Wamakko and the old PDP

The recent Supreme Court order that the governors of Sokoto, Kogi, Adamawa, Bayelsa and Cross River States had their tenure ended on May 28, 2011 which led to their “stepping aside” for fresh elections to be conducted in those states has opened old wounds in Sokoto State, particularly in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). […]

The recent Supreme Court order that the governors of Sokoto, Kogi, Adamawa, Bayelsa and Cross River States had their tenure ended on May 28, 2011 which led to their “stepping aside” for fresh elections to be conducted in those states has opened old wounds in Sokoto State, particularly in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Although, the internal acrimony against the Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko administration began on the day it took over the mantle of leadership in the state, recent utterances of some PDP forces in the state has further proved the deep seated hatred against the Wamakko administration whose lifespan was terminated on January 27, 2012 having spent over four years and eight months in office. The extra eight months was as a result of court orders which elongated the tenure of the governor.

Contrary to expectations that the entire PDP would stand by Wamakko to ensure another landslide victory for the party, the so-called “old PDP members” thought the time has come to finally scuttle Wamakko’s ambitions having tried since 2007 to unseat him and failed in all their attempts.

The problem with the imaginary “old PDP members” is that they regard Wamakko as an outsider who came into the party from the ANPP in early 2007. Well, as far as politics is concerned, especially Nigerian politics, the bottom line is winning election at all cost and that was what pushed the Obasanjo-led PDP in 2006 to court Wamakko who was the political bride in Sokoto.

For four years, the plot by the so-called old PDP raged on. When the PDP announced that it has cancelled the governorship primaries conducted in Sokoto, Kogi, Adamawa, Bayelsa and Cross River and that fresh primaries were to be conducted, the old PDP forces in Sokoto went to the trenches.

Once again, with the pains and frustrations of the December 17, 2011 primaries over, the opposition still kept plotting and the final battle began on January 27, 2012 when the Supreme Court asked the five governors to step aside.

With the PDP facing another election today in Sokoto, I will like to appeal to party members who nurse grievances to close ranks and work in the interest of the party. God gives power to whom He wishes and when He wishes.

Aminu Mohammed wrote from Sokoto