Shema, NGF and fallacy of Katsina urchins

Metaphorically, elections are always not expressions of right or wrong but a calculated effort to marshal collective interest into formidable victory to achieve a particular agenda or to serve a particular motive. Nowhere in the world has election ever been seen as a one sided train –like- runway for even trains navigate when their route […]

Metaphorically, elections are always not expressions of right or wrong but a calculated effort to marshal collective interest into formidable victory to achieve a particular agenda or to serve a particular motive. Nowhere in the world has election ever been seen as a one sided train –like- runway for even trains navigate when their route changes.
It is this simple but complex nature of politics that many failed to understand in the discourse about the outcome of the recent Nigeria’s Governors forum which was later to be marked by controversies, political opportunism and crass manipulations of events arm twisted to serve personnel interest. Many have exposed their ignorance about the substance, nature and dynamics of democracy, some like the Katsina democrats have even succeeded in exposing themselves as myopic, immature and ordinary political urchins of the highest level.
This article is intended to address the participation and the stand of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema in the entire processes that culminated in the emergence of Governor Jonah Jang, or to some Governor Rotimi Ameachi as the Chairman of the Governor’s forum.
Many reports have emerged on the role played by Governor Shema, and many have wittingly or unwittingly   ascribed their perception of event modeled to serve their own purpose and that of their masters. Form the decision to present himself as a candidate to the point where he stepped aside Governor Shema was as always, led by his selfless motivation of loyalty, dedication and unflinching determination to contribute to national cohesion, unity and peaceful coexistence.
Even though the shenanigans that followed the events culminating into his decision to step aside was one of the most unfortunate exposure of elementary leadership exposure of those who are supposed to be above archaic consideration in national issues, his continued commitment to the principles of national interest above personnel interest more than any other reason drive his alliance with the decision of his political party.
As a committed party member and a tested leader he, more than many others would understand that choosing personnel rather than collective interest has never serve the desired goals and objective of any given organization or nation. His decision to therefore, unflinchingly follow the dictates of his party was a manifestation of long earned leadership qualities that has propelled him to where he is today.
Notwithstanding the brazenly failure of leadership in the arm twisting tactics that followed the processes of the emergence of the new leadership, patriotic leaders have never been those who take decisions based on popularity but are those who rather take the bashing for leaning with the unpopular but right decision that will later serve the collective interest of all.
When in 2007 the then President Late Umaru Musa Yar’dua was searching for a worthy succession Governor Ibrahim Sehu Shema was never in his dreams thought of presenting himself, rather he was busy serving the interest of his people and his region as the deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. It was his charming intellectual capacity and his selfless leadership qualities that endeared him to the then Governor (Later President) who insisted he (Shema) should be his successor.
As a believer, Governor Ibrahim Shema understands that power belongs to Allah and He alone can decide who becomes what.  It is this same entrenched philosophy that propelled him when he was advised to stand for the NGF elections to oblige and the same was what propelled him to step aside despite the failure of some to grasp this simple principle of natural decisions. It is therefore, surprising that a normal political process will be so much misunderstood, grandiosely manipulated and scrumptiously used as flat form for political machinations by some elements perpetually out there waiting for opportunities to manipulate.
While the recent elections and subsequent events in the Governors’ forum is enthusiastically viewed by some as an opportunity for mischief and probably for  political gains, the fact is that the PDP as a family will only be strengthen by this development as shown several times in the past. So powerful and significant is PDP that every other political party is quick to come out shivering whenever such event happens in our great party
It is therefore, not surprising that a so called “Katsina state democrats” will immediately come out to congratulate Governor Ameachi even though none of them belongs to the PDP. There major capital in the entire event is their unrealistic dreams of seeing a fractured PDP and their desirous dreams of embarrassing the person of Katsina state Governor.
It is on record that these elements are nothing but political lepers whose antecedents have been of losers, political novices and opportunistic persons of the highest level masquerading as democrats. It should be understood by all that Katsina has a long history of civilization and no amount of such grandstanding will ever make its people fall prey of a gang of unpatriotic, selfish and urban urchins calling themselves democrats.
Chakkis is the Coordinator, PDP National Youth Vanguard, Katsina state chapter. [email protected]