Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has kept five of the six first-class traditional rulers of the state waiting for two consecutive hours during the 2025 Budget presentation at the State house of Assembly, WikkiTimes reliably gathered.
WikkiTimes learnt that emirs of Bauchi Alh. (Dr.) Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu; of Misau Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman; of Jama’are Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed Wani III; of Ningi Alhaji Haruna Yunusa Danyaya, and that of Dass Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman had arrived the premises of Bauchi State Assembly around 9:30am to witness the annual event.
This did not go down well with many people in the state including government officials who considered such treatment of the traditional rulers disrespectful.
Recall that the governor had on Thursday November 21 presented a N465.08 billion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year to the legislative arm.
The governor arrived two hours behind the scheduled time after the monarchs, lawmakers, former senators, and members of the state executive council were already seated.
Similarly, a day prior to the budget presentation, Governor Mohammed also kept members of the state executive council waiting at the Executive chamber of the Government House for nearly two hours. He reportedly arrived at 11: 40am for the meeting scheduled for 10: 00 am.
Observers and analysts believe that the Governor, with his penchant for lateness, does not respect his subordinates. He almost always appears at his convenience at a function regardless of the scheduled time.
A northern Nigerian traditional historian, Malam Ibrahim Hussaini Dawakin Tofa attributed the incident to the diminishing influence of traditional rulers due to political changes in Nigeria.
Dawakin Tofa, however, said that despite the stripping of power from the traditional authorities, they deserve some respect as custodians of society’s cultural heritage.
“The problem is not entirely Bala Mohammed’s fault, but a reflection of how traditional leaders have been stripped of their authority under the current constitution,” he explained.
“In the past, these rulers commanded significant respect, but today they are sidelined. However, even within these constraints, there should be respect for their time and presence. Our emirs deserve respect. Making them wait for hours is an insult to our heritage”, he said.
There has been a growing sentiment that traditional institutions’ depleted powers in the current democratic dispensation continue to undermine their influence in governance and public affairs.
The governor’s persistent tardiness is also raising concerns among political analysts, who warn that it sets a dangerous precedent for governance and public service in the state.
Dr Rabi’u Barau of Sa’adu Zungur University Bauchi said lateness has been embedded in most people both leaders and the masses, but it tarnishes the image of a leader. He added that it indicates a lousy mentorship that could have far-reaching consequences for the governor to do such a thing.
“As a leader, it sends a negative message which encourages impunity and a lax attitude among the followers.”
Dr Barau further noted that such behaviour erodes the moral authority of a leader to enforce discipline within his territory.
“Public officers like other people often take cues from their masters. If the leader consistently arrives late to official functions, it gestures to other officials that punctuality is not a priority.
“It cripples governance, delays critical decision-making processes, and creates a culture of inefficiency. In essence, it’s a bad habit that has serious implications for governance,” he added, stressing that this behavior undermines the leader’s moral authority, making it difficult to enforce discipline within their jurisdiction.
Despite criticism, Dr Barau urged citizens on their part to consider that leaders often handle numerous responsibilities, some of which may be more pressing than punctuality at certain events.
However, he called on Governor Bala to demonstrate respect for traditional institutions, noting that emirs are symbolic fathers to the society and deserve recognition and honour.
Observers warn that if this trend continues, it could normalize a culture of tardiness and disrespect for traditional and public institutions in Bauchi State.
Babaji Usman Babaji is an investigative journalist with over four years of experience, renowned for his impactful reporting on corruption, human rights violations, and holding those in power accountable in Nigeria.
His career is distinguished by participation in numerous media training programs and conferences, which have honed his investigative and reporting skills. Babaji’s data-driven stories have made a significant impact, particularly in Northern Nigeria, shedding light on critical issues and driving meaningful change.
As a reporter under WikkiTimes’ Collaborative Media (CMEDIA) Project, Babaji has led several groundbreaking investigations. He was a 2022 fellow of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and a 2024 Media Foundation for West Africa DPI/DPG fellow. His contributions to accountability journalism earned him a Certificate of Recognition from Xchange Hama Media for impactful community work.
