Can Yuguda deliver the North East to Jonathan?

The PDP in Bauchi State has decided to dump Yuguda and in effect  President Jonathan’s presidential ambition. It has come out to announce to all who care to listen that it is throwing its weight behind the presidential bid of General Ibrahim Babangida. This scenario is indeed worrying. It will indeed be another great wonder […]

The PDP in Bauchi State has decided to dump Yuguda and in effect  President Jonathan’s presidential ambition. It has come out to announce to all who care to listen that it is throwing its weight behind the presidential bid of General Ibrahim Babangida.

This scenario is indeed worrying. It will indeed be another great wonder of the world for the governor who has lost control in his state to deliver other states in the North East zone to President Jonathan.

Nigerians woke up one fine morning to read and hear about the decision of the PDP in the state to rally round General Babangida through none other than the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Babayo Garba Gamawa. Making this position known when he received the General at the Bauchi State Government House, the deputy governor declared that it is only Babangida out of the lot of contenders that had the experience to fix the security problem in Nigeria.

And for good measure, both the Bauchi State PDP chairman and secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Yaro Yaro and Samaila Burga respectively, have called on all indigenes of the state to cast their votes for General Babangida when he and his entourage paid a visit to the party secretariat. Babangida also met with 21 members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

However, Governor Yuguda seems to prefer turning the other way and pretend that the PDP in Bauchi State is solidly behind the presidential ambition of President Jonathan. Pray all those concerned about ensuring the victory of President Jonathan are watching, listening and preparing to immediately put things aright otherwise the governor might just be the President’s undoing in the North East Zone.

Although I doubted the capability of Governor Yuguda making any impact in the campaign of the President immediately I heard of his appointment as coordinator, I would be happy to offer a sincere advice. It is not too late to drop Yuguda for someone from the zone who is more accepted by the people. The governor is most likely going to turn out to be a liability. A word is enough for the wise. The leadership of the PDP in Bauchi has spoken. It is obviously not on the same page with Yuguda who as governor is supposed to be the leader of the party in the state.

While endorsing General Babangida for the 2011 Presidency, the Bauchi State Deputy Governor had declared that “in the history of Nigeria, Babangida is the only Military Head of State who worked with civilians, Senators and House of Representatives members and based on his experience so far, he knows our problem and would solve them if elected as the President of the country”.

The deputy governor who if all goes well is expected to speak on the same platform with his governor went further to state that “Nigeria today is different because there is no security, so we need somebody that knows our situation and problems, somebody that is not tribalistic, non-sentimental and can take Nigeria to greater heights. I believe that you are capable of leading Nigeria to the promised land because you are a man of your words. You promised to quit Aso Rock in 1985 and you did. You led the country for eight years and you established agencies that transformed the lives of the people. I believe you would do more now that people would cast their votes for you”.

Declaring the support of the PDP in Bauchi State for General Babangida, the PDP state chairman had while commending him for introducing laudable programmes like the Peoples Bank, DFFRI and creation of more states, said that “presently, Nigeria needs a strong leader that will heal the wound of the country and IBB has the exemplary qualities that was tested and trusted and we pray that he will win the 2011 general elections”.

The die has been cast and there is no need for Yuguda to continue to deceive people. He is definitely not in charge. The people have spoken. All have now come out to the open and my advice is that a stitch in time saves nine and no amount of white wash either by him or his handlers will change things. He has indeed lost the confidence of a lot of people.

True to type, the Governor has continued to believe that he is in total control and will deliver not only Bauchi State put the entire North East to President Jonathan. How very funny. Painting the Bauchi State government’s support for President Jonathan as “unshakable”, Yuguda who seems to be in another planet has insisted that “the people of Bauchi State believe in the unity of this country and would do everything within its power to protect and sustain it as an indivisible entity. If I am the Chief Campaigner for Jonathan in the North East zone, then it follows automatically that my Deputy Governor should be the Chief Campaign Officer in Bauchi State”.

The sign of a good leader is accepting things as they truly are and leaving when the ovation is loudest. As a true indigene of Bauchi State, I know and feel the pulse of the people. They are not happy with Yuguda who has virtually moved residence to Abuja and left the masses at the peril of undevelopment and indeed regret for making a choice out of him.

Adamu wrote from Gombe Road in Bauchi