Date Published: 06/16/09
Emerging Alliances: Squandering of Goodwill in the ‘Home of Beauty’
By Edward Wabundani
To any keen observer, recent developments clearly show that there are serious internal squabbles in Adamawa State chapter of the PDP. Preparatory to the 2011/2012 elections in the state, the scenario playing out signifies that old alliances formed prior to the 1999 and 2003 and that of 2007 general elections are gradually breaking down. In their place, new realignments have started to emerge. This has greatly impeded on good governance.
For example, governor Nyako and Jibril Aminu have not left any body in doubt that they are at serious loggerheads with each other. Their altercation is hinged on who should fly the party’s flag in the 2012 general elections in the state. While the governor prefers to complete his second term or at worst field his naval officer son Abdulazeez, who is currently playing the fine boy role in the state, Jibril Aminu on the other hand is busy perfecting his strategies to hoist Aliyu Idi Hong, the Minister of state, Health at Dougirei Government House come 2012. According to impeccable sources, Jibril Aminu will voluntarily throw in the towel from the red chambers of the NASS in 2011, and hand over the juicy office to his political godson Aliyu Idi Hong. He (Aliyu) will strategies for only one year in the Senate. In 2012, the young man will be pushed to vie for the governorship alongside either the incumbent governor or his anointed son. Further checks indicate that the son of the Chairman, African Business Round Table, Bamanga Tukur, Hon. Awwal Tukur and the incumbent Chief of Staff to Nyako, Bello Tukur, all are eyeing the coveted seat; come 2012. Another dynasty in the making you will say. This is aside of other contenders who are still oiling their political machines on one hand and the nine earlier sidelined governorship aspirants by the General Obasanjo dictatorship in 2007.
The other factor tearing apart the soul of the party is that of its structure. The structure of Adamawa PDP can best be described as a Kith and Kin thing. The state party chairman Mijinyawa Kugama is Nyako’s biological brother and a neighbour in Mayobelwa. Also, the local government party chairman, the governor’s council area, Yusuf Hamman Yero is Nyako’s blood brother too. These, plus the fear that the small clique will lose their grip on the party’s structures are some of the real reasons why no PDP congresses were held in Adamawa last year. This is inspite of the fact that the tenure of the state executives had expired early 2008. Infact the Federal High Court in Yola had since March 2008 outlawed the functions of the PDP state exco.
The inability of the Nyako administration to reconcile with the gubernatorial contenders who were denied the right to contest the 2007 PDP primaries, the senate-hopefuls inclusive, especially from the Central Zone, the persistent political misunderstanding between the State Assembly members and the executive, plus the ever growing disconnect between the government and the electorate, are some of the goodwill that are gradually being squandered. These including other political issues appear to be responsible for the current crack in the ruling party in Adamawa. Whatever anybody would say, the fact remains that these issues led to the emergence of a faction led by Chief Medan Teneke. And the failure to get it right by the government had permeated into the huge objection of the last council selection sorry election conducted in the state especially by the PDP supporters.
The lust for political power and economic resources to manipulate the silent majority is synonymous with Nigerian politics. That is why the cosmetic impeachment threat on Governor Murtala Nyako in the second quarter of 2008 is relevant in the current relationship between the legislature and executive arms in the state. To whittle down their vibrancy in law making and influence of being truly the people’s representatives, there is the palpable fear that their ranks have been broken by the executive. Most of them are alleged to have been promised mouth watering favours, ranging from running mate to would – be governors, automatic tickets to National Assembly seats among others. In the lexicon of the mandarins of these Honourables, since tea and milk mix very well, so must oversight functions and executive/legislature functions. But the truth is otherwise. Really, these pledges according to sources who pleaded anonymity are mere booby traps. It’s a ploy to get the Honourable members back down on the one year tenure slammed on the government’s appointed council officials in the state. In an event the law is reversed to its original three year tenure, your guess with regards to how those mouth watering promises will fizzle out, will be as good as mine.
All-inclusiveness in governance in the state is absent. This is the greatest squandering of goodwill. It appears those in government have forgotten that participation by people from the diverse fragments of the society (over 70 ethnic tribes) is a key cornerstone of the much touted good governance. Unfortunately what is obtainable is “we” and “them” of thinking. This has been central in government appointments, award of contract and even state policies with direct bearing on the populace.
It is instructive that, the emerging political realignment preparatory to 2011/2012 is unnecessary. As stated by President Yar’adua at the party’s recent convention in Abuja, elected officials especially governors should fulfill their electoral promises to the people and de-emphasize on politics. The Nyako government and its supporters should do analysis on how to deliver good governance. Let it facilitate programmes on how to extend health care, remove the state out of the vicious circles of poor educational standard. Also, the provision of adequate infrastructure in the area of water supply and productive employment to unemployed graduates, should be intensified; not the S. A and or P. A type of job.
Naturally, a good government is judged by how well it meets her legitimate objectives. One of them is zero tolerance to nepotism and cronyism both factors lead to lapses in government control, which may lead to systematic loss of political power.
Edward Wabundani can be reached on quiveer@yahoo.com.
