In Katsina, who the cap fits

It therefore presupposes that party flag bearers as well as political aspirants into elective offices should emerge through a transparent electoral process occasioned by a level playing field for all the participants.It is in this regard and the fact that 2015 is around the corner, that aspirants and political gladiators in all political divides in […]

It therefore presupposes that party flag bearers as well as political aspirants into elective offices should emerge through a transparent electoral process occasioned by a level playing field for all the participants.
It is in this regard and the fact that 2015 is around the corner, that aspirants and political gladiators in all political divides in the state, notably the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are warming up and getting set to confront their opponents in their respective party primaries with the sole aim of emerging as their parties’ flag bearers for the general election.
The question of who will be the flag bearer of the PDP in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Katsina State remains the acid test that can make or mar the Party, as any conscious and deliberate effort to hijack or derail democratic tenets in the process can spell doom for the Party.
The reasons for this cannot be far-fetched. First, given the fact that the opposition is a force to reckon with in the State, the Party is patiently waiting for the slightest chance from the ruling party PDP to wrestle away power. Secondly, the PDP need to produce an acceptable and credible candidate from the primaries, who can unite the party, weather the storm and eventually neutralize any factor that may give the opposition an advantage and even woo votes from the opposition. Thus, the candidate to fly the party’s flag must be someone not only acceptable to the party members but also a person who emerges through a transparent electoral process; someone with a large following behind him and not an ‘excess baggage’.
This all important exercise must not be toyed with by the Party leadership both at the state and national levels or be allowed to be hijacked by self-centred and parochial politicians whose interest may be imposed on the collective interest of the party. As cautioned above, any attempt to subdue the will of the people can be catastrophic for the Party.
A cursory look at the aspirants who have expressly indicated their interest to bear the party’s flag will convince any discerning, sincere and right thinking person within the PDP that the best of the best candidates is no other than Dan Majen Katsina, Senator Ibrahim M. Ida, CON.
Sampled opinion from all shades of persons in the state revealed that he is the man to beat in the primaries. Of all the candidates, he is the only one that can pose an insurmountable challenge to the strongest opposition party in the state and give them a run for their money.
To those who know the senator closely and understand the political landscape in the state, this public opinion will not come to them as a surprise for obvious reasons. Senator Ibrahim Ida is a household name in Katsina State and beyond. He is not new to the political terrain in the state. He has toured the whole state, has been to every nook and cranny and in fact, he has paid his dues in Katsina State politics. He is a bridge-builder and peace-maker that enjoys the unalloyed support of both the youth and the elders in the state.
It is imperative to note that given his pedigree and quintessential records, he stands to be the only candidate amongst all the other aspirants that has the needed personality to galvanize the support of all the warring camps in the state chapter of the PDP and counter the seemingly ever-increasing popularity of the opposition in the state, in the 2015 general election.
His achievements and contributions as a Banker, Public Servant as well as an entrepreneur are second to none. He has a proven track record of integrity, people oriented ideology, sincerity and financial probity.
If public opinion is anything to go by, the people’s senator is the best representative to hoist the party’s flag in 2015 and lead the match to the government house on May 29, 2015.
One unique qualities of the people’s senator are his humility, sincerity of purpose, approachability and accessibility at all times. Party members and indeed all the state indigenes are at home with Senator Ibrahim Ida, CON.
It is against this backdrop that concerned party members are pleading with the party leadership and all stakeholders to look beyond the party primaries and not to see the primaries as an end in itself but a means to an end, which is ultimately the government house in 2015.
This can only be achieved through organizing free, fair, and transparent primaries in which the votes of the electorates reign supreme.
The consolation however, lies in the fact that the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema, CON, has on many occasions and at different fora reiterated that he does not have any personal candidate nor has he anointed anybody, contrary to speculations by mischief makers and rumour-mongers sponsored by unscrupulous individuals who are bent on deceiving the people by claiming to have the ears of the Governor.
We remain optimistic that, the governor will allow not only democratic tenets to guide the process but will also ensure a level playing field for all and in that regard, the PDP leadership should not allow a repeat of what played out in Kano state in 2011 when the then ruling party (the defunct ANPP) lost out to the PDP because the then governor, insisted on imposing an unpopular candidate, who was ultimately rejected by the people.  We must all say a resounding NO! to the destructive culture of selectivism and godfatherism. A word is enough for the wise.

Amin wrote in from Abuja<[email protected]>;