ANPP Now is in Disarray in Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa and of Recent Kano State

By

Sani Garba Mohammed

karaye@gmail.com

Historically ANPP in Kano had never had elected executives, but only sole administrators and acting chairmen before the recent election that produced the first elected executives of the party [notwithstanding those that are not happy over the way the election was conducted].

Mallam shekarau becomes governor through the rule of law, that is even after he accepted his defeat at primary election to Ibrahim Little, yet at last Shekarau re-emerge based on the constitution of ANPP. The constitution said that you must resign your former position for at least 30 days before you can contest in the party, which Ibrahim Little resign his party leadership only few days to the election, hence the hurricane that go away with him from becoming the gubernatorial candidate for ANPP.

No body doubts the credibility, honesty, commitment, dedication, frankness etc of Mallam Shekarau, which put him at great advantage, as people has full confidence and enthusiasm that his government will be better than previous government of Rabi'u Kwankwaso. True to the peoples expectations, Mallam proves he is determine to make Kano state a 'role model' to others in various spheres of development.

Though due to space and time, I cannot highlight all the achievements achieved so far by Mallam, nevertheless I must mentioned the most indelible in the history of Kano state. Mallam ensure peace is maintain [contrary to the previous administration], established permanent bodies to regulate Shari'a, Hisbah and Zakkat, employment of over 30,000 people, regular payment of workers and pensioners, societal re-orientation [which its impact will be felt in the future], giving emphasis on education, environmental health etc.

Notwithstanding the weakness of Mallam administration, it has performed wonderfully against all oppositions of retrogressive and conservative elements whom see the way he is tackling the state problems, will wipe out their influence and make them irrelevant in their political activities.

Among the complaints or the weakness of Mallam administration is that, his rule does not include real [read full time] politicians who help him to becomes governor, instead he put his old friends into various places who contribute nothing in his campaign, and in fact many of them are not happy to be associated with him before he becomes the governor. There is also a popular sentiment within the state that Mallam circumscribe himself with those [though not all] that their thought, action, philosophy etc are at variant with his principles, that is while he meant good and progress to Kano, his lieutenants are busy mismanaging the resources entrusted under them which he is [perhaps] aware but fails to checkmate them because they are his friends. These and many more are being labelled against Mallam's softness and leniency in checkmating the excessiveness of his appointees, which to some extent are real. But whether or not the accusations are true, no matter the shortcoming, even his ardent enemies and critics admit he is responsible, dedicated and a 'pace setter'.

Recently there are cracks in the state ANPP members after the election that produces the first elected party executives. Before the election, various dates were set for the election but was postponed due to the unfavourable environment and heating of the polity by the contestant in various positions in the party. Many things happens between that time and the time the election held which saw the withdrawal of the three contestant of chairmanship position leaving only two in the race, which among the two one is being supported by the three that withdraws and the other on his own, the former is Sani Hashim and the latter is Ahmadu Dan Zago.

The election of the executives held on 21/1/06 which saw the emergence of Sani Hashim as the elected chairman of ANPP. On the election date, one of the two contestant in to the position of chairman withdrew [unofficially] in the late hour, and based his reason on the premises that he will not be treated with justice at the election place. After the election, Ahmadu Zago, who is also the special adviser of Ibrahim Shekarau on political matters went to town with his supporters discrediting, abusing and abusing Mallam sell-out and betrayer of Buhari's struggle. Also those who favour the new chairman-majority of the party supporters-call Zago's faction as selfish and corrupt etc which all are unfortunate. Though all of them has the right to comment on his sides, nevertheless, each derail in calling each other as bad, the worst parts of it is Zago's faction bad comment on Shekarau as if he [zago] is not his political adviser which all what happened has his input and he is also part of all decision taken by the ANPP in the recent election which he was [and still] discrediting.

Four days after the election, Zago call on his co-ordinators in all the 44 LG's for meeting and taking position at the state tourist camp, but police stop them because they are not recognised as a party but a faction. Zago's members at the place abuse and blame Shekarau for their problems as if they are not part of the administration.

Zago took his case to Abuja National headquarter of ANPP, which he submit his complaint on the election irregularity which the secretariat promised to look after. It is on his coming back to Kano, he branched in Kaduna to visit General Buhari and tendered his complaint also to him. Afterward, Buhari respond by accepting the complaint of Zago hook line and sinker and lend his support to him, without hearing the other side, which his comment not only become a bombshell but also what further polarised the party in Kano due to his stance.

Already, even before Buhari's comment, there is the talk of town for almost eight months that Buhari and Shekarau are now pole apart, which the recent comment further proves so. While Zago is only after to become the party chairman by whatever means in as much as he will get it, the other party stakeholders are busy trying to have consensus candidates. As such, the comment made by Buhari in supporting one side makes him vulnerable to attack form unexpected corners in Kano state. I heard one politician saying "Buhari see himself as ANPP and thought he can dictate the tune of the party, as such we disagree with him".   Others see the comment by Buhari as dictatorship, for how can an ordinary member, former presidential aspirant and an elder of the party [alone] decide the fate of party affairs, for party affairs is bigger than one individual.

According to Bashir Tofa "It is very unfortunate for Buhari to have made such a comment because he was not here [referring to Kano], he did not see anything concerning the election, he only acted on what others told him which is one sided" [Daily Triumph, Jan 30, 2006]. This is the same or similar statement said by Sani El-Katuzu in Radio Kano programme titled 'Iya ruwa……'.

Whatever it is between Buhari and Shekarau which makes the former playing seek and hide with the later, is certainly the work of bad people that are telling Buhari lies about Shekarau. These people sow the seed of discord between the two based on their personal gain not in the interest of the development of the party. Gradually, they have now separated them, even though Shekarau is full supporter of Buhari always. In fact, Kano state government has made various attempt to see things not only normalises but are in order, but the more  they moves to Buhari for reconciliation, the more those close to Buhari further circumscribe and insulate him fro the move. This really made many suspicious as to what those that are claiming are Buhari loyalist up to, what is their mission and even others. If not why are claiming more Buhari than others, which in fact some of those claiming Buhari are rag tags and irrational people.

The issue at stake is that, all these misunderstanding [which is created for a purpose] between Buhari [only] loyalist and Buhari/Shekarau loyalist will not be solve by threat, intimidation, confrontation or seek and hide strategy or abusing others. Both Buhari and Shekarau need each other, for no one of them is island unto himself. Kano is the political base of Buhari and Shekarau is his real supporter [against all the lies being told that he is not], for any fracas between the two [if any] will not only affect one of them but the two of them, which invariably affect us too-the populace.

Kano is the political barometer of the nation and the hot seat that each party want to have, as such whatever is the difference between them, will definitely affect them, for no one of them will benefit, the earlier they understand the better.