Who’s afraid of Lamido?

These are some of the questions that come to mind whenever I listened to, or read what the opposition bloc use to say about him.At times, I laughed it over, because I don’t take their claims serious, while at other times, I pitied the opposition for lack of reasoning, vision and focus. It seems, few […]

These are some of the questions that come to mind whenever I listened to, or read what the opposition bloc use to say about him.
At times, I laughed it over, because I don’t take their claims serious, while at other times, I pitied the opposition for lack of reasoning, vision and focus. It seems, few things give APC members and their chieftains as much sense of importance as a spat with Governor Lamido.
Take for instance, the recent salvo from Malam Garba Shehu. He vehemently accused Governor Lamido of working to dent the image of his new boss, General Muhammadu Buhari, the APC flagbearer. His criticism was anything but decent as it smacks of unwarranted provocation and misinformation.
I was at a loss as to who Garba Shehu was speaking for. Was he speaking for his former boss Atiku Abubakar who failed to realise his ambition at the APC’s Presidential Primaries or for his new boss, General Muhammadu Buhari who humbled Atiku at the primaries? Much I knew, Garba’s total loyalty has always been to Atiku Abubakar and still is. Even now when there was marriage of convenience within the party, which gave Garba his new position, his allegiance is still to Atiku.
That is in spite of his drafting to the Presidential Team which General Muhammadu Buhari is the standard bearer.
Against sounding immodest, PDP which has been the ruling party in Nigeria since 1999 is still standing like an Iroko tree and is obviously waxing stronger. Lamido, as it were is working tirelessly along with his other party stalwarts to ensure the victory for the party’s candidates in the forthcoming general elections using all legal and decent means. But it appears APC which is the main opposition and is groping to catch up must have shot itself in the foot by focussing more on mundane issues to win sympathy from the citizenry, instead of charting ways to win the election.
How on earth would Governor Lamido who earned a reputation of being a democrat, reduce his political standing to personality attack of the APC Presidential candidate in order to gain cheap popularity in the north? Lamido, politically has no equivalent in the north. He has carved a niche for himself in Nigerian politics and must not belittle himself to personality politics or bickering. That is why Malam Garba’s claim points to the likely failing of the APC and the prevailing conspiracy from within the party.
The Lamido I know is a “Political General” whose drive is to serve his people diligently. He is a man with a reputation of patriotic service to the country and with impeccable record of service, who spent all his adult life working for the emancipation of the Nigerian masses and always says the truth no matter whose ox is gored.
It sound absurd that Governor Lamido would now stoop so low to dent the image of General Buhari in the North just to pleasePresident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his vice, Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo.
Political observers would however deduce that Lamido’s offence to APC is perhaps his resistance to fall prey to series of their powerful entreaties’, especially by General Buhari, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State to woo him into APC. This might not be too far from reasons responsible for these cooked up allegations. His resistance must have annoyed the chieftains who apparently appeared so disturbed and angry and might have resolved to get at him at all cost.
Although Garba was unable to adduce any cogent reason to back up his claims against Lamido, the suspicious link between his wharped allegation and the perception of some of APC’s key chieftains against the governor cannot be far from reality. Like a drowning man who lost control and therefore appears confused, APC’s Presidential spokesman has failed to unravel Buhari’s enemies which may appear to have come from within. Even though election is just a few days ahead, and must have therefore resorted to blackmail to whip up unnecessary sentiments.
To say the least, APC’s fears against Governor Lamido are largely misleading, unfounded and politically dubious. Some politicians in general — who tend to cover up or sidestep their mistakes and blame others for their woes did so to attract attention. Garba Shehu’s attempt to portray Governor Lamido as responsible for General Muhammadu Buhari’s political failings is a stack on the face of common sense, as no decent person will believe this phantom theory as cooked up.
For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Lamido has been a consistent radical leader with splendid political talent, whose good leadership style and sound administration has given Jigawa State a focus and direction. Lamido is a successful politician and a strong pillar in Northern politics. He is still the best known radical politician in the region.
From his first term as governor of Jigawa State to date, his administration has instilled hope in the minds of people and had sparked up the sense of unity, purpose and optimism. Think of the infrastructural development laid out in the state, the development of institutions, and the raising of standard of living of the people. The achievement is masterpiece. Even his ardent critics could attest to this.
The fact is, when it comes to serving people, Lamido has no equal in Jigawa State. He is a blunt and “fire brand” politician who has always been consistent in his party and resists every permutation to dump it.
He is comfortably ahead of his political rivals because he is politically well equipped to deal with multitude problems facing the region. While some of his colleagues decided to dump PDP for selfish ends, Lamido chose to stay with it and work for its success. In fact as his second term ends in May this year, if there is room in our written statutes and laws for a governor who served his two terms to march on, I believe the people of Jigawa State would still yearn for his comeback.

Abdu Mago is Jigawa State Commissioner Econo-mic Empowerment