Two years, two governors and twin problems
The Yobe governorship tussle is about the longest electoral legal battle in the present dispensation. Alhaji Usman Al-Bishir, is contesting his substitution with the late Mamman Ali by the party as its flag bearer in the 2007 governorship election. Al-Bishir won the party primary with landslide victory against Mamman Ali but was denied the party’s […]
The Yobe governorship tussle is about the longest electoral legal battle in the present dispensation. Alhaji Usman Al-Bishir, is contesting his substitution with the late Mamman Ali by the party as its flag bearer in the 2007 governorship election. Al-Bishir won the party primary with landslide victory against Mamman Ali but was denied the party’s ticket following alleged indictment of corrupt practices by the EFCC and was substituted with Mamman Ali and Ibrahim Gaidam as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates respectively by the ANPP. Since then, ANPP, Al-Bishir, late Ali, Ibrahim Gaidam and INEC had known no peace as they move from one court to another seeking for justice.
Both the petitioner and defendants have been to the lower courts, higher courts and the Supreme Court. As at today, the case is before the Supreme Court where ANPP is challenging the Jos appeal court ruling which said, it can entertain the case filed by Al-Bishir. The protracted legal scrimmage had had untold financial implications on the purse of the party, Al-Bishir and Yobe government. It has become a fashion that, supporters of the two camps were always sponsored to attend every court sitting with huge financial consequences.
With no date in sight for final disposition of the case, the Yobe governorship legal battle, when finally determined, will not only be a mirror of Nigeria’s legal system but undoubtedly, a reference point in the annals of the country’s judicial and democratic history.
As the 2011 general election approaches, the All Nigeria Peoples Party is anxious to maintain grip of the state, the party is however faced with the twin problem of uncertainty over the court verdict and, presenting the incumbent duo of Ibrahim Gaidam and Abubakar Danlami Ali to contest the 2011 governorship election.
It has become a source of concern especially to the party’s faithful the marketability of the two who had little or no experience in politics and, whose behavior does not accommodate politicians and the intricacies of the political system.
Ibrahim Gaidam had been a civil servant all his life and only attempted to venture into politics after his retirement from the civil service but was frustrated out by former governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim. He was only picked by the late Mamman Ali as his running mate in 2007. That is all about his political experience. The case of his deputy, Abubakar Ali, was worse because, until the day of his appointment as deputy governor following the death of his brother, he was an acting permanent secretary.
Considering the fact that Gaidam and Abubakar were children of circumstance, it was expected that they will extend hands of friendship to all perceived political foes like Al-Bishir, Adamu Maina Waziri, Senator Ahmed Lawan, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Senator Adamu Talba as well as, elder statesmen in the likes of Adamu Ciroma and General Alwali Kazir. Similarly, bureaucrats and technocrats like Dr. Yerima Ngama, Alhaji Hassan Saleh etc should have been offered an olive branch for a new beginning. Unfortunately, these personalities have continued to be kept at bay and estranged. Local politicians including state officials of the party were not spared either thereby creating a wide gap between the leaders and the led. It has become a herculean task for politicians, to venture into government house. Commissioners were issued with specific instructions not to visit government house without clearance with the governor. This is said to have caused a lot of disaffection within the rank and file of the party, some of which have vowed to work against the party in 2011.
The common feature of realignments associated politics and politicians seem to be rearing its head in the state as ANPP supporters from the Mamman Ali and Al-Bishir camps are moving towards neutralizing their differences and commenced underground moves, scouting for a politically-oriented and generally acceptable candidate for consideration in the 2011 governorship election. The name of Senator Ahmed Lawan is fast hitting the headlines among the political class and other stakeholders.
On the other hand, the main opposition party, PDP, is said to be making consultations on how to woo Senator Lawan to defect from ANPP to PDP. The party’s god father in the state and former minister, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri is said to have indicated interest in a senatorial position and, willing to support Senator Ahmed Lawan to settle political scores with the present administration.
Although it is not clear whether Senator Lawan has made up his mind on the next move on the political chess board, the 2011 election in Yobe will be interesting as many factors will come into play to determine the political bearing of the state.
Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Qareem, Buhari Housing Estate, Damaturu