Why Dakingari, Aliero’s supporters clashed in Zuru

The two politicians parted ways barely a year after Dakingari became hovernor of the state for reasons their close associates described as irreconcilable differences between them over issues of politics and governance of the state. Since then, the rivalry between Dakingari and Aliero had factionalized the PDP in Kebbi State along two hostile political divides […]

The two politicians parted ways barely a year after Dakingari became hovernor of the state for reasons their close associates described as irreconcilable differences between them over issues of politics and governance of the state. Since then, the rivalry between Dakingari and Aliero had factionalized the PDP in Kebbi State along two hostile political divides popularly known as One Term Group headed by Adam Aliero and Two Term Group under the leadership of Governor Dakingari

Until last week’s fracas in Zuru, the two factions of the PDP had engaged in many activities to outdo each other. While the Nasamu ‘Two Terms’ group is to ensure the return of Governor Dakingari in 2011, the ‘One Term’ group is to frustrate his re-election bid and re-establish Aliero’s hold on Kebbi politics.

 Various attempts had been made by elders and chieftains of the PDP in the state to reconcile the former friends who have become sworn enemies over the governance of Kebbi State but these attempts were frustrated. Dakingari is believed to be bent on returning to the State House in 2011 against all odds. Aliero is said to be against this because Dakingari’s return to power will further weaken his control of the state as a godfather.

 Some weeks back, the two rival groups engaged each other at a public function organized by the PDP stakeholders shortly after the inauguration of the new PDP chairman, Alhaji Shehu Mansur Dan Galadima, at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi. That day, the governor had hardly sat down at the venue when his group and Aliero’s group took on each other and almost took over the event as Dakingari’s appeal to them failed. But for the quick intervention of the security agents at the occasion the shouting of Two Term against One Term would have resulted in a clash between the Aliero and Dakingari supporters.

The Zuru clash, it was gathered, was a result of the failed attempts to get Dakingari and Aliero to bury the hatchet and work as a team for PDP victory in the 2011 elections in Kebbi State.

As the election draws nearer, it is obvious that the two politicians are getting prepared to use whatever they have to get the control of the PDP.

At present, Dakingari appears to have a grip on the party in the state with the election of Alhaji Mansur Dan Galadima who seems ready to do his biding and the Aliero group are not happy about this. His attack some weeks before the Zuru fracas somewhere at Ribah town of Danko – Wazagu Local Government Area while on a peace mission to reconcile the factions of the party ahead of the 2011 general elections was linked to the One Term group.

When Aliero was attacked in Zuru, a town not far from Ribah where the PDP chairman was attacked, the former FCT minister’s supporters were quick to point the finger at the Dakingari Two Term supporters.

According to accounts of witnesses, the Zuru fracas was triggered by the presence of both Dakingari and Aliero in that part of the state at that same hour that Saturday to attend separate functions. Aliero was in Zuru for a wedding ‘Fatiha’ while Dakingari was in Bena town near Zuru to attend a reception in honour of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Habeeb Jega.

It was learnt that when Aliero’s aircraft landed at the airstrip in Zuru, the Dakingari supporters who were expecting him, rushed there only to find Aliero coming out of the plane.

The Nasamu Two Terms state chairman, Alhaji Kabir Sani Giant, who spoke to Sunday Trust on the Zuru incident said, “It is not true that our supporters attacked Senator Adamu Aliero. For over two years, we have not recorded any situation where Nasamu supporters breached the peace in the state. What happened in the case of the Zuru clash was that our people were at the airstrip in Zuru thinking it was Dakingari who came by air but when they saw Aliero they left. They made no trouble. Unfortunately, the Aliero supporters attacked them. Those who are claiming that it was Two Terms people who attacked Aliero were responsible for the recruitment of the thugs who unleashed that terror in Zuru. If they say it was Nasamu supporters who attacked Aliero in Zuru, is it the same Nasamu supporters who attacked the PDP chairmanin this same area recently? They are just doing this to blackmail the Governor. Dakingari is concerned about the security of lives and property of the people. We realize it was because of the good works and achievements that he has recorded so far and their ambition to take the state by force that are responsible for all these things. But Dakingari’s popularity is too much for them to overcome”.
However, this claim by Alhaji Giant was dismissed by the Aliero group who insisted the attack on the senator and former governor was masterminded by the state government under Dakingari.
Earlier, a group of ‘Concerned Governorship Aspirants’ for the 2011 governorship election: Alhaji Abukakar Mallam, Senator Abubakar Umar Tafida and Maieka Bello Muhammad, claimed during a press briefing on the Zuru fracas that the Zuru incident was a calculated attempt to intimidate all the people who have expressed interest or aspired to challenge the incumbent governor in the PDP primaries for the governorship ticket.
According to the aspirants, the tension that is building in the state will generate a breach of security. They also warned that unless necessary steps are taken, conducting elections in Kebbi state will be impossible in 2011.
However, in a swift reaction to the Zuru disturbance, the state governor said in a live broadcast that he will not fold his arms and allow people to take laws into their hands and behave in a manner inimical to continued existence of peace.  Dakingari observed that the recent political disturbances are threats to peaceful atmosphere enjoyed by the people.
In that broadcast, the governor announced the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry headed by a High Court Judge, Justice Umar Abdullahi, to investigate the immediate cause of the incident and recommend appropriate sanctions against the perpetrators and their sponsors.
On Thursday, August 12, the commission of inquiry began sitting in Birnin Kebbi. Three people made appearance, including the father of the bride who wedded on the day of the incident in Zuru, Alhaji Gado and two others. The counsel to the witness, A.A Fingila, at the sitting, made oral application for bail for the three witnesses but it was objected to by the commission’s counsel, Mikailu Makira, who said the police officer in charge of general investigation S.P Dantsoho, had told him that their presence at the police command was paramount to the investigation as they have revealed a lot and are still cooperating with the police.
The Aliero camp has kicked against the setting up of the judicial commission of inquiry by the state government. They see it as an attempt to find ways to persecute the opponents of the governor. One of Aliero’s loyalists, Alhaji Abubakar Na Allah, is of the view that Dakingari was desperately looking for ways to clip the wings of the former governor. He maintained, “what do you expect; the governor is just trying to find fault in Aliero to frustrate his political activities in Kebbi. We are waiting to see the outcome of the commissioned investigation but I can tell you that we already know the direction they will follow and the outcome they will get. But we are ready for it”.
This claim has been faulted by Dakingari’s supporters. The “Nasamu Two Terms” chairman, Alhaji Giant, stated that no responsible government will fold its arms and watch people behaving as if they are above the law. He said, “we are aware of every moves they have made to destabilize the state by bribing some members of the state House of Assembly to impeach the Speaker and the Governor in order to gain control of the party and the state. We know they are sponsoring violence to take Kebbi by force.
However, Alhaji Dauda Zuru,  an Aliero supporter, has dismissed Alhaji Giant’s claims as the words of someone who depends on the powers that be for relevance and who must defend such powers.