Party Primaries: Kudos to Jonathan, Kwankwaso, others

While many analysts have bothered about the appropriateness of the use of “consensus” or the role of money in the high-wire tension-soaked political process, the focus of this piece, is on political succession against the backdrop of a tradition where leaders often worked against their immediate aides at elections. Before the recently concluded primaries, there […]

While many analysts have bothered about the appropriateness of the use of “consensus” or the role of money in the high-wire tension-soaked political process, the focus of this piece, is on political succession against the backdrop of a tradition where leaders often worked against their immediate aides at elections. Before the recently concluded primaries, there were strong indications that President Goodluck Jonathan would sacrifice his deputy, Namadi Sambo. Many had thought that as part of negotiating his way through the many booby traps, the President might be pressured to pick a new Vice, just to calm some frayed nerves. It is a great sign of dexterity that he did not do that. While commending him for the approach, it is hoped that if he is re-elected, he would hold-on to that level of matured leadership while selecting his aides and cabinet.
Although ‘spoils of office’ for supporters is internationally accepted, a leader needs to remember that the people who voted for him deserve an excellent cabinet made up of the best hands within and outside his party. Otherwise, public offices will always be politicized. Why, for example, was our President unable, on two consecutive occasions, to appoint a new Inspector-General of Police from among the immediate officers, that is, the Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs). Instead, an Assistant Inspector-General was picked, thereby superseding on each occasion 6 to 8 DIGs. It is either something is basically wrong with the elevation process in the police force, or political consideration is making the police lose all its tested hands prematurely- a feature that no doubt rubs adversely on effective law enforcement. While it is possible for some younger elements in government to be more proactive, shoving off deputies all the time for their juniors could be dysfunctional Political leaders must thus resist the idea of being influenced to always govern with the second best hands. Leaders at all levels should thus mentor and prepare strong deputies to take over the mantle of leadership from them. Followers must also show not just competence but loyalty to encourage their principals to have faith in them as Vice President Sambo has done with the President.
At state level, our governors have become notorious for working against their deputies succeeding them. Apart from states like Sokoto and Nasarawa where the deputy governors parted ways with their governors long ago, Nigerians may never understand why a man who had served as the governor’s deputy for as long as 8 years is conveniently sidelined while a more junior officer is assisted to succeed the governor. This is why we commend today, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, governor of Kano State who is positioning his deputy to take over from him. The governor when interviewed by the media after his deputy won the primaries told the media that he has no cause to fear whatever his successor chooses to do at the end of his own tenure. That sounded characteristically like him having during his administration scrapped the popular security vote which many see as a channel for stealing. Could it then mean that leaders who work so hard to thwart the political fortunes of their deputies have so much to hide?  If not, why do they relish being succeeded by more junior officers of their administrations? We dare say Kwankwaso’s approach is more likely to strengthen democracy and ensure continuity of public policy.
The approach is quite different from what played out in Ebonyi State where the deputy governor “won” the primaries to the discomfort of the State Governor. Some party leaders in the state claim he was imposed by ‘Abuja’- a term which refers more to Ebonyi politicians in the corridors of the Presidential Villa than to the President. Ebonyi is therefore a state where a deputy governor may succeed his governor not on the basis of a well- organized succession plan but by accident if not intrigue. Indeed, the outgoing Governor, Chief Martin Elechi had his own preferred candidate in a former health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.  This led to a crisis that may see thousands of members of the ruling party especially from the North and Central Senatorial Districts decamping from the party.
We must commend two other governors for their roles in the restoration of peace to their states. These are Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta and Sullivan Chime of Enugu who both stepped down from the Senatorial race for peace to reign. Chime stepped down to enable Ike Ekweremadu the current Deputy Senate President to return to the Senate for another fresh tenure. Not many can immediately appreciate the sacrifice of the governor but it is rare in Nigerian politics.
Uduaghan who some say is always selfless put it aptly when he said “I have to offer myself as a sacrifice to ensure that the political and security tension that had built up in recent times is reduced. In doing that I am aware that a lot of my followers will be very unhappy but I want to appeal to them that I have to do this for the sake of this state.” Unfortunately, this kind of gesture of peace did not happen in Benue where the insistence of Governor Gabriel Suswan to proceed to the Senate at the end of his governorship has seen to the loss to the PDP of one of its founding members, Senator Barnabas Gemade. The latter sensing that his tenure at the Senate was about to be cut by a ‘richer’ candidate picked up the senatorial primary ticket of the opposition APC a few hours after decamping from the PDP    .
Every Nigerian has a duty to chastise those politicians who always seek to remain permanently in power from one position to another especially if their unending political ambition serves as a channel of tension and instability.