When at the weekend I saw splashed on the front page of an Abuja based national newspaper a photograph of Nasarawa state governor, Abdullahi Sule, President Bola Tinubu and Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu jointly posing for the cameras, I said to myself, ‘there is something missing in this photo’. Governor Sule had gone to the Villa to formally present Senator Wadada (who represents Nasarawa West senatorial district in the National Assembly) as his “preferred” successor. The question that cropped up within me was, ‘where in this picture is Senator Tanko Al-Makura the immediate-past governor of Nasarawa state who himself chose Sule as his successor? Where is Senator Abdullahi Adamu, pioneer governor of the state and erstwhile chairman of the ruling APC’? If these people were in that photograph it would have sent an unmistaken signal to the world that all three senatorial districts are firmly behind Wadada’s ambition – Governor Sule northern zone, Al-Makura southern zone and Adamu western zone).
As it turns out, not everyone agrees with Sule’s “preferred” choice. Arguably, the loudest voice against it is that of Senator Al-Makura who governed for two terms, 2011 to 2019, handing over the baton to the current governor whose two-term tenure elapses in 2027. Al-Makura is currently North Central zone Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors. Adamu’s absence in the picture is excusable given his age; he cannot be everywhere now although he remains an important stakeholder in his home state. Besides, he had always rooted for zoning of the governorship to Nasarawa West so his support could be considered as a fait accompli.
Before announcing Wadada as his candidate, Governor Sule had summoned a meeting of stakeholders in the northern zone to deliberate on the vacant senate seat following the death of incumbent Senator Goddiya Akwashiki. He then convened another one for the entire state to discuss the governorship primaries. At the Nasarawa north senatorial gathering, it was agreed that the vacant seat be zoned to Nasarawa Eggon local government area where the late senator hailed from, to complete his term. However, Silas Agara, current Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), one of those vying for this senate ticket, reportedly disowned the meeting at a media briefing, insisting that there is nothing like ‘zoning’. Agara is from Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa North. Witnesses say he did not attend the meeting where the decision was taken to cede the ticket to Nasarawa Eggon.
At the expanded stakeholders meeting attended by a broad spectrum of who is who in Nasarawa politics, including past governors, gubernatorial aspirants, among others, there was intense debate on the sole subject of the primaries. At the end of deliberations, the governor aggregated the views and as leader of the party announced that the governorship ticket is zoned to Nasarawa west. He also declared that direct mode would be used for the exercise. Under the new electoral law the delegate system is abolished. Parties are now to employ either the direct or consensus mode in selecting their flag bearers. The fact that the attendees opted for direct primaries means there was no agreement among them on a consensus candidate.
A leading aspirant, former Inspector general of Police Muhammadu Abubakar Adamu from Nasarawa south, lampooned the zoning, arguing that it shrinks the democratic space and vowed to contest. IGP Abubakar’s camp had ostensibly got a boost when a popular prophet, Ayodele, predicted that he is primed for the plum post. And his supporters apparently swallowed this prediction, hook, line and sinker. A political analyst Rayyanu Bala reacting to this prophesy said, “The assertion that Mohammed Abubakar Adamu a former Inspector-General of Police is destined to become the next governor of Nasarawa state and that any deviation from this outcome automatically signals the defeat of the APC is at best a speculative projection dressed in the garb of certainty. Political history both within Nigeria and globally is replete with confident predictions that have failed to materialise. Indeed, even within the prophetic tradition itself there are numerous instances where declaration did not translate into reality. Who then is the mortal that can guarantee that this particular prophesy will come to pass?”. Adamu’s camp promptly gave a terse response, asserting, “Prophesy or no prophesy IGP Adamu CFR, NPM, mni, Walin Lafia, stands out as the best material and mentorship icon for governance in Nasarawa state 2027 necessitating a prediction by Ayodele”.
A Nasarawa north group which called itself Political Consultative Group with Senator John Damboyi and Professor Salih Alizada as chairman and secretary, respectively, at its stakeholders meeting rubbished the governor’s zoning declaration and instead zoned the governorship to, specifically, Nasarawa Eggon in the zone. This may seem illogical to many people, someone from the northern zone taking over from one from same zone that is about completing two terms of eight years. But they may argue that the southern zone ruled for 12 consecutive years. The late Governor Akwe Doma from Doma local government area was defeated just after one term by Al-Makura of Lafia local government area (also in the south) in 2011. Al-Makura then served out his two terms, with incumbent Governor Sule from Akwanga in the northern zone taking over in 2019. Indeed, after all three zones had each governed the state, there was argument among high level stakeholders about where the next round of rotation should begin. Some wanted it to start from Nasarawa south, others from Nasarawa west and yet others from Nasarawa north. Still others wanted it to be in alphabetical order, according to the names of the three zones.
Another group from the northern district rejected “politics of division” in the zone, subtly throwing their weight behind the governor’s zoning choice. Sule further called a meeting of aspirants from the western zone during which he asked them to give him three names from amongst themselves from which he would select a favourite. They all declined, leaving the decision to him while pledging to abide by it. So, the governor picked Wadada Aliyu as his “preferred” candidate to take over from him, following it up with a broadcast and official presentation to President Tinubu, the ruling party’s national leader at the Villa, Abuja. Expectedly, this has elicited mixed feelings from the citizens with opinions for and against among stakeholders.
In his reaction, a former information, tourism and culture commissioner stated, “His Excellency Abdullahi has declared his preferred candidate. That is his democratic right and we respect it. We do not insult it. But today, we the indigenous people of Nasarawa state declare our own choice. This is our democratic right and it must be equally respected. This is the true beauty of democracy; one man declares his preference, millions of others declare theirs and in the end the ballot decides. The governor has one vote, I have one vote, you have one vote. No title makes a vote heavier and no office makes a voice louder on election day. We are not declaring against the governor. We are declaring for Nasarawa, for security, for merit. For a state where the son of nobody can become somebody without a godfather. Let direct primaries be the referee. Let the better candidate win”.
Immediate-past governor Al-Makura who himself chose Sule as his successor and who is known to be supporting one of the aspirants equally rejected Wadada’s endorsement. He described Governor Sule’s declaration and subsequent presentation to Tinubu as premature. He said the aspirants have only informally declared interest in becoming governor. Al-Makura outlined other processes required by aspirants before their intention can become official as purchase of forms, screening to ascertain qualification to contest and final approval. He inferred that it is when these hurdles have been cleared by aspirants that an ‘endorsement’ could be made. According to him, the party is just currently in process of drawing up guidelines for those that wish to enter the race, warning against “back door politics”. The former governor pledged to ensure a transparent, credible, fair and equitable process as a leader. Some of the aspirants accepted Sule’s decision in good faith while congratulating Wadada for his emergence as the “preferred” candidate”. They include Dr. Muhammed Musa Maikaya, founder of Maikaya Development Fund, and Dr. Ahmed Musa, former accountant general of Nasarawa state. Others like Dr. Faisal Shuaib, former director general of a federal agency, the Primary Health Commission, continue with their stakeholders’ engagement tour of the state.
Those that oppose Wadada’s endorsement do so on two main grounds. First, they consider it “undemocratic”, an “imposition”. This is not true. Governor Sule has only exercised his inalienable freewill to make a choice. Nobody is debarred from entering the race. There will still be a contest with all members of the party in all the 13 local government areas voting for their choice in a direct primary. Sule will naturally mobilise support for his candidate, just as others are free to so do for their candidates. Second, they oppose him on the basis that he is not an “indigene”. Generally in Nasarawa state, a multi-ethnic society, anybody whose community does not speak an ‘indigenous language’ is considered by those who push this narrative as a non-indigene, a settler. Thus, people from Hausa communities are classed as such by these people. Wadada is of the Hausa stock, ditto Sule. It is depressing that in this 21st century, the word ‘settler’ is still in our dictionary. It should be discarded completely.
Wadada wasted no time in profusely thanking Governor Sule and President Tinubu for their kind gestures. He offered his hand of fellowship to other aspirants, viewing them as partners. To his supporters he urged them not to insult or denigrate opponents. At a press conference in Lafia, he unveiled a 40-page blueprint that encapsulate his six-themed Hearts agenda, namely, human capital development: Energy and mineral resources; Agriculture and green economy: Rural and urban infrastructure; Trade and Investment; Security. This shows that he is, indeed, prepared for the job.