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2007: Gladiators in the Bauchi Political Arena By Imam Abu Mustash Ideally the position of Executive governor of a state should evoke envy from lesser mortals. But this may not be so in the case of Ahmad Adamu Mu’azu, the Executive Governor of Bauchi state, at least, not in the dying days of his administration. This is because Mu’azu is in a fix. He is expected to play a fundamental role in who eventually succeeds him, and it happens he finds himself enmeshed in the drama of this succession.
The PDP in the state is torn into four between Mu’azu, Yuguda, Katagum and the Independent groups. These groups have, at one time or the other, been one, at least during the first tenure of Mu’azu. As the countdown to 2007 gathered speed however, cracks seemed to have appeared in this once cohesive force, also known as the original Mu’azu group.
The cracks started manifesting with the falling apart of Mu’azu and Yuguda. This became the harbinger to the break up of the original Mu’azu group, with a resultant two groups, namely: Mu'azu and Yuguda groups. Political observers, not only in Bauchi, have been unable to put a finger at the actual cause of the row between these two former good friends. However, not a few believe that the whole problem between them is purely that of ego. Whatever it is, the gulf between them seems to be widening by the day.
The Mu’azu group that came out of this split further gave way to yet another Mu’azu group, the Independent and Katagum groups. It is these groups, along with the Yuguda group that are contending for the gubernatorial ticket come 2007.
Politics of Zoning
Zoning initially did not seem to matter when the original Mu’azu group was one, i.e. when Mu’azu and Yuguda were best of friends, and the former planned grooming the later as successor. What would have worked against Yuguda is the fact that he is from the same southern senatorial zone as Mu’azu.
However, since the group favoured him then, even if there was a dormant ambition amongst the potential Katagum and Independent groups within the wider original Mu’azu group, he (Yuguda) was linked to the central senatorial zone where his mother is said to have come from Sade.
Even if these friends had remained friends, this plot wouldn’t have succeeded because the potential Katagum group and the Independents, who come from the central and northern senatorial zones wouldn’t have agreed. Both zones lay claim to producing the next governor and would never close their eyes to the fact that Yuguda is never from the central senatorial zone.
Mu’azu Group
The Mu’azu group is thought to be fluid at present. The most prominent member of this group is the former secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Nadada, who is supported by majority of the members of the state executive council. The other is the deputy governor, Alhaji Abdulmalik Mahmoud, who being a Katagum man has only a leg in the Mu’azu group.
The game plan of this group is to “crown” a former member of Mu’azu’s cabinet, preferably the former SSG, who is believed, would be able to cover the tracks of the administration. But the problem in this plan is that there is no love lost between Nadada and the equally ambitious Mahmoud.
Also, the plan would suffer a setback, because when the chips are down, the Katagum group will prefer to align with Mahmoud, who is their own, and then the true wishes of this group may not come true. It is believed in political circles, this is one of the biggest predicaments of Governor Mu’azu at present.
Another problem facing this group is believed to be the seeming hold members of the cabinet have on the governor. It is believed that such a hold is mysteriously so strong that it does not leave the governor with a plan B option in case the contending forces within the party decide to tear it into pieces, which may result in the party losing at the polls.
As if these problems were not enough, Nadada is believed to have a pending case with the EFCC. If however the group succeeds in securing him the ticket, it is believed that there would be a serious backlash from other aspirants.
Yuguda Group
This group comprises Isa Yuguda and his supporters. Though the group has achieved much acceptance amongst the populace by virtue of an early and consistent campaign, it is nonetheless an outcast within the Mu’azu-group dominated PDP. The recent PDP congresses in the state confirmed this when it was only the Yuguda camp that complained of irregularities.
That this group is yet to quit PDP could only be explained by the seeming resilience of the group in trying to fight to finish. It is becoming evident however, that the group intends pitching camp with another party, probably AC, as seen from the current Yuguda billboards that do not bear the PDP umbrella.
In as much as the Mu’azu group is vehement in stopping Yuguda from being governor in preference for Nadada, he (Yuguda) has proved his mettle by keeping hope alive among his supporters and is likely to deal a deadly blow to the Mu’azu camp, if he aligns with other anti Mu’azu elements, in a free and fair election.
Katagum Group
This group sees the next governorship as its birthright. Traditionally, the Katagum emirate is a powerful political block in the state and is opposed to the Bauchi emirate where Mu’azu hails from. They have produced a governor and three deputies from the second republic to date. The political gist is that the Emir of Katagum had gathered prominent sons of the emirate and directed them to identify a capable person to be fielded as a gubernatorial candidate for the 2007 election.
Although the gist had it that the Emir admonished his subjects not to back any candidate outside Katagum, it is believed that this could not be so, as Katagum alone cannot make a governor. The insistence of the emirate to produce the next governor is beginning to worry some elders from the Bauchi emirate who feel there is more than meets the eye in this insistence. It is believed the Bauchi elders may decide to back a candidate from northern Bauchi, who is not necessarily from Katagum, if power must shift away from Bauchi south.
Another problem confronting the Katagum group is that none of its members who have indicated interest in vying for the governorship ticket compares favourably with aspirants from other zones. For instance, Alhaji Aliyu Kaulaha, who was supposed to be Mu’azu’s deputy in his first tenure, is believed to have declared with the sole intent of checkmating Mahmoud, the present deputy governor. Both Mahmoud and Ambassador Aliyu cannot favourably compare with either Yuguda, or Dr. Gidado in the Independents group.
In fact people seem to be amazed at the co-aspiration of two brothers: Kaulaha and Ambassador Aliyu. Another aspirant from this group, Alhaji Aliyu Yeriman Giade seems to have fizzled out of the contest at present.
The Independent Group
Political observers describe this group as the group that strongly believes that power belongs to none except God. This group comprises Alhaji Ahmed Iliyasu and Dr. Kassim Gidado.
While Iliyasu from the central senatorial zone has Nadada, who happens to come from the same Misau emirate, to contend with, Dr. Gidado seems to be comfortable in his native Jama’are emirate in the northern senatorial zone, where he is the sole aspirant. Although not much is known of their political pedigree, both are believed to be untainted. Iliyasu’s inexperience may work against him but he is seen as a respectful and down to earth person, who may rally both winners and losers after the final battle.
Although the “Britishness” of Dr. Gidado who had been a university lecturer and Consultant based in the UK for about two decades, may work against him as he is seen to be a stickler to the books, he is nonetheless also seen as a workaholic who could surpass the achievements of Mu’azu, and his youthfulness has made him the natural choice of the youths. He is seen to be far removed from all the political intrigues, and is believed to be backed by some traditional rulers, who see him as truly one of their own, and some elders who feel comfortable with his dynamism and see him as a “settlement” in the ensuing political dispute.
In the final analysis, if the tug of war between the Mu’azu, Yuguda and Katagum groups gets bitter, the actors in this war may have to beam their spotlight on this group if the PDP hopes to form a government in the state in 2007.
Other Political Parties
The role of other political parties is solely dependent on what happens in the PDP. Of all the parties, only ANPP and AC seem to be formidable enough to pose a serious threat to the PDP in the final run.
Even then, these parties along with the DPP and AA, for lack of credible aspirants, are waiting and hoping for the PDP to break up after its gubernatorial convention. It is then; they hope to field some of the gubernatorial aspirants whom would have been schemed out of the PDP convention and are feeling short changed.
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