APC Rekindles Rivalry For 2015 Kano Guber Race « on: August 30, 2013, 10:19:35 AM » It has become a tradition for Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, former Kano state governor, even during his days at the helm of affairs in Kano state to explore the holy month of Ramadan to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudia Arabia. Since he left office in 2011, the situation has not changed as after performing the lesser Hajj, his supporters still troop to the Malam Aminu Kano international Airport (MAKIA), to accord him a rousing reception back from the holy land of Mecca. However, this year’s home coming for Shekarau was unique in the sense that Shekarau, who played a leading role to ensure the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has become the beautiful bride whose attention is being sought by an array of suitors. From all indications, Shekarau, who broke the record of serving as a two -term governor of Kano state has suddenly become a rallying point for members of the opposition whose major objective is to reclaim the Africa House in the upcoming 2015 polls from the Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And this has rekindled the rivalry from among chieftains of the APC for the Kano governorship ticket on the one side, and the prospect of a fierce dog fight between the PDP and the APC, whose support base cannot be underestimated in the upcoming 2015 polls. Thus, apart from the traditional crowd that are mainly of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the mammoth crowd that received the ANPP Presidential candidate in the 2011 election was a combination of all the merging parties – the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that coalesced to form the APC, albeit originally of the ANPP block. The warm reception Shekarau received has kicked started a new era in the state politics and the unofficial launching of the APC in Kano state. It was gathered that a reception committee for Shekarau picked from among the APC chieftians was headed by Alhaji Ammani Inuwa as this provided the opportunity for old political foes to bury their hatchets to enable them come together to start a new beginning. Leaders of the CPC, like Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, Alhaji Ahmadu Danzago and Honourable Kawu Idris Sumaila, who is eyeing the state governorship seat in 2015 under the APC, and Senator Isa Zarewa, were among the dignitaries that received Shekarau. Shekarau, who came by road from Abuja arrived Makarfi toll gate by 11.30am and was received by dozens of supporters of the party, while another huge crowd positioned themselves at the Kano toll gate in Chiromawa to catch a glimpse of Shekarau on arrival. The entourage of the erstwhile Kano state governor drove at a snail speed from Chiromawa to Kano state because of the large crowd that turned out to welcome him, thereby forcing commuters plying the federal highway to delay their journey for several hours. Our correspondent learnt that when his entourage arrived Kura, vehicular movements on both lanes of the ever busy Kaduna- Kano highway were completely blocked, resulting in a total gridlock. Interestingly, in the middle of the mammoth crowd was Shekarau in a Ford Jeep tirelessly waving broom which is one of the major symbols on the logo of the newly registered APC, to the admiration of supporters. The reception which eventually turned into a rally didn’t witness any formal speech by either Shekarau or any of the party’s chieftains, apparently because of the surging crowd that started the journey from Makarfi toll gate. Even as the event terminated at Shekarau’s residence in Mundubawa quarters, Bompai, Kano at about 8pm, the sight of the crowd retiring back to their respective residences made it ominous that the PDP would be given a good run for its money in the build up to the 2015 polls. Malam Sule Yau Sule, Shekarau’s spokesperson, who was in the entourage, said they were overwhelmed by the crowd that turned out to receive them after they returned from the lesser Hajj. Acoording to him, shows that the people of Kano have whole heartedly received the new party APC. “We were surprised with the kind of reception that the people showed us, that goes to tell you that the three parties are living harmoniously. You will now agree with me that Kano is a home of APC, there is no doubt about it, couple with fact the people of Kano are disenchanted with the present government,” Sule said. When asked if the reception was organized to garner support for Shekarau who is believed to be eyeing the Presidency in 2015, Sule said there is no ulterior motive to the reception. “I want to confirm to you that there is no underground motive, people are just tired of this government and they are simply yearning for a change and they will have it, God willing. We are fully prepared; we have learnt our lessons and we will make amends. That I can assure them.” Sule stated. Although, against the backdrop of the show of love for Shekarau, political observers are of the view that it is going to be an uphill task for the newly registered APC to upstage the ruling PDP in the state. To this end, many believe that one of the challenges the APC is going to face is the array of contestants that are in its fold and some of the politicians that don’t see eye to eye but have been compelled to come together under the merger. Another perceivable obstacle on the way of the APC is the widely held view in the state that the incumbent governor, Kwankwaso has done a lot in transforming the state in the last two years. With many infrastructural projects ongoing in the state which may be completed before the election in 2015, upstaging the PDP will be a Herculean task for the APC. It was learnt that bickering has already begun among those currently eyeing the Government House in Shekarau’s camp in 2015. Prominent among them are the like of Shekarau’s anointed candidate in 2011, Malam Salihu Sagir Takai who was trounced by the incumbent governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Shekarau is still believed to stand by Takai who didn’t enjoy support of some bigwigs of the ANPP when he contested the last election in 2011. Another strong contender is a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Kawu Idris Sumaila, who has openly declared his ambition to contest the seat and may not likely succumb to pressure to shelve his ambition. Serving Senator Kabiru Gaya is equally eyeing the seat, while former member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Barau Jibrin is equally working assiduously to govern the state in 2015 after he lost the Senatorial election in 2011. A popular and influential Islamic cleric, Mallam Ibrahim Khalil among many others from the ANPP are also vying for the hot seat. The story is the same in the CPC where the eldest son of late Sani Abacha, Mohammed Abacha, is warming up to give it a trial again. General Lawal Jafaru Isa, Senator Rufai Sani Hanga among others are also eyeing the seat. These numbers of persons vying for the governorship position may work against the APC just like the case of the CPC in the 2011 in Kano, which had the capacity of winning the election because of the influence of its Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, but instead fumbled in the election as it finished third behind the ANPP. It was reliably learnt that in its efforts to secure Kano, Shekarau has reconciled with Buhari and dropped his Presidential ambition for the Daura born General. The peace and the agreement meeting was arranged by former Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura, at Buhari’s Kaduna residence and a deal was reached that Shekarau should drop his ambition. He was said to have agreed to that.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Sep 2013 15:39:51 +0000
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