To unseat Namadi Sambo

However, if he is, the card is very close to his chest because he has concealed it from everybody, including his Patience. Several names, applicants for the office, if you like, have shot up nevertheless. Three of the prominent people among the names that keep cropping up for the VP slot are Governors Ibrahim Shehu […]

However, if he is, the card is very close to his chest because he has concealed it from everybody, including his Patience. Several names, applicants for the office, if you like, have shot up nevertheless. Three of the prominent people among the names that keep cropping up for the VP slot are Governors Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina, Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Malam Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State.
But Jonathan already has a second in command. Only, unlike his political slogan while he was Kaduna governor, Jonathan alone, and not even their party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, can say whether Namadi Sambo is sitting daram-dam-dam or not.
Since midway into this term in their administration, people have speculated that Jonathan had been contemplating doing away with his right hand man, Sambo. But such speculations had come to the VP as a blessing in disguise, as the rifer they became the stronger the bond between number one and number two also grew. When highly placed northern politicians are not defending Sambo, the presidency is handing him more serious responsibilities as a sign of the confidence that Jonathan reposes in Sambo.
That has discouraged some of the contenders for the VPs office. Events of the recent past however present strong indications that Yuguda and Sule Lamido have dropped their quest for the office of VP. Lamido is said to have chickened out when faced with the corruption charges involving his household. He had looked intimidated since his wards began to fall foul of the law. Shema has not relented, however. Last October 22 Chief Tony Anenih was invited to Katsina to send a message to Jonathan to replace Sambo with the Katsina governor. Speaker upon speaker had eulogized Shema and rolled out the drums, heralding his achievements in his state. Many had also focused on his loyalty to the presidency and described his closeness to Jonathan as a sign that they were a match made in heaven. In all these, none had told the visitor that Shema had courted and forcefully befriended the Yar’Adua family in order to drive home the argument that it was Katsina’s right to hold the office because a Katsina indigene had given it to Jonathan, even if posthumously,
But Anenih told the Katsina campaigners the bitter truth. Jonathan, he said, had made up his mind to run with Sambo. He admonished Shema to seek the senate. The meeting ended abruptly and people were so infuriated that they abandoned the meal that was meant for the occasion. But it is not the first time that Shema’s supporters are embarrassing Namadi Sambo in their quest to eject him from office. In mid January this year Sambo had honoured Governor Shema with his presence in Katsina while the governor was being turbaned the Sarkin Fulanin Katsina. But when it was time to speak at the occasion, Shema’s supporters rudely interrupted the Vice president with shouts of “Sai Shema.”
 But instead of making progress, their project has hit the rocks at every turn. Shema is everything Namadai Sambo is not. Shema’s quest for the Vice presidency has a fatal flaw for the Villa, because it has exposed Shema as being overtly ambitious. More unfortunately for Shema is that the aggregate political alliances in the north would prefer Namadi Sambo in the Villa, because of his national appeal, to Shema, whose political influence does not transcend Katsina and its localities.  
Over a long stretch of time, unlike the Obasanjo-Atiku era which was characterised by storms in their political teacups, not once have Jonathan-Sambo disagreed on any issue, political, administrative or otherwise. Even if Sambo nurses any ambitions, he has neatly concealed them. This has endeared him more to his principal. Besides, who in his right senses ever changes horses’ midstream?
A look at the activities of the duo shows an uncommon synergy. Namadi Sambo is everything other Vice presidents like Atiku Abubakar are not. He has been devoted, submissive and authentic.  He bears no grudge against his boss and has refused to engage the rabble rousers on the corridors of power. While he has not taken his eyes off the ball when it comes to work, he has decidedly refused to show any interest in the debate over who succeeds Jonathan, leading many to think or even describe Sambo as Jonathan’s blind wallflower. But last week Sambo led the top echelon of the PDP to return Jonathans declaration forms indicating that their relationship is solid and intact. So like the Americans would say, with regards to the Jonathan–Sambo union, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?