Who Picks DPP's Ticket?

By

Gatawa M. Bagobiri

Sokoto State

gatawa2007@yahoo.com

 

 

 

With the burial of late Mr. Third Term, Nigerians are becoming more confident that democracy has come to stay here and that the general elections due to hold next year will see to emergence of new democratic leaders in our polity. It is in response to this that politicians and political parties nationwide are strategizing on how to win members and supporters, and ultimately their votes to enable them emerge victorious. The first open strategy employed now is the party formations, alliance, defection, decampment and factionalisation. Each contender is busy scheming which party to join or to ally with, to enable him/her realize his/her ambition. That’s why in Nigeria political parties are daily being transformed, deformed, factionalised, abandoned, and new ones formed. This is so because as at now almost all the parties lack clear, coherent and visionary manifesto as is practice in matured democracies. Hope remains high that upon successful conduct of next year’s elections and hand over, democracy will attain maturity in Nigeria too.

 

In Sokoto, as is case with a number of states, the incumbent Governor is in his second and final tenure of his administration. One of the remarkable legacies he would leave behind is his Ant-Third Term Plan and insistence on that those of them now in the second term of tenure must prepare to hand over to another set of elected public officials come 2007. While it were Nigerians who shared this view that collectively defeated the Third Term Agenda, Bafarawa is now seriously paying for it. Already, by his actions and inactions, Abuja might have been at loggerhead with him. First, one of his close confidants was arrested and interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commssion (EFCC). Second, the party he enormously helped formed and consolidated, ANPP, was infiltrated by Aso Rock parasites, who gradually but painfully destroyed it. Third, there is now the master grand plan to undermine his new Party, DPP, from producing his successor. Unfortunately, the cobweb of the strategists has since trapped in a number of his closest political associates and inner council members.

 

The political puzzle created now in Sokoto State calls for caution on both actors in the game. The governor, however, must realize it, that the similar Abuja tragedy that rocked ANPP has right now been implanted in his new party. Those to execute the obnoxious treachery against him and the party are some of the renowned and trusted members of the party. The sooner Bafarawa realizes this, the better. Attempt to answer the question: Who should Bafarawa trust and to whom should he hand over? is also an attempt to solving the political puzzle in the State.

 

Taking into consideration the lingering disorganization, absence of capable leadership and for not in control of State and LGAs, PDP might not pose any threat to Bafarawa’s party come 2007. ANPP, based on its shrinking membership and non-craftiness of its leadership, could not go beyond the noise its youth members are making by the roadsides.   But this is only if Bafarawa comes to realize the Master Underground Strategy some of his lieutenants are hatching and necessary steps are taken to address some fundamental problems in his inner cabinet of friends and close associates; problems he has ignored or paid no attention to over the years.

 

The problems are so serious that for some time now they have been militating against the smooth running of then Bafarawa’s ANPP and now the DPP. The most surmounting of them all has been his relationship with Jarman Sokoto, Alhaji Umarun Kwabo. The duo has all along been one to all ordinary onlookers. However, within the members of the inner circle, the two personalities presently exist in different worlds. While Bafarawa has been the Executive Governor and overseeing the overall affairs of the State, Jarma has been recruiting and mobilizing youths and follower ship; the end result is that today the Jarma faction is not only a factor to reckon with but a formidable force that can determine the shape of things to come in the State politics. From being a mere Sokoto metropolitan youth coalition consisting of unemployed youths and civil servants that gained one favour or the other from Jarma, the Umarun Kwabo  factor is now well-rooted in almost all the twenty three Local Governments Areas of the State.

 

The Umarun Kwabo factor must be deeply reflected upon by Bafarawa, for it’s a tool for him to use for his political relevance or else it could be used against him in the now Abuja-induced treachery to undermine him from making any meaningful impact in determining his successor. It is longer news that political appointees and top civil servants in the State are either with Bafarawa’s camp or Jarma’s. Similar divisions exist even in the leadership of the DPP at state, LG and Ward levels. How Bafarawa allowed this to happen and whether he can employ his professorial mastery of politics to correct this anomaly remains one of the hooks hanging by his necks. Can he and Jarma be one and same in pursuance of common political goal as was the case in 1999 and 2003? What happens to the new party should Jarma be pressurized by Abuja or his lieutenants to dump it and tilt towards another party as might be dictated by unfolding events? Without Jarma, is Bafarawa politically equipped to face the challenge? Has he empowered and groomed up capable lieutenants in his camp to ensure the victory of his gubernatorial candidate? Giving the above scenario, we now attempt a synopsis of the likely gubernatorial contenders under the DPP.

 

As mentioned above, no name in the party is popularized as that of Alhaji Umarun Kwabo. His faction, consisting of youth organizations, civil servants, political appointees and party officials that benefited or still benefiting from his generosity and instant problem-solving mechanism, has been canvassing for his candidacy. He is without doubt a political strategist, mobiliser and can deliver his constituency. He enjoys the support of many party members for his generosity, care and concern to them. Members of his camp, whether in the civil service or party offices, pompously speak of their master’s ability to secure them lucrative appointments, juicy contracts among other things. To them, Jarma is one to go closer to and one they could not afford to desert. His commitments to politics are well acknowledged during the race to Government House in 1999 and 2003. His closeness to Bafarawa is also known, if not for the wind now blowing in circles of their disciplines.

 

This apart, however, Jarma is disadvantaged in the race. First, elites keep on questioning his qualification to contest the gubernatorial election. Their argument is that if he has not successfully undergone a Secondary Education Programme, a minimum educational requirement provided for in our constitution, he should better forget about scheming for governorship of the State. Where he scaled through this hurdle, then, another bigger one is waiting to consume him. For nearly a year now, he was visited by and has been visiting the Economic and Financial Crime Commission. The case is yet over, and it remains the greatest obstacle to his contest under the DPP. His close associates are increasingly worried by Jarma’s disturbance over the EFCC affair. Observers are of the view that the EFCC hook in his throat might compel him to go the way that might be dictated by Abuja and abandon his renowned associate and party, Bafarawa and DPP. The talk of the town is that Jarma is desperate to unhook himself from EFCC trap, and as political opportunist and adventurer, he won’t find it difficult to negotiate his freedom by abandoning Bafarawa and tilting towards the ‘Federally preferred’ party.

 

Another much talked about candidate is the incumbent Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Muhammad Silame, mni, who also doubles as Commissioner of Finance. A highly seasoned civil servant, Silame has over the years became bureaucratized to the extent that the seven years he served as Commissioner of Finance and even with the recent added responsibility of Deputising the Governor did not succeed in politicizing his personality. As a bureaucrat he is first class material. In politics, count him out. With just few months to end of this administration’s tenure, it is surely too late for him to master the art of politics to enable him join the fierce competition of state governorship. Garkuwa and his associates too must be aware of both the strengths and weakness of Silame in politics and would surely opt for a more acceptable politician or someone that could easily master the game and bring further popularity to the party.

 

Other contenders might be Tukur Alkali of Rural Development and Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Gidado. Alkali has been in the inner circle of the Bafarawa administration for long and to the ordinary citizen his is but a popular name in Sokoto metropolis. But his greatest obstacles are his pompous way of life and inability to deliver his ward and immediate constituency to his party in spite of the way his youth vanguards are drumming loud his name. On his part, Gidado may not have the necessary state-wide connection and financial capability to undertake this gigantic project. As for my distinguished Senator, Sule Yari Gandi, it is only the zoning formula that puts a wedge for him to join the race. The state’s eastern senatorial zone where Bafarawa comes from has been in control for two terms; hence the need for one of the remaining two zones to produce our next governor.

 

Who then would be the ideal party’s flag bearer come 2007? For some weeks now, politicians in the state are battling to solve this puzzle.. The search light beams on both politicians and career public and civil servants. Having marched all the aforementioned contenders with the key requirements necessary to pick up the ticket and having found all of them short of meeting the said requirements, public opinion seems to be tilting towards the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi.

 

Reasons for the popularity of Dingyadi within the political circle are known to any one familiar with the state politics from 1998 to date. His supporters are canvassing on his wealth of experience in both civil service and politics. He is an experienced civil servant that rose to the highest career civil service position in the state. He has been the SSG since 1999 and so one of oldest and closest confidant of Bafarawa. Over time, he has won the confidence of not only the Governor but the entire state cabinet. He has on various occasions been opportune to manage the affairs of the state in the absence of the governor. He has times without number represented the governor on state functions, some at zonal, regional and even national levels.

 

An added advantage he enjoys is his ability to eschew the virtues of politics and quickly balanced his professionalism of civil service with the dictates of democracy and local politics. For seven years now, he serves as a bridge between governance, service and politics in the state. To the ordinary citizens today, Sokoto governance and politics is all about Bafarawa and, in his absence, Dingyadi. No wonder, his ability to skillfully blend service with politics has made his office overshadowed the Deputy Governor’s in terms of relevance and popularity in the state affairs.

 

To his supporters also, the zoning and power shift arrangement in the state favours him. He is from Bodinga Local Government of the West Senatorial Zone. Expectedly, advocates of power shift in the state are canvassing for a candidate from either Central or West Senatorial zone to succeed Bafarawa who hails from East Senatorial Zone. Their advocacy has in recent weeks infiltrated the top carrier civil servants and politicians and now gaining acceptance in the rural areas.

 

Those that are opposed to Dingyadi’s candidature cite some minor misunderstanding he is alleged to have with some political heavyweights in the state. For instance, it is said that during the wedding ceremony of Bello Gwiwa, he and the former Deputy Governor, Wamakko, rode off the venue of the occasion in one vehicle. Typical local politics, the action was misinterpreted to mean that Dingyadi is now with Wamakko; hence extending his hands to ‘untouchables’. If this ever occurred and the leadership of DPP interpreted it this way, it shows that Dingyadi has more hurdles coming his way should he declare for the race. An enlightened citizen will ask: So what seeing a serving SSG and a former Deputy Governor riding in same car or exchanging pleasantries? And is politics not all about tolerance, socialization and human relations? His advocacy group must fully understand the nature and dynamics of our local politics and prepare for more such rivers the candidate they are canvassing for must cross if he truely wants join the race to Government House.

 

What then should Bafarawa do? Has he any candidate of his choice or awaiting people’s verdict? In either case, he has a bigger role to play in ensuring a smooth transition in the state. The options before him are delicate, if not for the fact that his mastery of the dynamics of politics is very high. However, his professorial chair in politics must have been shocked with the challenges his party is facing in the state. To enable him retain his professorial post and prove beyond any reasonable doubt that he cares about sustaining the developmental projects his administration has executed in the state, he must put his house in order and take control of situation to prevent the house from falling apart. He must wake up from asunder, if not asleep, and contain all the diverse elements/factions/groups/circles in the party so that where the party is one and under him, the dream and likely attempt by some political adventurers to decamp or opt out of his circle would not prevent his candidate from winning the election.

 

For now, who should Bafarawa supports with a view to sustaining development policies and projects put in place so far? Answer to this question must remain the most challenging force that is right now shaking his Professorial Chair in Politics. Should Bafarawa ignore this, underground camps within his cabinet and party office would simply outmaneuver him and dictate who succeeds him or upon his resistance may decamp. And since they have mobilized mass support, this would invariably hurt Bafarawa and his party. If this happens, the conspiracy may affect Bafarawa’s political relevance at both state and national levels.

 

At the Seat of the Caliphate, it is all but history in the making.

 

Long Live Sokoto State! Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!!

 

 

Gatawa M. Bagobiri

Sokoto State