In Gombe, eruption of a silent volcano
In all these, the role of state governors has been particularly interesting as many of them moved to make themselves the epicentre of the political developments. The media are awash with stories and analyses of how party primaries were conducted in states from local to national assemblies as well as governorship. In all these, many […]
In all these, the role of state governors has been particularly interesting as many of them moved to make themselves the epicentre of the political developments. The media are awash with stories and analyses of how party primaries were conducted in states from local to national assemblies as well as governorship.
In all these, many governors have been shown to undermine principles and rules of democracy. Such governors took their undemocratic ethics to the Eagle Square in Abuja, venue of the PDP presidential primaries, where they perfected their manipulation of the process.
The Eagle Square charade did not surprise many, knowing how legendary key political actors in PDP especially the governors have become. Even though they feel they have had their day in the primaries most governors from the North today are under siege as they suffer popular backlash against their undemocratic ethics.
Widely reported demonstrations in Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna etc are testament to the rejection governors are facing among their people as a result of their actions in all the primaries.
In Gombe State, from the first day of PDP primaries, the growing rejection and isolation of Governor Danjuma Goje among citizens of the state was palpable. Several participants in the political process such as Deputy House Speaker Usman Bayero Nafada, former ECOMOG Commander General Timothy Shelpidi, former commissioner Inuwa Yahya and former SSG Bala Magaji cried foul and withdrew from the stage-managed primaries clearly fixed to ensure the emergence of Goje’s handpicked person as governorship candidate.
His manipulation of the process that granted him the Senatorial ticket for Gombe Central, a House of Reps ticket to his son-in-law and gubernatorial ticket to former Accountant General of the Federation all added up to make the once-admired governor a fast sinking titan in Gombe. Tongues have since been wagging in the state over the less-than-transparent manner in which the money-bag former Accountant General, even though a political novice, picked the ticket.
While protests are accepted as part of the mechanism of popular expression in a democracy, the Kalare militia were stationed to ensure that not even a fly cried out against the governor’s political machinations and selfish interest.
What they were stopped from doing in the streets the people resorted to doing through text messages. The frustrations of the people that could not find outlet for expression piled up and translated into a silent volcano waiting to erupt with devastation. While the innocent may suffer in the process, history shows that the cause of the volcano, in this case Governor Goje, also ends up being consumed by it.
Already, as of today, Goje is hardly able to move around as freely as he used to in Gombe.
Joel Isa writes from Sabon Gari, Kano