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Dialectics of Rimi cross-carpeting, ANPP's gain
After months of speculations that some top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who found solace in other political parties before the last general elections, particularly ex-governor of old Kano state, Alhaji Mohammad Abubakar Rimi were on their way back to the fold, as part of re-alignment of political forces, Rimi finally rejoined the PDP in Kano days back.
And although, the political landscape of Kano had been agog since then, but with bated interest analysts had watched to first confirm whether the new development was true or just a figment of the imagination of some uninformed sources. The story that made the round that day of the return of old Kano state governor, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Rimi and some of his followers back to the PDP fold did not however take long to confirm.
So, having ascertain it, many observers have then expressed opinion that the Action Congress (AC) his last party has therefore suffered a serious setback as the former Minister of Communications who is the party�s National Vice Chairman and Board of Trustees member formally called it quit with the party, a development attributed to the recent meeting he had with the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Reconciliation Committee established by the PDP. Others do not however share this view.
This writer had gathered that in the build up to his exit, Rimi had issued a directive to all his supporters to follow suit by decamping from the AC to PDP as the latter is ready to reconcile all the differences that bedeviled the party in the past. Rimi, who is a close associate of former Vice President and AC presidential flagbearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar also assured the PDP hierarchy and the Alex Ekwueme Reconciliation Committee that the party will strive to upstage the ruling party in the state, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) to capture the November 17 local government elections in the state.
Though, one-time governor of Kano state and Minister of Defence, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is revealed to have played a prominent role in wooing Rimi back to the fold, how they intend to work their relationship and stake in the party has being a thing of worry for both the card-carrying members of the party, sympathizers and analysts. And the question being asked is will this re-union put their rivalry behind them.
Earlier, say a few weeks ago, it was the turn of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Umar Ghalli Na�Abba to retrace his steps to the biggest party in the African continent in what is both explained to be a result of the reconciliatory moves by the party initiated by President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua. When he crossed over, he had described as lacking in morale to stand on a sound footing, especially after the last general polls.
Since both occasions, political observers have been analyzing the situation and how the return of the �prodigal sons� would impact on the fortunes of the PDP, especially in Kano state where they both belong; and they are both of the Action Congress (AC) where they had gone to hibernate and in the view of some, to collect how much could be scooped from the deep pockets of ex-President Atiku Abuubakar and former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
To recount, some of the principal actors that crossed over with the ex-Kano state governor are the Kano state chairman of the AC, Alhaji Suleiman Mohammed, the party�s governorship candidate, Alhaji Usman Sule Riruwai, former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly during Rimi�s era between 1999-2003, Alhaji Farouk Iya and a few others as many of his supporters declined moving with him this time around. Those who turn back full circle against him have had to tell those who cared to listen that they can no longer condone his nomadic politics where he jumps from one party to another at the slight provocation.
Though, going by his antecedent, not a few doubted his game-plan this time around as they believe he tactically stayed away from the decamping ceremony to create a stop-gap, an atmosphere where he would easily deny he ever decamped to PDP if his demands are not met. He had never exhibited sincerity on issues of this kind in the past, only if his selfish aggrandizement is satisfied.
Even the AC which should have been brooding over his exit is celebrating instead. They see his dumping of the party for the PDP as good riddance to bad rubbish. Members of the AC said his over-bearing influence had been a thing of disadvantage to the party in the only election they have contested under his guidance in Kano and the North West where he is chairman; and his presence could not change its dismal performance.
However, the position of some of his supporters on his jettisoning the AC is that it lacks maturity. One of them who craved anonymity said,� I knew he quit our party and joined our former party (PDP). So it�s left for him to think if it is good for his integrity to be changing from one party to another at will because to me it is a sign of immaturity", he lamented.
Investigation by this writer who visited the AC secretariat revealed that majority of Alhaji Abubakar Rimi's supporters declined to heed his call for them to join the PDP as they complained that the decision was entirely his, as he did not consult with them before decamping. Some of them thereby described the action of their erstwhile mentor as undemocratic and uncalled for.
According to a school of thought, Rimi had always canvassed politics of bread and butter and not of principle and ideology since he was estranged from the camp of late Alhaji Aminu Kano�s Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in 2003. The AC remnants have therefore remained resolute as they believe that former Labour Minister, Alhaji Lawan Gwadabe is more capable of giving the much needed direction as they approach the forthcoming local government polls in the state. They want to re-build from the ashes left behind from the recent �tsunami�. Gwadabe and another �strongman�, Alhaji Gwadabe Satatima is steadfast with the AC in Kano .
An unnamed councillorship aspirant under the AC in Sabongari area of Kano had informed this writer that most of its members had prayed fervently for Rimi to leave the party so that fresh air could be breathe into it. According to him, if the ex-Minister of Communication under late General Sani Abacha was popular as he claimed, why could he not win election into the House of Representatives for his son to represent Takai/Sumaila constituency. Instead, he performed woefully in last April polls when the likes of Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Dr Olusola Saraki and Chief Alani Bankole amongst others won elections for their wards into various political offices. Adedibu�s son is in the Senate, Saraki has a governor and a Senator while Chief Alani Bankole�s son, Dimeji Bankole has just emerged Speaker of the House of Representatives. Obviously, the achievements of these wards are as a result of the goodwill their fathers still commands. Not so for Rimi in Kano who have squandered his over a meager pot of porridge.
Reacting swiftly to the �homeward� move of Rimi to PDP, secretary of the ANPP in Kano , Alhaj Rabiu Bako described the romance between the erstwhile AC stalwarts and the PDP as ill-motivated and unrealistic. According to him, Rimi and his co-travelers are political prostitutes who have long willed away their relevance in politics of the state and Nigeria at large.
Bako further expressed that what they in the ANPP celebrate about the development is that the move is rather a plus for the ruling party in the state as the principal actor; Rimi has since become a political liability to any serious minded party built on foundation. He predicted that the marriage would soon collapse against the groundswell that it was consummated on self-serving grounds in the first place.
Also sometimes ago, PDP top stalwart, Senator (Colonel) Isah Kachako in an interview with this writer weeks before the cross-carpeting of Rimi and his co-travelers gained currency, while responding on issues bordering on the party�s reconciliatory moves and which some of the politicians refused to adhere stated thus: I have said it severally before without fear or favour that some of those people proving stubborn who doesn�t want to return have no electoral fortune attached to their names. Majority of them cannot or could not and would not bring even their ward to PDP in an election.
It happened in Kano during one election in a particular local government area. A particular big-shot or three big shots were there and couldn�t bring the ward and also the local government to their present party (AC). PDP won. So, what are they saying? You see, I hate to hear about Abuja politicians. Go to your ward; go to your local government. Right now, you saw how I arranged to welcome people from my local government for a meeting and if I say I would be an Abuja political big-wig, I can�t convene this kind of meeting and expect people to turn up. The so-called top aggrieved politicians you are talking about are actually not top-notchers when it comes to grassroots politics�, he expressed.
But how did he get to this level. Some observers have argued that in the past, especially after the 1999 general elections when the spoils of office was being shared under the guidance of President Olusegun Obasanjo, nothing came his way except his board chairmanship of the National Security Minting and Printing Company (NSMPC). He automatically became broke instantly and barely managed to survive.
A story is told that he contended with the misery and as the 2003 general elections approached, most political office seekers especially in Kano and beyond thinking that he still commands respect in the political arena went to him for his blessing and support, and he charged a fee accordingly. Having collected so much money from different politicians and some vying for the same offices, promising everyone that approach him of victory, he absconded to the United Kingdom barely days to the polls under the excuse he was going for treatment and leaving them to their fate. This has since been his stock in trade in the game of politics.
It is therefore widespread opinion that ANPP will put a final nail on the coffin of Abubakar Rimi and PDP in Kano using the November 17 local government election as the undertaker. But whether again this will come to pass or the opportunity is what Rimi would use to resurrect his political career is what observers are waiting to prove them wrong in their insinuation that this politician is dead, albeit politically. END
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