By: Abdullahi Garba
Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, generally acclaimed as a loyal Vice
President and a strong pillar of the Jonathan’s administration is no doubt
in his trying times. His immense and monumental contributions to the
success of the Transformation Agenda and the candid acknowledgement in his
tactical endorsement by the President at the South-West PDP sensitization
Rally in Lagos, seem not to be sufficient guarantees to keep in his
well-deserved VP slot for the next dispensation in 2015. Far from being
unopposed at least two Governors and the PDP National Chairman are already
being reportedto be interested in his job. With such a treacherous
scenario playing out, it certainly cannot be re-assuring for the Vice
President who has even endured the backlash from the North for his seeming
loyalty and support to the President.
​First, Gov. Ibrahim Shema has repeatedly denied being interested in
the VP’s job even when his posters and body language betray him. He has
silently been moving towards realizing his ambition by taking concrete
steps that will eventually build in his favour. His recent marriage to the
Yar’adua family is set to bolster his chances as pundits consider it an
avenue to settle whatever issues he has with the family so that a
formidable front can be established to fight for and secure the VP slot.
He has furthermore tried to silence any opposition in his State
through the Local Government election and according it massivepublicity to
shore up support and assert his total control of his Stateand the power
broker in charge. The idea is to try to draw comparison and show that
while he has electoral value, the VP who was reported to have lost in his
Local Government lacked any. This is in spite of the fact that events
leading to such electoral catastrophe are well known to discerning minds
and political pundits in Kaduna State as adeliberate attempt to undermine
the political relevance and significance of the VP.​It should be on
record that the PDP has consistently won the Kaduna North Local Government
until that fateful election. It is worthy of note that while the PDP won
in 22 out of the 23 Local Governments in the State, it lost only in Kaduna
North the adopted Local Government of the VP to the Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC) in eleven out of the twelve wards in the Local
Government Council. The Councillorship seat of Kabala ward which is the
VP’s ward was however won by the PDP’s Bashir Tukur. Suffice it to state
that the VP was not even present during the elections as he was out of the
country for official engagement.
​Kaduna State has been a major contributor in terms of votes to the
Presidential election as the Party from inception till date
hasconsistently remained the second largest contributor of votes second
only to Rivers State. Notwithstanding the fact that CPC marginally won the
State in 2011, the State still retained its second position as far as
national politics is concerned. It is widely known however that the
emergence and political exploits of one of the leading Presidential
contestants is very much entrenched religiously rather than in
hispolitical dexterity.
​This is the same Governor who was also reported to have allegedly
detained an indigene of the State for criticizing him onfacebook. This
young chap merely reproduced the contents of a written petition by his
adversaries aimed at exposing the ills of his government. This allegation
if true is a clear demonstration of hisintolerance and lack of respect for
the fundamental human rights of a bonafide citizen of the State, that he
is intent on hiding from the attention of his Abuja backers.
Others being tounted are Sule Lamido and Adamu Mu’azu. While Lamido has
been battling the party to remain relevant, he also has against him the
alleged looting and enrichment of certain companies being managed by his
children which has been extensively reported in the media as his greatest
albatross.
​But the PDP Chairman’s exploits were the gains from the
mismanagement of the Party by Bamangu Tukur who took on several fronts and
fought the Governors who decided to gang-up against him leading to his
eventual ouster. The Adamu Mu’azu led NWC has reasons to complain of his
high handedness and disregard for due process. He too was previously
alleged to be working silently for hisown Presidential ticket rallying
round his former colleagues ex-Governors and trying to place them in
strategic positions to help him. When that was frustrated by the vigilance
of the Presidency, he now changed gear and opted for the VP slot. The
recent placing of his posters with the President along major streets in
Abuja is a culmination of the actualization of a well-articulated desire
to accomplish an ambition anchored on a deliberate plan of action. He was
also alleged to have distributed bags of rice bearing his portrait across
the length and breadth of the country, leaving pundits to guess that it
was a deft political move aimed at soliciting for future support for
himself as is now manifesting.
​In his display of total loyalty, the Vice-President concentrates
only on assignments given to him by his principal and involves himself
with those things he is permitted to delve into. He recognizes that the
President has the full constitutional powers and therefore acknowledges
the in-appropriateness of confrontations which will serve no one any good.
This was very well acknowledged by the President when in Lagos at the
South-West PDP sensitization Rally, he stated that he and the
Vice-President have promised not to disappoint Nigerians. This therefore
explains their excellent partnership which was anchored on mutual trust
and understanding that has continued to produce positive results.
​The statement by Olisa Metuh the PDP Spokesman is a message full of
wisdom. Since the President was only given a right of first refusal and he
is yet to finally declare, they could not jump the gun. This was why the
current interpretation of the outcome of the NEC meeting was conveyed and
the part played by Chief Jim Nwobodo to the endorsement deal was relayed.
​As the clock ticks towards the Presidential declaration all
thestrong and justifiable indicators point to a secured return of
theGoodluck/Sambo ticket. The ongoing undercurrents of conflicts of
interest based on inordinate ambition are the normal political brouhaha
which keeps the polity heated and exciting. The President knows those who
will assist him in the due discharge of his constitutional
responsibilities and his dreams for Nigeria. Others are merely positioning
themselves for 2019. The odds favour Sambo to continue as Vice President.
Abdullahi Garba can be reached at Abdullahi_garba@yahoo.com