Between Tukur, Nyako and CAN
A replica of what obtained in the wake of the PDP Governorship primaries last year where merit was thrown overboard for mediocrity; the same modus operandi was on display in the February 2012 election in Adamawa. On the face value, the said election could be mistaken that since there were no recorded flagrant incidences of […]
A replica of what obtained in the wake of the PDP Governorship primaries last year where merit was thrown overboard for mediocrity; the same modus operandi was on display in the February 2012 election in Adamawa. On the face value, the said election could be mistaken that since there were no recorded flagrant incidences of violence, it could be dismissed as a free and fair exercise. But the truth remains that the election was marred by under aged voting, over voting, ballot stuffing, and gross electoral malpractices and above all there was alleged financial inducement of some election officials by the powers that be in most of the local government areas of the state. These views were expressed at different units and electoral wards during and immediately after the poll by a number of accredited election observers who were on ground to monitor the election.
Authoritative sources say the major reason some PDP state governors and other stalwarts of the party stormed Adamawa 24 hours to the election day was to manipulate the process in favour of its candidate. Their strategy may not be unconnected with the apparent loss of confidence in the candidacy of Nyako, whose regime in the last 5 years has made little impact in education, total neglect of the electorate, a high tolerance for official corruption, among other lapses.
The need to compensate Bamanga Tukur, PDP’s anointed chairman for his loyalty to the president’s ambition in last year’s presidential election was the main factor that compelled the party ‘s stalwarts including the vice president to ensure that by all means , the party’s candidate Nyako emerged victorious, so that Tukur’s election as the party’s national chairman that had already been programmed can easily be accorded some semblance of credibility and acceptability of the party in his home state. Be that as it may, perhaps the next dilemma of the party in the state is whom it will support for the 2015 governorship election? Will it throw its weight behind Awwal, Tukur’s son or Abdulaziz, Nyako’s son? Definitely time shall tell. This may have informed P.D.P’s alleged grand design to manipulate the outcome of the Governorship Election Tribunal’s verdicts in favour of its candidate in spite of the glaring evidences filed by the ACN.
The party’s lack of internal democracy and its leadership’s total disregard for voter sovereignty would likely make the duo face disgrace in Adamawa in the hands of the ACN as the only party to beat anytime, any day. We all know that PDP fears to participate in elections like a child squirms at a serpent. As alluded to by General “Muhammadu Buhari” what happened in Kogi, Adamawa, and Sokoto states and the bye, elections made as believe that PDP leadership is not prepared for real democracy and social justice. And I hope they will be strong enough to go through the consequences of their in justice”. There will be real political revolution indeed.
Even before nursing the ambition to superintend over the party at the national level, Tukur is said to be grooming his son Awwal to become the next governor. Unknown to Tukur, Governor Nyako on the other hand is rumored to have perfected plans to use his influence and impose his naval officer son, Abdulaziz who has been his father’s defacto chief of staff since last year.
Unlike the wuru wuru primary election supposedly won by Nyako last year which is still being challenged in the court by one of the contestants the ACN’s Engr. Gundiri emerged through a highly competitive race with no court litigation which goes to show maturity, acceptance and credibility of the ACN unlike others.
Well, the lesson from the 61,000 wining votes allocated to Nyako by INEC as a sitting governor who claims to have enjoyed the people’s good will in the last five years is a questionable one for any discerning mind. The Adamawa 2012 election has really exposed the unacceptability of both Nyako and his party. No wonder, the party hardly losses at elections. But how long can we continue like this?
No doubt the PDP had severally been criticized for disgusting disdain for due process and finesse. It had selfishly enthroned the culture of impunity as epitomized by flagrant disregard for ethics of democracy and good governance. Their action and inactions are consequential to the nationwide mistrust among its members and indeed the generality of Nigerians. For instance, it is being discussed in hush tongues in the streets of Jimeta recently that Governor Nyako is so much enamoured of power that whenever a memo is brought to him for approval, he would say to his eldest son, and ask him in Fulfulde, mi wada jingo ma? Meaning my son, should I sign this? That has shown the level of nepotism and cronyism has impacted on the governance of the state.
It is because of these kinds of sentiments that, the state had remained in strait jacket, lacking basic necessities to function properly. Today, even a drooling imbecile knows that Adamawa is run like a cult. It is this politburo- style of the ruling party that is ruffling not a few feathers. But they need to be reminded, that worse bureaucratic gladiators have before now passed through similar ugly terrain in the past. They boasted that no power can render them irrelevant under the sun, but when denouement came like a whirlwind, they were swept away into the dustbin of history for ignoring its bitter lessons. A word is enough for the wise!
Salaudeen resides at Nasarawo Ward Jimeta, Yola