PDP: playing with fire in Taraba
The part has had a firm grip on the state since 1999, enjoying near-absolute loyalty of members as opposition parties have always failed in their quest to dislodge it.If care is not taken by the national leadership of our great party, recent political events could spell doom for the electoral fortune of the PDP in […]
The part has had a firm grip on the state since 1999, enjoying near-absolute loyalty of members as opposition parties have always failed in their quest to dislodge it.
If care is not taken by the national leadership of our great party, recent political events could spell doom for the electoral fortune of the PDP in 2015. The recent judgement of the Supreme Court which declared the 2012 impeachment of Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi as deputy governor null and void has come with so much dust that the political landscape in Taraba is becoming inhospitable for many people. This is not to discredit the apex court’s decision, but it is pertinent on our part to bring to the fore the ongoing political scheming by some of the actors who are direct beneficiaries of the verdict which may ultimately mar the chances of the PDP at the polls. PDP leadership and President Goodluck Jonathan should note the alliance between the new Taraba acting governor and chieftains and leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Most Tarabans know that shortly after he was ousted out of office, he formed the alliance with Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan who was then fighting a lost battle with his principal, Governor Danbaba Suntai. After losing out, Senator Alhassan defected to the APC and is now pursuing her governorship ambition. While she is free to do so, it will amount to double loyalty for any PDP member or leader to be romancing with an opposition member. And on sensing that victory was coming his way, Senator Aisha appeared to have brokered a political deal with the acting governor that he would be given a senatorial ticket under the APC while he would see to the realisation of her governorship ambition under the APC.
No wonder, Senator Alhassan was among those who accompanied Danladi to Taraba State on the day he was restored back to his position and is said to be in close contact with him since he assumed duty as acting governor. Again, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, an APC presidential aspirant was the first Nigerian to issue a statement that Friday congratulating acting Governor Danladi on his victory. We therefore do not need a prophet to tell us that Danladi may be in some form of a deal with the APC to deliver the state for the party in 2015 if his body language is anything to go by.
While I use this opportunity to urge our party leadership to call the acting governor to order, I will also wish to remind him that he shouldn’t be too quick to forget what transpired between him and governor Suntai in 2012 which led to his removal in the first place. Suntai had accused Danladi of disloyalty and plotting to oust him which informed the decision to do away with him. However, having fought two years’ legal battle and reclaimed his mandate, the acting governor should not give any room for the PDP and Governor Suntai to begin to doubt his loyalty to the party especially now that the election is at hand. The PDP should not relax and assume that all is well as doing so is tantamount to playing with fire.
Matthew Sambo, Jalingo