Tafawa Balewa’s grandson joins Bauchi South Senate race

From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

Grandson of late former Prime Minister of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Billy Tafawa, has joined the race for Bauchi South Senatorial District, to replace Late Senator Ali Wakili.
Billy who is a consultant to African Union and Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) told reporters in Bauchi that he would vie for the Bauchi South Senatorial seat to enable him follow the footsteps of his grandfather and other charismatic leaders and to bring real dividends of democracy to the people of Bauchi, North East and Nigeria.
He commended late Senator Ali Wakili and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara, for doing what is right to the electorates and Nigerians.
Billy pledged to consolidate on the legacies of late Senator Wakili and Dogara and to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s laudable programmes and policies that would bring the desired change that would make the country a better place.
He said he decided to contest after wide consultations with majority of stakeholders in all the seven local Government Areas of the Bauchi South Senatorial District that included Alkaleri, Kirfi, Bauchi, Toro, Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro local Government Areas.
Billy said “even late Senator Wakili who happened to be my in-law always encouraged me to come and contest for the seat even before he died, and now that he was not around, I will contest and consolidate on his legacies”.
He said “the major problems bedeviling the entire North Eastern State is poverty, we are ravaged by poverty, because poverty has wounded us, even before the coming of Boko Haram, if I am elected, I will do my best. I pledge to bring industries in Bauchi and the entire North East”.
Billy commended Speaker Dogara for championing the creation of North East Development Commission (NEDC) and urged that since it was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, government should do all it could to ensure that it starts work.
Over 30 people has declared interest to contest for the seat, among them is the former Bauchi State Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda.