Uba Sani settles for Christian running mate

As the deadline for the submission of candidates and their running mates to the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) closes in less than two weeks, there are strong indications that the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has decided to pick a Christian from the Southern  Kaduna Senatorial zone as his running mate. Daily Trust learnt […]

As the deadline for the submission of candidates and their running mates to the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) closes in less than two weeks, there are strong indications that the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has decided to pick a Christian from the Southern  Kaduna Senatorial zone as his running mate.

Daily Trust learnt authoritatively that the the governor has decided to toe a different line from his predecessor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai,  by going for a ‘faith balanced’ ticket by choosing a Christian as his running mate.

Our correspondents recall that since 1999, all the governors of the state ran with persons of different faiths from theirs untill 2019 when El-Rufai while running for a second term decided to do away with that arrangement and settled for the current deputy governor, Dr  Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe,  as his running mate.

Daily Trust recalls that with the return of democracy in 1999, Governor Ahmed  Makarfi paired with  Stephen Shekari as his deputy. When Shekari died before the end of the tenure, Makarfi chose Patrick Yakowa, another Christian, to fill the vacant position.

Namadi Sambo in 2007 continued with  Yakowa as his deputy. Upon the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua, Sambo was nominated as vice president to President Goodluck Jonathan. Yakowa moved up the ladder to become governor and picked Ramalan Yero, a Muslim as his deputy.

Yakowa died in office and Yero who assumed position as governor picked Audu Nuhu Bajoga,  Christian, as deputy.

El-Rufai in 2015 ran with Barnabas Yusuf Bala popularly known as Bantex but on the completion of their first tenure, had a change of mind in 2019, allowing the latter to run for a Senate seat while he shopped for another deputy and zeroed in on Hadiza.

Following the intrigues that trailed the succession plan of El-Rufai, Hadiza, who initially was a strong hopeful for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was placated with the running mate position again  to run with Senator Uba Sani.

As Uba Sani is set to run for a second term, Dr Balarabe is hampered by constitutional provisions to take the oath of  the office thrice hence the search for another running mate.

Inside sources say the governor has been in a dilemma over whom to pair given the religious sensitivity in the state.

If he runs with another Muslim, the Christians especially those in Southern Kaduna who have commended him for his policy of inclusion in governance, would see it as a betrayal. Whereas if he chooses a Christian, there are strong indications that it may not go down well with those who would want a continuation of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

A highly reliable source in the Kaduna Government House however told our correspondents that the matter of balanced faith ticket has been decided.

“The governor has gone past that stage, he has decided that for fairness, that his ticket would be balanced in terms of faith.

“Initially there were the issues of age; gender, zonal and faith balance, but the governor decided that if the other aspects cannot be balanced , at least that of senatorial zone and faith should trump every other consideration,” he stated.

The source said the governor has decided it will only be fair for Southern Kaduna to retain the position but that he would also run with a Christian running mate.

Governor Sani, according to sources, is only waiting to pick among those whose names are before him that fall within that category.

Our correspondents learnt that the governor is keeping the decision close to his chest to prevent bickering and unnecessary pressure.

“Once the time is ripe he would make the announcement,” the source stated.

Daily Trust was reliably informed that among those pencilled down are Commissioner for Justice James Kanyip; the Head of Service in the state, Mrs Jummai Bako; and Jerry Adams, the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS)

When our correspondents contacted the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Ibraheem Musa, he asked our correspondents to be patient as he said everything would be in the public glare in due course.

He declined further comments on the matter.

Our correspondents report that there are intense lobbying across platforms for the position as many elites especially from Southern Kaduna are said to be interested in the office.

Daily Trust reports the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Malam Isa Ashiru Kudan has chosen Irmiya Kantyok a Christian from Southern Kaduna as his running mate.

The insistence by Kudan to always allocate his deputy governorship ticket to a Southern Kaduna Christian had always won him massive support from the area.

Analysts posit that if  the governor goes head with the plan to have a faith balanced ticket from Southern Kaduna it would  greatly affect the votes of the party in that area.

A public affairs analyst, Haruna Nasarawa, and a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Haliru Maraya, have however advised political leaders and parties in Kaduna State to carefully consider the state’s religious diversity when selecting governorship and deputy governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Nasarawa said if Governor Sani chooses a Muslim running mate, “it could create challenges because the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket became sensitive due to Kaduna State’s history of religious and ethnic divisions.”

According to him, if another political party had adopted a same-faith ticket, “it might not have attracted much attention,” but for the APC, the arrangement “became important because of the political challenges former Governor Nasir El-Rufai faced between 2015 and 2019.”

Nasarawa recalled that El-Rufai had explained that he adopted the Muslim-Muslim ticket because of the political circumstances he faced and believed it was the best strategy for electoral victory as advised by some stakeholders.

He, however, maintained that if Governor Sani chooses a Christian running mate, “it would send a strong message of unity” and demonstrate that he is committed to carrying every section of the state along, noting that since assuming office, his administration has promoted understanding and inclusiveness across Kaduna State.

Similarly, Sheikh Haliru Maraya advised political parties in Kaduna State and other heterogeneous states not to present same-faith governorship tickets.

“Since 1999, Kaduna State has always produced candidates with different religious beliefs. That display of justice has gone a long way to ensure togetherness and a sense of belonging in the state,” he said.

Maraya added that, “for equity and fairness, political parties should ensure they field candidates for governor and deputy governor of different religious beliefs. This will go a long way to unite us together and ensure equal representation in the act of governance.”

The cleric further stressed that justice, rather than the religion of political leaders, is the foundation of good governance, citing the Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah’s position that, “Allah helps a state that is just, even if it is under the unbelievers, but He doesn’t help a state that is unjust even if it is under the believers.”