Lessons from Taraba primary elections

For many, too, this is the election that tested the will of Suntai. It was the poll that put to trial his insistent sermon on the need for free and fair polls, transparency and non-imposition of candidates. Tarabans were watching to see if the man would eat his words or keep them, especially as it […]

For many, too, this is the election that tested the will of Suntai. It was the poll that put to trial his insistent sermon on the need for free and fair polls, transparency and non-imposition of candidates.

Tarabans were watching to see if the man would eat his words or keep them, especially as it relates to the aspirants. Suntai was all over the place preaching the sanctity of veritable polls. He kept telling all that he was not a godfather and had no anointed candidates in any of the elective posts. Each time aspirants went to him to get an endorsement, he told them that they should go and meet the people who would vote for them. That was his stance: that it is the people and, ultimately God, who gave power. He resisted the temptation to get a favourite.

Of course, as a human being with his personal feelings, he could have preferred persons for the positions.

Besides, he is the top man in the state and knows a thing or two about who should occupy what post. In some states, his colleagues were using their influence to muzzle in candidates of their choice. It is a Nigerian game, easily practised by all. In a particular state, the big man just elbowed out all his perceived enemies and enthroned his pals. It is not such a difficult thing to do in the hoary climate of Nigeria’s democracy. Almost everyone is doing it.

He once told us that if Taraba people didn’t want him, he was very prepared to retire to his native Suntai village. This was how he put it “problem only starts when a leader begins to force himself on the people. What we should always do is hope that the people will give us their mandate and accept us. Then we must also believe that in the long run, it is God who gives power. If the whole people want you and God says no, you won’t win.

Again, if all Taraba say they don’t want you but God picks you, then no one can do anything about it.”

At the just concluded primaries, perceived allies of the governor lost in the polls. The governor didn’t intervene while the people voted. He kept telling us that he wanted the people to make their choice without his interference. And that was what happened. Let me cite a good example. There is the deputy speaker of the state who is an in-law of Suntai (their wives are sisters). He ran for the senate and lost. The man who won is the former Secretary to the State Government. In Jalingo, too, Hassan Bappa, a man easily seen as the governor’s acolyte lost out. In both cases, the governor smilingly congratulated the winners, consoling the losers.

His philosophy is that they are all in the same PDP family.

And that, by sticking together, no one is actually a loser. No wonder, the exercise was peaceful.

Little wonder, too, that all the winners in the primaries were quick to endorse Suntai. They knew that he didn’t unduly tilt the election to anyone’s advantage.

In his own election, Suntai did something very strange that I must comment on. A day to the election, the governor addressed all these involved in the polls. Among the many things he told us was that we should be mindful of his opponents.

According to him, we must show them respect. He said they were also his wards and that they must be taken into consideration in all that we do. That is a departure from what other politicians would have done. They would have warned everyone, threatening fire and brimestone.

He insisted that delegates must be allowed to make their choice based on their conscience: no coercion, no cajoling. After the voting and having beaten his opponents with a wide margin, Suntai did not gloat. He physically reached out to the three contestants who ran against him, embracing them as if they contributed to his victory. He told them he was open for team work and that they were all lovers of the state. He urged them to join him as he planned to lift the state out of the doldrums. We left the venue of the event in a somewhat sober mood. No annoying blaring of victory songs. I cheekily asked the governor if there would be a victory party. He gave me that intense look of his and calmly said “it is not a time for partying. It is time for prayers for all of us. It is also time for the real job of winning hearts ahead the general polls. It is a happy day for all of us who have worked hard.”

Bello is Governor Suntai’s Media Assistant