KEBBI 2015: BRACING UP FOR THE ZURU CHALLENGE A new twist has been introduced in the politics of Kebbi with the reconciliation meeting by prominent politicians from the Zuru emirate. Our correspondent looks at if this could translate into giving the zone an edge to produce the next governor of the state. The recent reconciliation of prominent elites from Zuru emirate in Kebbi South Senatorial zone, has led to the emergence of eight aspirants from the zone alone, are jostling for the number one seat in Kebbi State. Zuru Generals and other prominent sons and daughters of the emirate had met penultimate Saturday in Zuru town to map out strategies on how to face the 2015 election with the aim of fielding a candidate from the emirate. The meeting chaired by Professor Abubakar Kaoje, took place at the township hall of the town and coincided with the 70th birthday of Emir, General Mohammadu Sani Sami. The reconciliation meeting has for the first time given hope to politicians from the Zuru that it could be their turn in the next dispensation. The Emir of Zuru who was present at the meeting, had appealed to all sons and daughters of the emirate to sheathe their swords and work towards unity to move the emirate forward. He said it is high time for Zuru emirate to produce a governor going by the track record of some of the eminent sons of the area who have served the country diligently, emphasizing that in as much as the sons of the emirate have contributed in ensuring Nigeria remains a united entity, there is no reason why such people cannot be recognized for leadership in the state. The emir demonstrated a spirit of forgiveness by publicly hugging the former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, thus settling a long term score between them. Senator Muhammadu Magoro and Senator Tanko Ayuba also hugged each other while the Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Benjamin Dikki and Bello Doya, a prominent politician, also followed suit. Major Gen. Isah, Col. Dan Asabe and former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Abubakar Kaoje were among the prominent people who attended the meeting. Senator Tanko Ayuba and retired Major General Mohammadu Dan Hanne Isah have already officially declared their intentions to run for the governorship position. Others whose body languages have shown an intention to declare and who are also from Zuru emirate made up of Danko/Wasagu, Fakai, Sakaba and Zuru local governments are: Bala Na’Allah, Abdullahi Dan’alkali, Zubairu Turaki, Adamu Hussaini, Sen. Muhammadu Magoro and retired Col. Abdullahi Dan’asabe. While Zuru emirate is bracing up, there are also aspirants from the three other emirates who are interested. From Yauri emirate are the likes of Sadiq Yalwa Katuka, former military administrator of Ekiti and Gombe States, Col.Muhammad Inuwa Bawa, former secretary to the state government, Abubakar Wara, and the incumbent deputy governor Alhaji Ibrahim Khalil Aliyu (Mattawallen Yauri). Yauri emirate is made up of Ngaski, Yauri and Sanga LGAs. Among the Gwandu front liners are former minister, Bala Kaoje, retired General Sarkin Yaki Bello, Abubakar Shetima Malam, Mansur Shehu Mansa, Sen Atiku Bagudu, Kabiru Tanimu (Danmasani) The other likely Gwandu group includes Salisu Nataro, Sarkin Yakin Koko, Saidu Sambawa, Sen Faruk Bunza, Bello Turakin Gwandu, are Prof Tijjani Bande. Former deputy governor Suleiman Argungu who may likely emerge from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is so far the only one from Argungu emirate. Close political associates of Senator Ayuba confirmed the senator’s ambition saying he is consulting with supporters and senior citizens from the area who reside in Kaduna and some leaders of the PDP in Kaduna where he once served as a military administrator. Ayuba was said to have met with the Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to solicit support for his ambition. “Yes, Tanko Ayuba has declared his intention to us to contest for the governorship of our state (Kebbi state). He is being lodged at the Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina House in Kawo, Kaduna, but I don’t know about his arrangement to see the Kaduna governor,” the source, a retired army colonel and one of the respected elders of Zuru told our reporter on phone on Sunday. Senator Ayuba was not on talking terms with Senator Muhammadu Magoro until the recent reconciliation where both of them publicly confessed and forgave each other. Many however, believe that Senator Ayuba’s emergence from Sakaba LGA may not make much impact against the growing majority support for retired Gen. Isah from neighboring Danko Wasagu LGA who enjoys the support of the incumbent governor. Close PDP sources say Isah, a card-carrying member of the PDP with registration number 2640702 has presented his letter of intent at his Ward 7, Machika Ward in Ribah. Chairman of the Kebbi Youth Vanguard and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zuru, Musa Kongo, said the youths in the state will only support new breed politician, especially among the retired Generals in the Zuru emirate who are bound to inject fresh blood in the socio-political development of the state irrespective of party affiliation. He said many elders made up of retired Generals from the zone are determined to work in unity to produce a governorship candidate from the emirate that will succeed Governor Saidu Dakingari in the 2015 election. The chairman of the 18 man committee vested with the responsibility of canvassing support for a Zuru governorship candidate, Alh Wakkala Dirin Daji, when contacted on phone, said his committee has not concluded on who the emirate is likely to present as candidate for the governorship. “You will know when the time comes,” he said. The 18 man committee had however, in an open letter signed by its chairman, stated that politically, Zuru Emirate had played a vital role in shaping the politics of the 3rd Republic, adding that “records had shown that the present PDP is a metamorphosis of the old SDP. And since then the Emirate had remained a strong hold of the PDP. In fact, no part of Kebbi State has been more stead fast in its support for PDP than the Zuru Emirate.” The chairman said during the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) days of Sen. Mohammad Adamu Aliero, the Zuru people chose to remain hungry than to ditch PDP stressing that in 2007, the emirate accounted for the bulk of the 39 percent votes the PDP scored in the state. “In 2011, most of the Kebbi State PDP people abandoned the party on religious ground, but the Zuru people remained in the party.” Wakala said. Since 1999, the state has been ruled by Gwandu alone for nearly 16years, including enjoying ministerial slots to the state. The stakeholders say if Gwandu clinches the seat again in 2015, it may likely be for another two terms of eight years saying this will have given the emirate almost a quarter of a century of unbroken grip of the number one position in the state. Retired Gen Sarkin Yaki is said to be the ‘genuinely and preferred’ anointed aspirant of the incumbent from the emirate. But, the recent reconciliation between the emir of Zuru and Gen Bamaiyi has generated a fresh twist that will favour the aspiration of Gen. Isah which may further encourage the Gwandu people to support the Zuru emirate. Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Kebbi State, Ibrahim Master Yauri said the party is yet to decide those that will emerge from the party. “We will commence registration this Thursday, only after the registration that we can be able to ascertain our aspirants,” he said. --CULLED FROM SUNDAY TRUST
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 09:19:13 +0000
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