As the 2027 elections approach, the political temperature in Gombe State is rising. But beyond the usual party dynamics and shifting alliances, a clear and compelling voice is resonating from the grassroots to the state capital of Muhammad Jibrin Barde, popularly known as Dan Barde. In a state fatigued by broken promises and bureaucratic stagnation, Barde represents not just another candidate but a transformative vision rooted in competence, integrity, and service.
Born into a legacy of education and hard work, Barde distinguished himself in Nigeria’s financial sector long before his political ambitions took root. With decades of experience spanning Citibank, Union Bank, and as the pioneer CEO of SunTrust Bank, his track record is one of fiscal prudence, strategic leadership, and an uncommon discipline that is sorely lacking in todays political class. But his decision to step into the political arena was not born of ambition it was born of necessity. Barde has often said that he could no longer sit idly by while the people of Gombe, especially the poor and vulnerable, were left behind in a state rich in potential yet starved of good governance.
Across towns and villages, his message is simple and consistent: Gombe deserves better. He has spent the last several years engaging directly with the people, not just through media stunts or token gestures, but through genuine dialogue and acts of quiet support. Retired civil servants speak of his concern for their unpaid gratuities. Young people speak of his promises to restore the educational system. Women and farmers speak of a leader who listens and responds.
Barde’s vision is ambitious but grounded. He has consistently challenged the unsustainable borrowing habits of current administration, warning that mortgaging Gombe’s future for political expediency will only deepen the state’s economic woes. He has pointed to the rot in the education system, the collapse of primary healthcare, and the decline of agricultural productivity all issues he believes can be reversed through sound management, inclusivity, and transparency.
But perhaps most striking is Barde’s position on political identity. At a time when party loyalty often trumps performance, I want to make it clear that men define the party, not the other way around. The people, not party symbols, must determine the direction of leadership. We can not continue to mortgage our collective destiny to party slogans and empty manifestos. It is time to follow vision, not colour. Credibility, not convenience.
In this view, Barde has found unlikely allies across political divides. His rising popularity cuts across PDP, LP, SDP, APC, and emerging youth movements tired of recycled elites. Political analysts have noted that 2027 may well be the first time in Gombe’s recent history where the electorate chooses a candidate not for where he stands politically but for what he stands for morally and intellectually.
The stakes have never been higher. Gombe is at a crossroads. One road leads to more of the same unaccountable governance, economic hardship, and systemic neglect. The other leads to a new beginning a leadership that understands global finance, values local realities, and refuses to play by the old, broken rules. In Muhammad Jibrin Barde, many believe Gombe has found that leader.
As the countdown to 2027 begins in earnest, the message from the streets of Kumo to the markets of Dukku is clear: the people are ready to reclaim their mandate. They are not waiting for parties to endorse their choice they and make the choice themselves. And that choice is Dan Barde. For Gombe, the moment of liberation is not a dream deferred, but a reality within reach. The future is not just bright it but is already taking shape.
Gombe must now rise with clarity and courage. The mistakes of the past must not be repeated. This is not a time for sentiment, nor a season to gamble with the future. The 2027 elections represent more than a political contest they are a defining moment for a people long overdue for real change. The opportunity to choose purposeful leadership is here, and it must not be squandered. The mandate for Gombe’s liberation can not be postponed again. It is time to stand firm, look beyond parties, and rally behind competence and conviction. The destiny of our children, our economy, our destiny is in the decision we make. Gombe, arise and let the future begin.
I have known Dan Barde long enough, and well enough, to say without hesitation that he is the one for Gombe. His heart beats for the people, his vision is clear, and his passion for service is deeply personal. He is not driven by the thirst for power but by a genuine desire to see Gombe thrive. I have seen his humility, his consistency, and his refusal to compromise on integrity. In a time when many wear the cloak of politics for personal gain, Dan Barde stands apart firm, focused, and faithful to the cause of a better Gombe. If ever there was a time to trust in a man’s character and capacity, that time is now. And for Gombe, that man is Dan Barde.
