By Abba Anwar
As public hearing on Constitution Review in Kano comes to an end, today, Sunday 27th July, 2025, which marks the conclusion of the public hearings across all the six geo-political zones, some key stakeholders, who called themselves Stakeholders Cluster for Constitution Review, assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu their total support of the entire process, courtesy the Chairman of the Review Committee, Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin.
Kano’s hearing that started from yesterday and ended today, was for the North West engagement. Other events were held simultaneously across five geo-political zones. They were in Enugu in South East, Jos in North Central, Lagos, in South West, Ikot Ekpene in South South and Maiduguri in North East between the 4th and 5th July, 2025.
The North West event was postponed twice from the original scheduled dates. It was postponed to 18th and 19th July. And later rescheduled again to 26th to 27th July.
The postponements were to honour the death of two distinguished Nigerians. Late business mogul Alhaji Aminu Dantata and the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari.
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Appreciating the examplary chairmanship role through effective coordination of all the hearings across the six geo-political zones, exhibited by Senator Jibrin, the coming together of some serious stakeholders, who attended many sessions, assured that, what they examined and critically assessed, was the seriousness and patriotic commitment of the Committee’s Chairman, DSP, alongside other Committee members.
While dismissing tagging the entire exercise as political jamboree, by some political opponents, the Cluster through their Chairman, Danbala Ja’e Birnin Magaji, amplified their honest and committed stand that, the choice of the Deputy Senate President gives more credibility to the entire process.
They reiterated that, “We in the core North, we believe, right from day one, that, when Senate appointed Senator Barau Jibrin to chair the Constitution Review Committee, we accepted the idea in an unwavering honesty and support. We believe there is honesty attached to the whole process and procedures.”
Encouraging that, “We are here from all walks of life across our geo-political zone, that is North West, to say it loud and clear to the Senate President Distinguished Senator God’swill Akpabio and then the President of our great nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban, that wherever we see Distinguished Senator Barau Jibrin, we know North in its entirety is fully and well represented.”
There are many professionals, trade groups, students bodies, youth groups, women associations, and culturalists who were present during the maiden meeting of the Cluster, few hours after the last session of today’s hearing. Faces were in good mood, thrilling not lamenting. And commending the overall success of the public hearings across the nation.
With this in mind, one can understand how passionate and encouraging such informed Northern citizens are, when they spot any visibility of the Deputy Senate President in our national affairs. This and many more visible circumstances of the Senator create more corridors for accepting policies and programmes of the National Assembly and that of the Tinubu-led administration.
This clearly suggests that, the Constitution Review will continue to get good support of Northerners. Especially looking at the way and manner national issues were raised, discussed and understood by participants during those sittings.
As the Deputy Senate President’s involvement as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, many groups and associations I got across with, believe that, the process is honest, patriotic, all-encompassing and above all, is meant for genuine national cohesion and development.
One good thing that many got to know through their representatives at the National Assembly, is how DSP’s name is being echoed and re-echoed, in many instances, as a true and compassionate lover of bridging any gap, real or imaginary, between all sections of the country for the overall development of our motherland Nigeria.
It appears, this detribalised political behavior of Senator Jibrin, gives him more recognition and more acceptance within the North, not only his geo-political zone. But all the three zones from Northern Nigeria.
It is indeed this special Nigeria-Only attitude that creates an atmosphere around this Distinguished Senator, which makes him to be acceptable, lovable, respectful and responsive quintessential element. Whose relevance and achievements are not debatable.
One should not wonder why the Red Chamber believes he can do the job. The job, is indeed and entirely not for ethnic jingoists. But it is a work that can only be handled by a Nigerian who believes in making the country great. A true and patriotic Nigerian.
That were among many other reasons the Stakeholders Cluster used as indices to measure his unrelenting support for corporate and united Nigeria. With nationally accepted politicians like DSP, South – North dichotomy becomes history. As he is doing his best now. Just go and make enquiry about the Bills he presents to the hallowed Red Chamber. Such Bills represent true Nigerian structure, with less or no quarrel.
According to the Cluster, Nigerians are waiting eagerly to see the good work of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, with Senator Jibrin as the all-coordinating Chairman.
Bravo DSP! Bravo!
Anwar writes from Kano
Sunday, July 27th, 2025
