PDP And 2007 Adamawa Governorship Race

By

Zayyad I. Muhammad

While in every state of the federation the PDP factions are either called Obasanjo or Atiku faction, Ahmadu Ali or Lar faction, in Adamawa state the two factions have names dubbed to them by ordinary man on the streets; the Obasanjo-led faction under the leadership of Jibrin Aminu is called ‘PDP mai bindiga’ (PDP by the barrel of the Gun), while the Atiku led faction is called ‘PDP mai jama’a’ (PDP of the people). And one attention-grabbing thing in the PDP mai bindiga’ is; it is over-crowded with gubernatorial candidates, but shockingly, each of the contender is pegging his success to Obasanjo’s endorsement, forgetting it is far beyond that. Both pundits and on-the–street opinions on most of the aspirants seem to be matching. 

Jonathan Zwingina is presently a senator from Adamawa south senatorial, he came to limelight in 1983, when he testified as a witness in the Wilson Sabiya/ Bamanga Tukur governorship court tussle; since then, people start to believe he has political ambition, Zwingina is very articulate and well educated. Within the fold of the contenders - he is among the few that are showing seriousness in the contest, he has offices through out the state and enough personnel, Zwingina has the financial muscles to pursue his ambition, he came to the race to capitalized on minority / majority issue, but   unfortunate he is, most of the contenders are parading themselves under the same style, and such issues has never yield fruits in Adamawa politics. To Zwingina’s drawbacks, there are some issues that will post a great deal of setbacks to his gubernatorial ambitions – his opponents are using  the  accusation that, he had once committed a taboo that a normal society see as an  immorality, but the truth is ; such issues do not normally carry weight in politics, secondly, the Paul Wanpana commission of enquiry , has found some skeletons in his cupboard when he was  commissioner of water resources in Adamawa state, thirdly, the much celebrated (EL-Rufai-Senate)   fifty million naira bribe scandal ; and Zwingina was an ardent supporter of the third term agenda, which  has infuriated many people; this led to attacks on his campaign offices throughout Adamawa state. Despite the fact that Zwingina is the only notable figure in his campaign organization, he is a candidate to beat.

Muhammad Koiranga Jada came to limelight in 1983 governorship campaign, when he became a ‘trouble shooter’ playing the spoiler man to Bamanga Tukur’s governorship ambition, a respected man Walin Ganye has to intervened and settled the issue; this formed the basis of Walin Ganye been nicknamed Kalu, from the famous justice kalu of Borno, and Koiranga was compensated with a position of special assistant to Bamanga Tukur. To Koiranga’s disadvantage - the masses see him as a candidate ‘for sale’ to the highest bidder; because he has shown interest in contesting every governorship election   in the state, but never participated in any of the party primaries, and to proved this, recently a contender was having a meeting with his followers, but, out of the blue, Koiranga appeared and attended the meeting, surprising many people, His chances in the contest are very slim

Chief Joel Madaki is the oldest politicians amidst the contenders; he was elected a ward councilor during the 1976-1977 Local Govt. reforms and member House of Assembly in 1979; he was commissioner for local Govt. in the Abubakar Barde administration, Joel is someone that is a good planner, and to his plus, people see him as someone that is frank and straightforward in tackling issues. Since 1999, he was the state chairman of the PDP until recently when   he became Chairman of Ahmadu Ali’s faction of the PDP, but the Emmanuel Nwanyawu PDP reconciliation committee forced him to resign, thus, halting his using of the PDP structures in oiling his governorship campaign. Joel Madaki is among the greatest beneficiaries of Governor Boni’s goodwill; people that Joel brought to government are still in the government; including his old time political associate Mr. Simon Sitto, the Chairman Adamawa State Local Govt. Pension Board. His betrayal of vice president Atiku Abubakar has made people to view him as not trust worthy, his nowadays constant visits to government house Yola, is making people to see him as someone that is confused, the agitation for the next governor to come from Adamawa central can be an advantage to him; though he lacks political network and financial resources

Dahiru Bobbo is among the technocrats and seasoned administrators of his generation, he has been in   public service since early 70’s, from registrar university of Maiduguri to the Secretary of the government of former Gongola state, he was once elected senator under the defunct UNCP; his age might   seriously work against him, he came to the race late, and observers are of the opinion that, he is a man in a dilemma of loyalty; because he was brought to his present position of DG National Boundaries Commission by Vice president Atiku Abubakar; this has left him  in a ‘crocodile phase’   towards formal declaration for the race; though his   generosity will bestow on him an edge over the other contenders.

Senator Abubakar Girei; came to limelight when he contested for senator in the former UNCP but lost to his In-law Dahiru Bobbo; in 1999 he was elected senator under the PDP; in 2003 he           slugged-it-out with Gov. Boni Haruna in PDP governorship primaries; but senator Girei was only able to got one vote; he instantly knelt down at the venue of the party primaries and make a public apology; asking GOV. Boni to plead for forgiveness on his behalf from Vice president Atiku Abubakar, this marked the beginning of his political predicaments; the general opinion is, senator Girei is in the race just to have relevance.

Kasim Jidda is relatively unknown within the populace of Adamawa; he was the former Managing Director of Afri Bank; on paper he has everything it takes to be a governor, but he lacks the political structure and he has found  himself amidst a political grouping that is complex and well calculating ,i.e. the ACD.  Which in its are political heavy-weight like former Gov. Saleh Michika, Lynn Nathan, Bala Takaya and Boss Mustapha

The ANPP have two contenders: Mr. R.T Gajere and Abdurrahman Adamu, the younger brother of Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta; the duo are contesting probably to remind the public that the ANPP is still in existence; though Abdurrahman Adamu can make an impact owing to his political experience  and principles, he is  the only convener of the ANPP in Adamawa,  that is still in the party; and he is the deputy national vice chairman north-east; he was in 1999 running mate to Bala Takaya in the governorship election under the ANPP but the they lost to Atiku Abubakar of the PDP; an advantage to Abdurrahman Adamu is , he is known throughout the state but his political  rigidity may work against him.

Pascal Bafiyau, is a national political figure, this writer believes, the man sometimes do ask himself what is going wrong; he is a national figure but at home he always failed to make any political impact, despite being a former NLC president and was even reported to have been short-listed for the post of vice president during the SDP days, he was elected senator during the Abacha days, he contested for senator in 1999     but lost, 1n 2003 he contested for Gov. under the ANPP but did not went beyond the primaries.

Colonel Aliyu Kama was a military Governor of Plateau state  during the IBB days; his coming into the race is probably motivated by Gen. Marwa’s entry into politics, his chances in the race are slim – financial capacity, political structures are his major constraints, though his once being a military Governor  is an advantage to him.             

 Bello Tukur is the current Deputy Governor in Adamawa, the Obasanjo/Atiku political tussle is greatly impacting on his governorship ambition, his inability to identify the party he is contesting on, is a clear attest to that, but he    possess great deal of political influence in his constituency of Fufore; his supporters argue, he has undergone leadership apprenticeship under a proactive and goal seeking – Gov. Boni Haruna. His greatest weak point is, he is confine only to his political constituency, his adversaries says, this make Tukur’s candidature not appealing to the entire state, Tukur has a Herculean task of stretching his hands outside, and win support outside his constituency, nevertheless, he is one of the frontrunner  in the contest.

Adamu Mu’azu Modibbo has been showing interest in politics since his school days, he was once a student union president. In 1983 he was among the ‘Rambo boys’ of the famous Kontiki Research of the Bamanga Tukur Campaign office , Mua’zu’s recent political moves can best be described as full of controversies and comics – he will go down in history as a governorship aspirant that emerged from a party primary election that lasted only for two hours from 6am to 8pm, this was necessitated when his opponents went to court to stop the primaries;  Adamu Mu’azu quickly organized the primaries and emerged as 2003 ANPP governorship candidate ;one can summed it this way – while his opponent tried to get victory in court , the man used fraud to have his way- so to speak.  His another controversial moment was his decamping   to Ahmadu Ali’s faction of the PDP; the day he was about to decamped to the PDP, Muhammadu Buhari phoned  him to confirm the rumors, Mu’azu denied he is making such a move; but he declared for the PDP on that day. Buhari was shocked to the extent that he said: “politics is not for people like me”. In 2003 governorship election Adamu Mu’azu Modibbo was only able to won two local Govts. out of the twenty –one local Govts. in Adamawa state; since then his political fortunes have been diminishing – because he only appear when election time approaches, his membership of the Ahmadu Ali factions of the PDP has put him at poles apart with so many of his followers; he is good but his one-man approach to issues and prof. Jibril Aminu’s bragging that he would installed Mu’azu as Governor would be a serious blow to Adamu’s governorship ambition.      

One unique thing is, most of these gentlemen presenting themselves for the governorship position and indeed their membership of the Ahmadu Ali led faction of the PDP in Adamawa state is motivated by one reason – they want to show president Obasanjo that they are on the board for the fight against Atiku, probably thinking they may have one favor or another from OBJ - business patronage or last minute juicy political appointment. In due course this writer will do an in-depth analysis taking each of these gentlemen one at a time.    

 

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Nigeria