By Rayyanu Bala

On Monday morning, many residents of Nasarawa State woke up to a false report claiming that Senator Wadada had withdrawn his aspiration for the governorship of the state. Although the report has since been debunked, it is clear that those behind the misinformation are threatened by Senator Wadada’s strong grassroots support. Their aim was simple: to create confusion within Wadada’s camp and weaken his growing influence.
However, the truth remains unchanged. Senator Wadada is, without question, one of the strongest grassroots politicians in Nasarawa State today.
In Nasarawa politics, one reality continues to stare us in the face: grassroots support matters. No matter how much anyone tries to downplay it, grassroots connection remains the backbone of electoral success. It is what separates leaders who understand the daily struggles of the people from those who only remember them when elections approach.
As aspirants jostle for the governorship seat ahead of 2027, the differences among them are becoming increasingly clear. Some aspirants once enjoyed strong grassroots ties, but over the years, those connections faded. They disappeared, lost touch with the people, and are now attempting a sudden return, acting as though years of absence never happened. Others never truly had grassroots acceptance in the first place. What we see now is a desperate attempt to manufacture popularity, hurriedly build political structures, and create familiarity where none genuinely exists.
Wadada’s story is different.
In Nasarawa, Wadada is not a stranger seeking introduction. He is not scrambling to be known. For many years, he has maintained consistent contact with the grassroots. He did not disappear. He did not go silent. He did not wait for ambition to remind him of the people. He has stood with them in both good and difficult times, listening, engaging, and identifying with ordinary citizens.
Leadership is not something that can be switched on during campaign season and switched off afterward. Genuine connection with the people is built over time through presence, trust, and shared experiences. Wadada did not lose touch with the grassroots, nor is he trying to rebuild that relationship now. His bond with the people already exists, it is lived, tested, and proven.
As 2027 draws closer, the people of Nasarawa State are becoming more discerning. They can clearly distinguish between long-term commitment and last-minute appearances. They know who has consistently walked with them and who is merely passing through.
As the race becomes more competitive, this distinction must remain part of the conversation. We must separate aspirants who make noise from those who truly understand the people and have stood with them in times of need. On this score, Wadada’s record speaks for itself. From his days in the House of Representatives to the present, he has remained accessible, responsive, and committed to grassroots engagement. He has never distanced himself from the people.
The recent attempt to distract public attention by spreading falsehoods against Wadada was aimed at one thing: preventing Engr. Abdullahi Sule from considering him as a successor.
There is a saying that deserves more attention: success without a worthy successor is failure. Wadada is a worthy successor, regardless of what critics may say.
Some may ask how success can be called failure. The answer is simple. Leadership is not only about what you build while in office; it is about what survives you.
This is why the conversation around Wadada and Engr. Sule is important. If Wadada does not succeed Engr. Sule, then, painful as it may sound, the many successes recorded under Engr. Sule risk becoming failures in the broader historical sense. This does not diminish Engr. Sule’s competence, vision, or achievements. By all accounts, he delivered results. But leadership is not measured only by projects completed or policies implemented; it is measured by continuity.
Real success plants seeds that grow long after the gardener has left.
A leader who builds roads but fails to build leaders has only done half the job.
If Engr. Sule’s leadership does not produce, prepare, or position a capable successor like Wadada, then something critical would be missing. Among all the aspirants, Wadada stands out as the one who truly understands the system. In the current political dispensation, he is the only candidate with deep knowledge of governance at both legislative and executive levels. He is trustworthy, dependable, and experienced.
Great leaders think beyond themselves. They do not only ask, What will I achieve? They ask, Who will carry this forward when I am gone?
In politics, business, and even families, the lesson is the same. Empires do not collapse because they were never great; they collapse because succession was poorly managed.
In this context, Wadada stands out as the person Engr. Sule can rely on to guarantee continuity and stability. As his successor, Wadada would ensure that the progress made is sustained. Both men share a cosmopolitan outlook and an understanding of governance that prioritizes development.
If Wadada does not succeed Engr. Sule, then the achievements recorded during Engr. Sule’s eight years in office may face serious uncertainty, not because those achievements are insignificant, but because they would lack protection and continuity.
In the meantime, the peddlers of falsehood against Wadada may continue, but one thing is certain: their antics will not pay off. Wadada is the natural successor to Governor Abdullahi Sule.