Kano State PDP and the CPC challenge
As more and more PDP members desert the party for CPC, the future of the party appears bleaker than ever. The mass desertions by members has jolted the Kwankwaso-installed party executives, who originally thought they had the ball at their feet. However, new realities are making them nervous and to open their eyes to the […]
As more and more PDP members desert the party for CPC, the future of the party appears bleaker than ever. The mass desertions by members has jolted the Kwankwaso-installed party executives, who originally thought they had the ball at their feet. However, new realities are making them nervous and to open their eyes to the unpredictability of the complex politics of Kano State. Even Governor Shekarau, who was once a popular political figure, is now facing internal rebellion largely because of his decision to impose a successor.
With both the PDP and ANPP facing internal crises of confidence and widespread disaffection among their members, the CPC appears to be the main beneficiary. In fact, political observers are praising the foresight and gumption of former PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Mohammed Abacha for his tactical decision to desert PDP and join the Congress for Progressive Change. The PDP in Kano State is like a house with a leaking roof and Mohammed Abacha took the wisest step by leaving the edifice in time before it collapsed over his head, sweeping away his ambition.
Kwankwaso’s greatest undoing is underrating his opponents both within the PDP in Kano State and other parties. According to the military strategist Charles Clauwitz, “it is essential you assess your own strengths and weaknesses against the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy.” The greatest setback for the Kwankwaso-controlled PDP in Kano State was the loss of a coalition of youth support groups that once helped his rise to power in 1999. Fed up with his arrogance and desperation to be hero-worshipped, these youth groups abandoned him and joined the Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau 2003 gubernatorial campaign and the man defeated Kwankwaso because of his amazing humility. He rose to power on victimhood because of the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Kwankwaso when he was the PDP Governor.
Reading the realities of Kano politics and the challenges facing the north over the zoning controversy, the youth groups have now come together to throw their weight behind the gubernatorial ambition of Mohammed Abacha on the platform of the CPC. This is a dramatic political development. Describing themselves as the Amalgamated Organization for Mohammed Abacha, these politically conscious and active young men have met the gubernatorial aspirant and told him that he is their symbol for generational change. This organization is a coalition of more than 300 youth groups who believe that Mohammed has all it takes to represent the aspirations of millions of youths who are disillusioned by the lip service paid to them by leaders that are detached from their situation.
Speaking during a solidarity visit on Mohammed Abacha, the youth leaders said the winds of generational change are blowing across the world and Kano State is no different. According to them, they want a leader that truly understands their situation and indentifies with them. They also believe that Mohammed Abacha has the dynamism to bring about the much needed change.
In particular, they recalled his initiatives of commissioning feasibility studies by experts on how to tackle challenges such as the provision of stable electricity, potable water, good medical care for all citizens, road networks; confront insecurity, poor industrialization and revive collapsed industries so as to eradicate unemployment and poverty. According to them, leadership requires men with ideas and the capacity to implement them. Their conviction stems from the fact that some politicians aspire for public offices for the joy and excitement of power but without being adequately prepared for the offices they want to occupy.
Nigeria is no longer ready to continue paying the price of imposing reluctant leaders. Leadership is for those who have the zeal, the vision, focus and team spirit to deliver the goods. Bad leaders perceive politics as the fastest means of making money without hard work. And that is why politicians can kill to get power. Therefore, for a nation to make progress, we must elect leaders who seek power for the sake of passion for service. Politics should be for those that are financially independent and that is why Mohammed’s supporters believe that he is already comfortable and therefore, doesn’t need political power to make money.
It is a global reality that rich men with compassion and passion to serve humanity usually seek elective offices in
order to make bigger impacts on society. You have to be in government to achieve that no matter the extent of your private wealth. The late M.K.O. Abiola went into politics because that it was the only way he could make the much-needed impact. You can only influence policies when you are in government.
Just like the late Abiola, Mohammed can achieve bigger results when he is in government. He is not a money-hungry politician looking for power to accumulate personal wealth while the citizens starve. If that was his motive, he wouldn’t have any need to be in politics in the first place. The Kennedy family is historically rich but they still went into politics to offer service to their country. Mohammed’s involvement with politics is no different. His donations of sophisticated equipment to public hospitals to give ordinary people access to standard health care and his economic empowerment of youths, women and other social groups ravaged by poverty has endeared the CPC gubernatorial aspirant to millions of the citizens of Kano State. The fact that Mohammed is enjoying a groundswell of popular good will largely stems from his practical alleviation of human suffering through compassionate and sincere interventions.
Gwarzo wrote from 86, Janet Akinrinade Street, Jabi, Utako District, Abuja. [email protected]