2007

2007: Aspirants And Other Matters

Musa I El-Ghude

It is widely believed that the presidency and its team of Garrison soldiers are seriously creating another avenue that will delude the fate of Nigeria especially on the general elections coming up in April this year. In any serious country where its leaders are ready to work towards its development, no question shall remain unanswered. But in Nigeria, it is the other way round. From the religious point of view, no any leader neither elected, selected nor appointed shall assume office without swearing-in with Holy Qur’an, Holy Bible or piece of Iron as the case may be attesting his/her sense of responsibility to comply with the oath. I am amazed on how our leaders are putting behind themselves their faith and looking for goody or worldly materials.

Had Nigerian leaders are faithfully enough in discharging their responsibilities, Nigeria would have been a heaven on earth even within these seven years of democratic / democrazic rule, but no way! Whatever crimes those close to Aso villa commit is not punishable, while those part with them remain in pecuniary chains. Thank God even Ribadu is now confused on who to arrest or not. I am sorry for Ribadu since any government that takes over on May 29^th must investigate the proceeding circumstances. Thank God on 20^th march AIT televised a program life where obj was insulting Ribadu, that, “ who the hell do you think you are, I am talking you are talking.” I pray Gen. Victor Malu will be either chairman or secretary to such an investigation panel or commission.

The aspiration of candidates to the presidency is very important to Nigeria and Nigerians. General Buhari remain the only serious presidential candidate who by any standard qualified. He does not need anybody as a God father to endorse or bless his candidacy. He does not need any sycophancy to pave him way as did by some aspirants. Buhari is seen by many as a less corrupted leader. A leader with the entire country in his heart. A visionary leader that displayed transparency while chairman of Nigeria National Oil Corporation (NNOC) and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Military Governor of Old Borno State, Military Head of State and Chairman Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). He contested the 2003 presidential election and won, but denied the victory through the use of police and other security agents. Thank God Tafa Balogun who commanded the irregularities of April 12^th and 19^th General elections is now receiving Gold medals of what he did. I.G. Ehindero, Beware! Be warned! don’t fall a victim.

VP Atiku may also be seen as a serious contender, but with the nursing of a covenant alliance with ANPP, he may Buhari. Although VP Atiku is politically acquainted and his flurry face-off with obj, Atiku may play an important role in this years April general elections. Atiku, who was also seen as a fiasco by many of Nigerians especially on the atrocious role he played on the sorrowful days of Nigeria. While they are wrangling with obj, he is now fighting for his dear soul. I remember when in April 2002, Late Wada Nas of blessed memory told VP Atiku, and I quote: “Obasanjo will still look for more terms beyond 2007, so VP should be very careful. VP may resist the tenure elongation, but that will be a start to their disagreement. These, may subsequently lead to his expulsion from PDP and to deny him some privileges as VP and to some extent declare his seat vacant”. This statement remain quite scintillated. However, INEC disqualified him to stand at polls.

Umar Yar’adua is another big joker of this decade. When PDP Governors met in Lagos to decide who among them can stand as the PDP flag bearer, Yar’adua was last among all. It was even alleged that the man has no any political connection that will lead him to stand a presidential election even in his home state, Katsina, where he is governing since May 29^th 1999. it was also reported that six PDP Governors from the North were helding a meeting in Kaduna and his attention was needed, but none of them could afford to give his mobile number. Another ridiculous inept in the PDP’s primaries is the running mate. I don’t know what influence Jonathan Goodluck will exhibit to this presidential campaign, a Governor by chance. It also seen by many that Yar’adua was anointed to frustrste the aspiration of candidates like Buhari, IBB, Gusau and others.

I don’t know what Governors like Abdullahi Adamu of Nassarawa , Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna, Peter Odili of Rivers, Donald Duke of Cross-River, Victor Attah of Akwa-Ibom, Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi, Saminu Turaki of Jigawa, Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu, Gen. Buba Marwa and Prof. Jerry Gana would have been planning to do with this humiliation and using of EFCC to deny them either standing to contest or witness free and fair primaries. Although, People like Abdullahi Adamu and Prof. Jerry Gana had no any basis of standing election considering their diabolic roles on tenure elongation and constitutional amendments. These two were struggling to actualize the elongation of the tenure of obj at all cost despite the fact that Nigeria and Nigerians are not ready for such heinous objectives.

Abdullahi Adamu declared third term project as a Nigerian project. He was seen in the chambers of the senate in full regalia with Florence Ita-Giwa during the debate as an eye opener to the senate to vote for third term. Had third term scale through, obj will remain in power for the next 16 years. If Abdullahi is aspiring presidency, by the time obj’s tenure will expire in 2021, Abdullahi will be 77 years, indeed old material. With the immediate abortion of third term, he started his presidential campaign. That is why I respect Gen Buhari and VP Atiku for resisting third term even if they have done so to favour their presidential ambition. I remember when he refused to allow delegates to air their views when he hosted the unconstitutional public hearing in Lafia on constitutional amendment. A clear example was Gen. Idris Garba from Niger state. Hear Abdullahi as a true democrat.

Jerry Gana does not posses any quality that will allow him to contest in the presidential election. Of course a professor, former minister in almost five ministries, special advertiser etc, but however, all these rich CV have been relegated by his act of being atrocious. As somebody who drafted and smuggled a mysterious constitution into the Nigerian political reform conference that assembled highly respected Nigerians and clamored for its acceptance and such a person to aspire into any political office, that could be a paranoia. Let Jerry Gana be aware that he is today the only elite in the whole of Niger state that can not get to his village Tetengi in Doko of Edati LGA, while people identified him. You may ask Senator Hambagda to explain what will happen.

Facing general elections coming in April this year is another yardstick to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria. As a party, PDP is largely in the dominance to rig the elections, never minding the forces and gladiators they parted with from the eminent political professionals they dealt with, and other forces within the social services will also remain a determinant factors. Among the ministers fired-out on one reason or the other and they are now working against the PDP lackadaisical victory if any, includes: Ebitimi Banigo (Bayelsa), M. Bello Kirfi and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Sani Zangon Daura, Kabir Sa’id and Magaji Mohammed (Katsina), Mohd Bello Kaliel and Sambawa (Kebbi), Usman Tafida (Zamfara), Mohd Arzika (Sokoto), Ibrahim Bunu, AbbaGana and Umar Kida (Borno), Haruna Elewi (Oyo), David Jemibewon (Kogi), Tunde Adeniran (Ekiti), Funke Adedoyin (Ogun), Dapo Sarumi, (Lagos), Chikelu (Imo), Musa Gwadabe (Kano), Saleh Shehu (Jigawa), Musa Muhammad (Gombe), Okonjo Iweala and Dubem Onyia (Abia) etc are among the people PDP expelled in one way or the other. By any standard they have money and influence to use as a catalyst during the election. Other politicians who were PDP victims are: Muhd Rimi (Kano), Yahaya Kwande and Solomon Lar (Plateau), Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi), Audu Ogbeh and Iyorchia Ayu (Benue), Osarhemin Ewor (Edo), Shehu Ashaka (Gombe), Chuckumerije (Imo), Udoma Udo (Akwa-Ibom), Anyim Pius ( Ebonyi) etc are also strong political affiliates. Coming to the other politicians, political office holders and elected representatives who either disallow to stand for primaries or were nominated but withdrawn to favour their stooges is another dead zone to the party. In Adamawa Guber race, it was Kwairanga Jada that picked the ticket but withdrawn by the party and appoint Muri Nyako. In Kebbi, it was Bello Gwandu won, but replace with Kabiru Turaki, subsequently Gen. Magoro and lastly a decampee, Sa’id Dakingari. In states like Kano, Rivers, Taraba, Katsina, Bauchi, Cross-River, Imo, Bayelsa, Anambra, Ogun, Lagos etc there were no primaries or was just an anointment by the PDP. These are among the problems that bedevils the ruling PDP. However, until they come down to address the problems, the party should start distancing it self from winning elections. Although, some other parties had the same problem, but PDP is the worst. Nigerians are getting more sensitized and this time around they will cast their votes and sacrifices the last drop of their blood to defend what they vote. Thank God this year’s Annual Trust Dialogue focused on elections and the speakers are enough to extend a signal to the Aso tenant to be careful. Although, Iwu Maurice was there, but we must work hard to guard and protect our rights.

Now this, the political crisis within ANPP in Jigawa Guber race is a mere betrayal and running away from Justice. When Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu was and still battling with Saminu’s irregularities, the lackadaisical Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia was planning to decamp to PDP, which they subsequently did. If there is no any intrusion to destroy ANPP, how on earth will Saminu allow anybody to contest election in another party and allow such person to continue as a Deputy Governor. Remember what happened to Shehu Kwatalo and other Deputies. ANPP must think twice. While they disallow Farouk to run as a Governor or conduct primaries under good atmosphere, Sen. Ibrahim Kirikasama was appointed flag bearer. I believe Farouk will accept whatever real Jigawa people did, but not anti ANPP camp being sponsored by Gov. Saminu. God save Nigeria.

Musa Isyaku El-Ghude, Ag. Sec-Gen, Trust Writers Forum, Wrote-in from Ghude, Kabo L.G.A Kano State. elghude@yahoo.com