Lamido: Of presidential ambition and anti-corruption manipulation

Former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, launched his curious presidential aspiration on Monday, April 25, 2016 in Bamaina. While declaring, he said he would contest for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in 2019, probably to square it up with President Muhammadu Buhari who may be flying the APC flag. He declared his intention when […]

Former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, launched his curious presidential aspiration on Monday, April 25, 2016 in Bamaina. While declaring, he said he would contest for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in 2019, probably to square it up with President Muhammadu Buhari who may be flying the APC flag. He declared his intention when some former PDP governors, including the acting national chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff- himself a potential aspirant-visited Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
Although the PDP is undergoing rehabilitation and re-organisation, the process that will lead to the future is expected to be led by untainted and progressive elements capable of following a vibrant and corruption free direction, and not a familiar route that is already steeped in corruption trials which may probably lead to jail terms.
It is quite curious that while the debate over the implication of having Ali Modu Sheriff as the party’s chairman has not died down, another person character, whose case in a federal high court over corruption is ongoing, is rearing his head with this funny aspiration, getting the party another unwanted attention. 
Even the Dutse declaration showed the character and traits of an arrogant personality when armed youths, wielding dangerous weapons, invaded and wreaked havoc on innocent party members who were there to welcome other dignitaries. Many were injured, and now recuperating at the Dutse General Hospital, while one person died as a result of the clash that erupted between the various thugs of the former governor.
The most disturbing aspect of the former governor’s declaration was its secrecy even to prominent party members who were lured into Dutse for a solidarity visit. They were not told about the planned declaration. A decision that was an outright attack on the sensibilities of the invited party leaders.
Also worrisome are the antecedents of former governor Sule Lamido and the failure of the party to muster any serious clout during the 2015 general elections. A governor that failed to win even the minutest of seat in the entire electoral process cannot have the guts to become the first to publicly declare unless there is more to it than meets the eye.
This declaration was moreover coming at a time the Federal High Court was close to delivering judgement in the case of the multi-billion naira fraud allegedly perpetrated by both the former governor and his sons. The ongoing fraud case against the ex-governor, as exposed by the EFCC, would have lead to self-reservation if we were in some advanced societies. The former governor is facing charges for financial crimes committed when he was at the helm of affairs from 2007 to 2013 as the governor of Jigawa State. But instead of concentrating to clear himself, he chose to abuse our mentalities further through this dubious declaration.
The looting carried out from 2007 to 2015, according to the EFCC, included a N1.3bn kick-back to Bamaina Holdings by some contractors working in the state; a N1bn paid directly from the state government’s agencies and parastatals to the accounts of Saby Integrated, a company owned by Lamido and his sons and additional N10bn siphoned from the state’s coffers during his eight years tenure. These are parts of the evidences released by the EFCC at the ongoing fraud case against the former governor and his sons.
For a former governor who is still in court over such fraudulent cases as mentioned above, as well as others that included the N9bn Jigawa State secretariat kick-back scandal and the fraudulent use of unsuspecting contractor’s companies, such as Rauda Integrated Services to launder money and execute false contracts, it is amazing how such a person will contemplate aspiring for the exalted position of the President of Nigeria under our great party.
Are these the narratives of a person that our great party will contemplate fielding, when what we need is a candidate with a clean past? Shouldn’t we shop for a candidate that has excelled and who can deliver the much needed votes for the party? Although it is curious and clear that the former governor was trying to use our party as a scapegoat. With his case nearing judgment, former governor Lamido is out to use our great party as a bait to fight dirty. This is an old political strategy that has been used by politicians who could not confront their past with sincerity of purpose.
To contemplate using our party thus shows his nonchalance for our revival. The one most significant interest of Sule Lamido was never the party’s presidential aspiration but rather hiding behind the party to escape facing justice, an attempt that will surely fail as the party is now more than ever being refocused to face the challenges of coming back as a stronger alternative to the Nigerian people. Any attempt by anyone to use us, as a bait, to run away from his sour past, must not be condoned or allowed.
Abu Jawad, [email protected], Birnin Kudu