By Adesina Soyooye
A former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Saddique Abubakar, has literally seen in politics that “khaki no be leather.”
Abubakar, one of the longest Service Chiefs in Nigeria, served under late President Mohammadu Buhari, and like a number of his colleagues, jumped into partisan politics.
Guilty most are a number of retired Inspectors General of Police raising questions on the role they played during elections when they were in office.
In Air Marshall Abubakar’s case, he was, like his colleagues in the Army and Navy, on retirement by Buhari, who were appointed Ambassadors, immediately appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Chad. And on recall by the President Bola Tinubu Government, jumped into full politics.
In 2023, he decided that he would be the Governor of Bauchi State. So, under the All Progressives Congress, APC, he challenged the sitting Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bala Mohammed, to the Governorship seat.
He was, however, defeated by Bala, who has now, about a year to the end of his two-term tenure, dumbed the comatose PDP for the AMP.
Air Marshall Abubakar, since his failure at the governorship polls, however remained in politics. But just when not a few people thought that he would contest for the seat again, especially, with Bala on his way out, Abubakar, one of NAF’s most accomplished fighter pilots, has thrown-in the towel. He resigned from politics when he was expected to contest under the Action Democratic Party, ADP.
In a video message on Saturday, where he spoke in Hausa, Abubakar took, especially, his supporters and loyalists by surprise, when he said he has quit politics.
His words: “Today, with a heavy heart, I have made the difficult decision to leave politics for personal reasons.
“This decision did not come easily, considering the love, support and affection shown to me by the people of Bauchi State and Nigerians since I joined politics in 2021.
“I sincerely apologize to all my supporters and well-wishers over thus difficult decision, and I wish everyone the very best.
“My retirement from politics will not prevent me from continuing to support tye community through the Marshall Care Foundation especially in the areas of education and Healthcare.”
Not a few people, however, say his exit from politics, may, allegedly, have something to do with the running battle between his wife, Sadiya Umar Farouq, the former Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which has just declared her wanted over some untidy financial business while she was in office.
She remains at large till date.
Air Marshall Abubakar was born on April 8, 1960, in Azare, Bauchi State.
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