Bauchi: those who forget history…

There are those who believe that the PDP-led government infiltrated the CPC candidates and the rank of party officials in order to destabilize the party or gain political advantage by creating confusion in the mind of those who had already made up their minds on change. For instance, in less than two weeks to the […]

There are those who believe that the PDP-led government infiltrated the CPC candidates and the rank of party officials in order to destabilize the party or gain political advantage by creating confusion in the mind of those who had already made up their minds on change. For instance, in less than two weeks to the then general election, even though Yusuf Tuggah had won the primaries and was declared the gubernatorial candidate for the party, both Engr. Nuhu Gidado and Arc. Mohammed Dewo did not agree with the outcome of the CPC gubernatorial primaries, therefore took redress in court and obtained their individual verdict declaring them the legitimate candidates for the party to slug it out with PDP.
Efforts by the party’s hierarchy to broker peace proved abortive. This contributed immensely to the eventual defeat of the party. Another reason that led to the victory of Malam Isa Yuguda in 2011 election was the violence in Azare, Danbam and Gamawa that erupted after the presidential election.
That violence led to the loss of lives of innocent people and the destruction of properties. The victims include security agents and members of youth corps members. As a result, there was a call for the declaration of the state of emergency in the state to restore order.
President Goodluck Jonathan directed Yuguda to maintain peace and guarantee the security of lives and properties in the state. The PDP led-government took the advantage and utilized the opportunity in by harassing, intimidating and threatening people’s lives should any group decide to repeat what it did during the presidential election by protecting their votes (atsare) not to talk of escorting the votes to collection centres (araka). There was mass movement of army tankers and armed personnel in pick-up vans patrolling the streets of the state, warning residents of the severe consequences that would befall anyone who attempted to linger around the polling station after casting vote. This act discouraged many people from venturing out to cast their votes, thereby handing victory to the PDP by default. This is what we must avoid in the forthcoming elections.
Next month’s elections are around the corner, and history is about to repeat itself; people are not learning their lessons. The APC governorship primaries have come and gone. The primary election in Bauchi was adjudged to be free, fair and credible. All the aspirants’ representatives, agents, party officials as well as election delegates, were there; everything happened in their presence at Zaranda Hotel.
Two thousand eight hundred and fifty four delegates were accredited and screened, out of which eight hundred and six of them cast their votes in favour of Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame; while nine hundred and thirty four votes were in favour of Barr. M.A Abubakar. The total contentious votes were eleven; the remaining votes were shared among the rest of the aspirants. However, if all the eleven votes were added to Dr Lame, his votes would still be eight hundred and seventeen, the difference between him and Barr. M.A Abubakar is still over 100 votes.
Supporters of four out of the eight aspirants protested the outcome of the election. The aspirants that participated in the primary election were Dr Lame, Barr Zailani, Engr Gambo Umar, Alhaji Yusuf Tuggah, Engr Nuhu Gidado and Barr M.A. Abubakar. The first four seemed to disregard and disagree with the outcome of the primary election. Dr Lame openly protested the result, saying the process that led to it was not free and fair.
Each of the eight contestants is eminently qualified to be governor of Bauchi State .They all held several positions of authority; they were tested and trusted, they contributed immensely to the progress of APC in Bauchi, particularly. In particular, Dr Lame decamped from PDP to AC, and later to ACN; it is on record that he was the secretary for the Merger Committee which consisted of CPC, ACN, ANPP, etc. that gave birth to the present APC. Similarly, the party would not forget his contribution in the setting up of the party structure in the state and all the logistic supports he rendered to the party in the state.
However, democracy is a game of numbers as well as negotiations; whoever scored the highest votes wins; it also shows that he is more acceptable to lead the people. Dr Yakubu Lame and all the other aggrieved aspirants in the APC and their supporters should let bygones be bygones; let’s forge ahead.
Our priority now is how to bring out Bauchi State from the predicaments of under development, insecurity, misuse of public fund, unemployment, to mention but few.
 Malami wrote from Bauchi<[email protected]>;