Dr. Bala Maijama’a Wunti
A stakeholder in Bauchi State, Aminu Bauchin Bauchi, has explained that the growing calls for Bala Maijama’a Wunti to contest the 2027 governorship election stem from his long-standing humanitarian interventions and contributions to the socio-economic development of the state.
According to him, Wunti’s popularity among many residents transcends partisan politics and is rooted in his record of philanthropy, community service and commitment to improving the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Aminu noted that through the Wunti Al-Khair Foundation, the former senior executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has sponsored thousands of students through scholarship programmes, supported religious institutions, provided humanitarian assistance to vulnerable groups, empowered women and youths, and facilitated technology and vocational skills training across the state.
He added that the foundation has also undertaken mentorship programmes aimed at nurturing future leaders and creating opportunities for young people to become self-reliant.
According to him, the agitation for Wunti’s emergence as governor was inspired by what many residents perceive as his humility, accessibility, integrity and accountability in public and private life.
“This is more than politics. It is about a man who has consistently touched lives and invested in people without occupying an elective position. Many people believe that if he could do so much as a private citizen, he would do even more with the mandate of the people,” Aminu said.
Wunti, a respected technocrat and former Group General Manager at NNPCL, retired from active service last year after a distinguished career in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Following his retirement, pressure mounted from members of the ruling APC, youth groups, community leaders and supporters who urged him to seek the governorship seat.
He eventually declared his interest in the race but lost the APC ticket to former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.
Recalling Wunti’s response when calls for him to run first emerged, Aminu said the former NNPCL executive initially expressed reluctance, insisting that he had never set out with the ambition of becoming governor.
“When the people asked him to consider contesting, he responded with remarkable honesty. He said: ‘I didn’t intend to become governor. Almighty Allah has blessed me with everything. All the essentials of life that one can ask for, Alhamdulillah, I have them.’”
However, Aminu said Wunti eventually gave serious consideration to the appeal after receiving persistent requests from elders, associates, community leaders and ordinary citizens across the state.
According to him, Wunti remarked: “When your parents, friends, brothers and sisters, the community that raised you, and even younger people are calling on you to lead with trust and sincerity, it becomes a responsibility that deserves serious reflection.”
Aminu further stated that Wunti understands the enormous burden of leadership and has repeatedly emphasised that governance is a sacred trust rather than an avenue for personal enrichment.
He quoted Wunti as saying: “Being governor is not an easy responsibility. The education of our children, the security of our communities, and the welfare of every resident of Bauchi State would rest on my shoulders. That is a responsibility one must approach with fear of God and a deep sense of accountability.”
The stakeholder also disclosed that Wunti had consistently cautioned supporters against viewing political power as a means of accessing public resources for personal gain.
“Whoever thinks that if I become governor, I will use public funds to enrich individuals should think again. I will never compromise my integrity or my relationship with God. Public resources belong to the people and must be used for their benefit,” he quoted Wunti as saying.
Wunti, according to Aminu, believes that his life story, from losing his parents at a young age to rising to the highest levels of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, serves as a testimony to divine grace and hard work.
“The blessings Allah has bestowed on me are more than enough. He raised me from an orphan to a position of national responsibility and influence. Therefore, I have every reason to serve humanity with gratitude and sincerity,” Wunti was quoted as saying.
Aminu maintained that it is this combination of professional accomplishment, philanthropy, and perceived personal integrity that continues to make Wunti a prominent figure in Bauchi’s political landscape and fuels ongoing calls for him to play a greater role in the state’s future.
