officer and Barr. Sa’idu Muhammad Wade of Yamaltu-Deba as Assistant Legal Officer.
Full APM Gombe Campaign Structure
1. Director-General (DG): Rt. Hon. Yusuf Jibrin — Akko
2. Deputy Director-General (DDG): Hon. Jethro Usman — Billiri
3. Assistant Coordinator North: Alh. Sani Bappah Nafada — Nafada
4. Assistant Coordinator Central: Mallam Baba Sama Kuri — Yamaltu-Deba
5. Assistant Coordinator South: Hon. Garba Abubakar — Billiri
6. General Secretary: Alh. Hassan Dawaki — Dukku
7. Assistant General Secretary: Hon. Abdullahi Muhammad — Yamaltu-Deba
8. Financial Secretary: Hon. Baba Manu Kwami — Kwami
9. Treasurer: Dr. Muhammad Basuna Lano — Yamaltu-Deba
10. Director, Contact & Mobilisation: Hon. Gaddafi Haruna — Gombe
11. Assistant Director, Contact & Mobilisation: Hon. Zakari Kwapondi — Kaltungo
12. Director, Media & Publicity: Hussaini Sani Babangida — Gombe
13. Director, Social Media: Abubakar Abdullahi — Akko
14. Youth Leader: Isah Muhammad Lasdon — Gombe
15. Assistant Youth Leader: Yohana Peter Lalapido — Shongom
16. Women Leader: Haj. Aishatu Yakubu Tula — Kaltungo
17. Assistant Women Leader: Binta Maikudi Shamaki — Gombe
18. Organising Secretary: Comr. Abdullahi Batari — Balanga
19. Assistant Organising Secretary: Alh. Muhammad Manu Isa — Funakaye
20. Legal Officer: San. Luka Haruna — Akko
21. Assistant Legal Officer: Barr. Sa’idu Muhammad Wade — Yamaltu-Deba
The composition gives representation to several local government areas and assigns responsibilities across coordination, administration, mobilisation, media, youth, women, organisation and legal affairs.
The APM has in recent weeks also engaged its national leadership in Abuja, with Dr. Silas and his running mate discussing party development, election planning and strengthening the party’s grassroots organisation in Gombe.
The newly released campaign structure is therefore expected to serve as an organisational framework for coordinating the party’s activities across the state as preparations for the 2027 governorship election continue.
The document lists the appointments as formally approved and endorsed by Dr. Lamela L. Silas.
Willies Ugo, Gombe
A socio-political group, Forward Nigeria, has kicked off its political advocacy campaign with a call on Northern Nigeria political stakeholders to respect the gentleman power shift arrangement between the North and South.
Co-Convener of the group, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, who is also the Kano State Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, made the call at the formal unveiling of the group held at Barcelona Hotel Abuja, over the weekend.
Membership of Forward Nigeria cuts across all parts of Nigeria and Comrade Ibrahim Waiya said the group is of the view that since Nigeria’s return to democratic governance in 1999, the North-South power rotation has been maintained between the two regions with a view to fostering national unity and even development across the country.
The group is therefore urging political stakeholders in the North to respect the principle of power rotation and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete the eight-year presidential tenure before the North seeks to reclaim power.
According to Comrade Waiya, returning the presidency to the North after only one term would undermine the principle of power rotation and risk reopening sectional tensions that have historically shaped Nigeria’s presidential politics.
Waiya argued that the North should not seek to claim presidency in 2027 after only four years of the current administration, insisting that allowing Tinubu to complete the eight years would provide political continuity and give his Government time to consolidate its policies, programmes and projects initiated for the overall progress and developmentof Nigeria.
He urged Northern political stakeholders to place the broader principle of national balance above immediate electoral calculations saying, “Nigerians should focus on governance and development rather than allowing the 2027 contest to revive sectional divisions”.
Waiya said, “the Tinubu administration inherited enormous economic and security challenges in 2023 and had since introduced measures which, were putting the country on a different trajectory”.
He cited Local Government autonomy, increased financial resources accruing to sub-national Governments and moves towards establishing State police structures as reforms that could strengthen governance and security.
Waiya disclosed that Kano State had already established a State Police implementation committee, which he added could contribute to job creation and improved security when fully implemented.
Waiya described “Nigeria Forward” as a bridge between policy and people as well as a platform for bottom to top citizens engagement insisting that the NF was not owned by any particular political party but has been dedicated to all Nigerians.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and co-convener of the movement, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said the Federal Government’s reforms were designed to move Nigeria from infrastructure and connectivity to production, jobs and prosperity.
He said Nigeria’s development story, particularly in the North, should not be reduced to political slogans, urging citizens to examine what was being built, where projects were located, the problems they were solving and who stood to benefit.
Tochukwu Udeh said infrastructure should be judged by its practical impact, noting that roads should connect farmers to markets while railways should reduce the cost of transporting goods. He identified energy and digital connectivity as important to expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.
He described the administration’s development trajectory as “reform to infrastructure, infrastructure to connectivity, connectivity to production, production to jobs and jobs to prosperity,” and called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 to consolidate the reforms.
He urged Nigeria Forward members to make evidence, inclusiveness, innovation and national unity the foundation of their activities, saying the platform’s message of “Together We Move Nigeria Forward” should translate into a commitment to service, citizenship and national development.
End
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