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Jibril Aminu: How Not To Play Politics By Jide Ayobolu It was the seasoned, consummate and highly respected second republic politician and the leader of the Great Nigerian Peoples Party (GNPP) who popularized the concept of politics without bitterness, but some of the political gladiators in our clime do not only play politics strewn in unbridled bitterness, their baseline politics which devoid of serious issues, creative ideas, noble goals and lofty initiatives. Rather, it thrives on pettiness, trivialities and wanton frivolities. It is this type of politics that has made it possible for real development to elude the country over the years, and it is these so-called politician that have been the beneficiary of such contraptions. And, it is in this mould that Jubril Aminu is cast, a person who is nobody politically, and who rode on the crest of a benevolent politician only for him to turn round to bite the finger that fed him. Politically, he is not an heavy weight, most of the appointments he got were under the military, and they were even at the behest of some kind-hearted and unassuming people who recommended him. Jubril Aminu’s foray into the PDP formed during the Abdulsalami regime was more or less controversial. He was first aligned with the Mahmud Waziri led APP and fraternized with Medan Teneke and Bala Takaya etc at the state level. On the eve of the launching of PDP in Abuja, Jubril Amimu jumped ship to join Atiku Abubakar and other founding members of the G-34 who accepted him wholeheartedly. In 1999, it was Atiku Abubakar that was instrumental to his appointment as Nigeria’s ambassador to the US, on arrival he wanted to go to the senate, it was Atiku that begged people that had earlier signified their intention for the same senatorial slot, Atiku put his entire political machinery at his disposal, so there is no way Atiku has offended Aminu in any way, so it is therefore cumbersome to say why Aminu hates the VP so much with a passion. It would be recalled that it was in a desperate bid to neutralize the political structure of the VP in Adamawa State during the so-called re-registration exercise in which all those that were close to the VP as well as his political allies were de-registered from the party and it is one reasons why the center can no longer hold today in the PDP. It was also in a desperate bid to do the VP in that he joined the pro-third term train as well as joined forces with the powers that be in Abuja to truncate germane projects such as the Yola-Mubi-Michika road, Mubi-Maiha-Sorau-Belel road, Yola international airport, Gombe-Yola-Jalingo 330KV transmission line just to mention but a very few. In fact, he has no remarkable track record in the places where he served in the past, whether in the education and petroleum ministry, he has never identified with the people, he sees himself as a demi-god that should be worshipped. The reason why he hates Atiku so much is that he sees in him a picture of what he thinks he ought to be. He is so amazed that a person from the southern part of Adamawa State who does not have royal blood follow in his veins naturally can make a major breakthrough that even took himself to the second highest position in the land. The VP has not been fortunate with friends they have consistently betrayed him. And, the other reason why they behave the way they do is just because of envy, for instance in 1982 at the young age of 36, the VP was given a very important and historic chieftaincy title, and again he became unduly envious. What he keeps saying is that, who is Atiku? How can a young boy who was orphaned very early in life become so prominent, popular, wealthy, and influential and at the commanding heights of the scheme of things in Nigeria. Just to should the extent of the hatred they have for the VP, They have become a willing tool in the hands of the powers that be in Abuja to scuttle the presidential ambition of theVP. First, it was Buba Marwa that declared for the highest position in the land, now both Jubril Aminu and Bamaga Tukur have indicated their willingness to also contest for the presidency of the country. And, these characters were merely recruited by the presidency to act as spoilers. What this means is that they have repeatedly taken the Nigerian people for a ride; they don’t care a hoot about what the needs and feelings of the people are, but the people know whom there true leaders are, The VP has paid his dues and demonstrated beyond all reasonable doubts that he is ready and prepared to take over the mantle of leadership, so what is detractors should do is to rally round him instead of fighting a lost battle, in any case they have never triumphed over him. What Aminu is doing is very treacherous, un-islamic and wicked. To this end the retired professor should dissipate his energy to do things that positive, ennobling and edifying, and not a wild goose chase. |