Borno: Gubio killing sets new political tone

Modu Fannami Gubio’s tragic death is indeed a big blow – not only to his family members and friends – but to the members of his party, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), which is the party that has been in the lead in the state since the advent of the democratic dispensation, in 1999. […]

Modu Fannami Gubio’s tragic death is indeed a big blow – not only to his family members and friends – but to the members of his party, the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), which is the party that has been in the lead in the state since the advent of the democratic dispensation, in 1999. His death has also altered – if not disorganised – the carefully scripted political roadmap of the ANPP and by extension, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff’s plans, to ensure that the party’s dominance and his political empire survives beyond the forthcoming elections.

Being the cousin of Governor Sheriff, Gubio’s emergence as the ANPP candidate was trailed by mixed feelings. Even before he died, many people believed he was favoured ahead of others by the outgoing governor. However, despite the challenges, the stalwarts of the party continued to strategise ahead of the elections. Unfortunately, death took the candidate away, a development which has prompted realignment and fresh politicking. His exit has exacerbated the troubles in the ANPP. At present, the first big challenge before the party and its top echelon is how to recover from the shock of the high-profile killing and seeking a way forward without allowing opposition parties to cash in.

Players go, players come?

Shortly after the third-day prayers for Gubio and Alhaji Goni Modu Sheriff, the brother of Governor Sheriff who was killed alongside Gubio, almost all the delegates who participated in the gubernatorial primaries about three weeks ago converged at Borno Government House. At the meeting, sources said Sheriff reminded them of the challenges ahead and the need for proactive measures. The source said the governor assured that another candidate will emerge before the 11-day grace period that INEC gave the Borno ANPP to produce another candidate. For now, it is not yet clear who will be the new flag-bearer, even though the names of some close allies of Sheriff are being touted.

Believed to be favourites of Sheriff, are his Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, as well as his younger brother, Mala Sheriff. Also, there’s Alhaji Abu Kyari, the Commissioner of Information. A name considered by insiders to be new, is Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan, former governor of old Borno State, who now represents Borno North in the senate. He recently won the ticket for a second term. Another entrant is Alhaji Kaka Mallam Yale, who is now representing Borno Central at the State Assembly. He reportedly “obediently and willingly” refused to contest again, a development which gave Sheriff the automatic ticket to contest the senate in April.

Observers say Yale will be a good material for the position of governor having served as local government chairman, commissioner, permanent secretary and recently, senator. Weekly Trust sources revealed that retired Brigadier-General Abba Kyari, father of Abu Kyari, has remained reluctant in allowing his son run for governor even though his name has been mentioned. “It is believed that the gunmen killed Modu Fannami Gubio not because of personal hatred, but because they wanted to hurt the feelings of Governor Sheriff,” the source said. Before the primary election, Gubio had never indicated interest in the contest and did not even purchase forms of expression of interest. His name came to limelight on the eve of the primaries during a tense consultation between the governor and stakeholders of the party.

Another name that is resonating is that of Alhaji Kashim Shettima. It is also not clear whether he will accept the offer or not, considering the prevailing circumstances in the state. Observers say Mala Sheriff may accept the offer if the patriarch of the Sheriff family, Galadima Modu consents to the heavily guarded calculation. “But even if the patriarch accepts the candidature of Mala, how sure are we he will be accepted by the larger ANPP family?” one of the delegates asked. Speaking to most of the people whose names are being mentioned as likely candidates remained difficult.

But many people are still asking why the ANPP and by extension, Governor Sheriff will not allow his deputy, Alhaji Adamu Shettima Dibal, to succeed him. Before the primary elections, Dibal was the only person who had bought the form for the expression of interest for the office of the governor and had campaigned vigorously. Less than a day to the primary elections, he was the only one who went to the ANPP headquarters in Abuja for screening. During the primaries, he scored 169 votes, while late Gubio got 515 votes. Sources said top government functionaries, including Governor Sheriff, were shocked when they found out that Dibal was able to secure many votes at the primaries.

Weekly Trust gathered that the development had made ANPP stalwarts to have a rethink over the political influence of the Deputy Governor whom many thought would move to another party after the primaries, but did not. From unconfirmed sources, ordinarily, Sheriff would have submitted to fate and endorsed Dibal as likely successor but an ethnic-toned dichotomy appears to be at play, as the Deputy Governor is Babur from Biu and not of Kanuri extraction like Sheriff.

Game changers

Even before the death of Gubio, the sudden resignation of Alhaji Baba Ahmed Jidda as the secretary to the Borno State government shortly after the ANPP primary elections had put the party in a dilemma. Very tactical and well-grounded in the workings of Borno politics, Jidda’s exit was seen as a big blow below the belt of the ANPP. In a letter which he addressed to the governor, Jidda did not give reasons for his resignation, simply saying there is the need to leave while ovation is high.

Pundits say Sheriff may likely have supported Jidda’s candidature because he has wide appeal among the various ethnic groups in the state. Ínsiders say Sheriff may support Jidda to go to the senate this year. In 2007, Jidda had prepared to contest the senate seat but the governor urged him to step down for Ma’aji. The governor was said to have promised to support Jidda to succeed him as governor in 2011 but that did not happen, also.

Before he joined the ANPP, Jidda had contested the governorship seat in 1999 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but purportedly failed even though he was declared winner of the election more than four years later when late Mala Kachalla had finished his first term and Sheriff was sworn-in as governor.

There are reports that Jidda is now in consultation with the PDP on the way forward, providing yet another challenge for the ANPP. Already, the PDP flag-bearer, Alhaji Mohammed Goni, has picked Ambassador Sa’idu Pindar as his running mate while Umara Kumalia is the Director-General of the campaign. Both Pindar and Kumalia contested the governorship ticket but lost to Goni. Observers say their coming together may likely break the decade-old jinx of the ANPP unless Governor Ali Modu Sheriff comes up with another formidable formula that will make his party survive the murky political waters of the state.

However, National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, says the party will win all the electoral positions in Borno State despite emerging challenges. According to him: “We will select a new candidate. It is unfortunate that our party is facing this trying period at this material time. You will recall that a few months ago, I was here to condole the government and people of the state over the killing of the North-East National Vice-Chairman of our party, Alhaji Awana Ngala. Sadly, I am here again for another condolence. We pray that this does not happen again,” the chairman said. The chairman’s statement underscored the herculean task ahead of the ANPP in Borno as the elections draw dangerously near.