Imperative of a game changer in Adamawa State

On February 21, Adamawa citizens will have another opportunity to choose a new governor.  No doubt, the people would be voting for someone they believe could change the game that has held the state backward for sixteen years. Strong contenders in the race include the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), […]

On February 21, Adamawa citizens will have another opportunity to choose a new governor.  No doubt, the people would be voting for someone they believe could change the game that has held the state backward for sixteen years. Strong contenders in the race include the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Bindow Umar Jibrilla of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ahmad Modibbo of the People Democratic Movement (PDM) and Engr. Markus Gundiri of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Let’s look at the chances of these contestants, their strengths and weaknesses and the issues that could determine the outcome of the race.
First, Ribadu, believed to be enjoying the massive support of some highly-placed officials in the Presidency and the leadership of his party. If a family name alone could be enough to guarantee one an electoral victory, Ribadu could be counted as a potential beneficiary. He came into limelight as the EFCC boss, even though at some point he was accused of being used by former president Obasanjo to go after perceived enemies or political opponents of the erstwhile leader.  The former Police AIG has been a man of high integrity. His supporters believe that Ribadu can make a good game changer. It is believed that under Ribadu, the state’s funds would be judiciously utilized for the first time and the game would not be business as usual. It is also believed that as an anti-corruption crusader, he would not allow corrupt practices under his nose.
The fact that his party has been governing the state since 1999 stands Ribadu out as the candidate to beat in the February gubernatorial poll in Adamawa. Before the reconciliatory meeting, Ribadu had toured the Southern senatorial zone to consult with the youths, women, party elders and religious leaders, where he explained to them his mission and vision for Adamawa. At one of such parleys in Lamurde local government, the former EFCC boss lamented that about N500 bilion accrued to the state had been siphoned as there was nothing commensurate on ground to show for such staggering income.
However, it would not be an easy road to Dougeri Government House Yola for Ribadu as some of the aggrieved PDP members who thought they were shortchanged by his emergence as candidate have drawn a battle line with the anti-corruption czar. Secondly, fifth columnists, especially loyalists of those aggrieved who are still in the PDP have vowed to take their pound of flesh by working against their party.
Modibbo, an educationist of repute who once headed the National Teachers Institute, Kaduna and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as Executive Secretary, was a member of the PDP think-tank at its inception. He is considered as having the required qualities to govern Adamawa State but the platform on which he intends to realize his ambition is not as strong as that of the PDP.
For Gundiri, this is his second attempt at trying to occupy the Government House. He slugged it out with Nyako in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He was able to mobilize non-Fulani speaking ethnic nationalities who are mostly Christians and made a very strong showing. He alleged foul play and headed to the tribunal up to the Supreme Court but lost. However, his supporters still believed their principal won that poll. He later decamped to the PDP after some consultations and alleged assurances by a section of the party’s leadership.
In protest of Ribadu’s candidature, Gundiri decided to pitch his tent with the SDP. Before his arrival at the SPD, the party virtually had no structure in Adamawa. He may still have to rely on the Adamawa Unity Forum (AUF) which supported and mobilized for him when he was with the ACN, to enable him make any significant impact this time around. How far he will go will be seen in the next few days.
Twice, Senator Bindow Jibrilla floored Hon. Ibrahim Mijinyawa said to be Atiku’s preferred candidate at the APC primaries. This, many believe, is a testimony that the senator representing Adamawa North is a force to reckon with in the gubernatorial contest. Also his party, the APC, has structures all over the state and large following across the length and breadth of Adamawa. The poor performance of two previous PDP governments has been used by Bindow to woo voters. However, the senator’s northern zone has been taken over by the Islamic sect, the Boko Haram and led many of his supporters to leave the zone and are now Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scattered in different camps across the state. He could be described as the only governorship candidate in the race without a strong home base.
Garba Yedimakudon contributed this piece from NO. 1 B Sukuta Street Wuse II, Abuja.