Ex Attorney Defends ATBU Amendment, Backs Yuguda, Condemns Opposition as Anti-Progress
By Ahmed Ahmed
A former Attorney General of Bauchi State, Mukhtar Abubakar Usman, has thrown his weight behind the proposed amendment to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Act, describing resistance to the bill as a threat to the educational and developmental aspirations of Bauchi State.
Usman, who served as Attorney General, Solicitor and Advocate of the state and is also a Notary Public, entrepreneur, farmer and politician, made his position known in a statement in which he aligned himself with former Governor Mallam Isa Yuguda’s strong support for the conversion of ATBU from a specialised technology university to a conventional institution.
According to Usman, the stiff opposition reportedly mounted by some professors within the university community reflects a deeper unwillingness to embrace reform and adapt to evolving global academic realities.
He argued that universities are meant to respond to the needs of society, not to be held hostage by narrow interests that prioritise comfort over progress.
The former Attorney General recalled that resistance to reform is not new in Bauchi State’s educational history.
He cited the establishment of the Bauchi State Teaching Hospital and the subsequent creation of the Faculty of Medicine at ATBU as examples of landmark initiatives that initially faced intense opposition but later became widely celebrated successes.
He noted that those projects, championed by the then Governor Isa Yuguda, have significantly improved healthcare delivery and expanded academic opportunities in the state.
Usman stressed that the proposed amendment to the ATBU Act should be viewed within the same context of long-term development.
He explained that converting ATBU into a conventional university would broaden its academic scope, enable the introduction of new faculties, attract a wider pool of students and researchers, and enhance the institution’s competitiveness at the national and international levels.
He further described the opposition to the amendment as counterproductive, warning that blocking the reform would limit opportunities for Bauchi youths and slow the state’s educational growth.
In his view, embracing change is essential for institutions that seek relevance in a rapidly changing world.
The former Attorney General also praised Distinguished Senator Shehu Buba Umar, the sponsor of the bill, for what he called foresight and courage in initiating the amendment.
He urged stakeholders, particularly members of the academic community, to engage constructively with the proposal rather than resist it outright.As debates over the future of ATBU continue,
Usman maintained that history consistently favours leaders and professionals who support transformative reforms.
He called on Nigerians to support initiatives that strengthen education, insisting that the ATBU amendment represents a strategic step toward securing a more inclusive and progressive academic future for Bauchi State.
