Nasarawa Crisis: How Al- Makura Was Saved From Impeachment By PDP The division and power tussle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State may have been the major reason why the state governor, Umaru Al-Makura, survived the impeachment plot that was hatched against him. The Panel of Inquiry that investigated the alleged “gross misconduct” levelled against the state governor by members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) had passed a “Not guilty” verdict on Al- Makura. Findings have shown that some forces interested in flying the governorship flag of the party during the 2015 election would prefer to rather slug it out with Al-Makura than with his Deputy, Damishe Luka. Had the impeachment succeeded, the deputy governor would have been sworn in as governor. Strong contenders for the PDP gubernatorial ticket in the state are the immediate past governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Labaran Maku, as well as serving and a past Senator, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Solomon Ewuga and John Danboyi, respectively. It was gathered that there are feelings within the party and the contenders for the state plum job that if Luka takes over from Al-Makura now, the likelihood of him retaining the position in 2015 is very strong. They expressed fears that should Luka be sworn in as governor in view of his defection to PDP, it would be difficult to dislodge him at the party primary which is expected to be held in the next few months. But, another factor that may come to play is that Nasarawa North Senatorial District is the only zone that is yet to produce the state governor and has been agitating for it. Maku, Luka, Ewuga and Danboyi are all from Nasarawa North, while Doma, just like Al- Makura, hails from Nasarawa South Senatorial District. But, the major war over who flies the PDP flag in 2015 election is between the quartet from Nasarawa North. Despite this, all the contenders, irrespective of the zone, it was learnt, would be more comfortable with Al-Makura in the seat of power for now, thus giving them all an equal opportunity to take the slot. It also emerged that Ewuga, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC), has always been more favoured by the people, especially the zone, which is made up of three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state, namely, Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba. He (Ewuga) was the determinant factor that saw Al-Makura becoming the state governor in 2011, with the lowest margin ever in any governorship election conducted in the state. Developments after the “Not guilty” verdict passed by the panel, close sources within the PDP said, “is just a dress rehearsal” to give the impression that they were not happy with the decision, while the reverse was actually the case.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:48:53 +0000
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