Abbas Yushau Yusuf
When Nigeria return to democratic rule on May 29, 1999, the General Abdulsalami Abubakar Administration at a colorful ceremony handed over the affairs of Nigeria to a former military leader General Olusegun Obasanjo.
On that fateful day, Nigeria’s longest-serving chief justice of the federation ,Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais administered the oath of office to General Obasanjo and his deputy Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at eagle square in Abuja.
From that day the citation and commencement of the 1999 constitution started operation, while the ceremony was going on in Abuja, 36 state governors took their oath of office in their respective state capitals.
Apart from winning the central government led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the remaining 36 states were shared between three political parties of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, All Peoples Party, APP, and Alliance for Democracy AD.
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The PDP then controlled 21 states out of the 36 states, the APP has 9 states, and the Alliance for Democracy had 6 states.
NIGERIAN TRACKER investigation has realized that majority of the first generation governors from 1999 to 2007 and most of whom who serve their second terms consecutively are never heard even in press interviews or they did not register any political presence anywhere.
But despite that, some of them have already died in the course of Nigeria’s political journey of the fourth republic.
Those that have died include Nigeria’s former president Umaru Musa Yaradua who serves as governor of Katsina state from 1999 to 2007, 3 years after he was sworn in as President of Nigeria.
Another Governor that also died is the former governor of Bayelsa state Diepreye Alamiesiegha, former Governor of Niger State, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure, and former Governor of Kwara State Governor Muhammad Lawal.
Others are, Governors Adebayo Adefarati, Mala Kachalla of Borno State and Abubakar Habu Hashidu of Gombe state, and Prince Abubakar Audu of Kogi state.
In the south-west geopolitical zone, the only Governor that is relevant and still a stakeholder in the political equation of Nigeria and who also ruled Lagos from 1999 to 2007 is Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu.
Others who never even made any political news let alone become relevant in the southwest are Adebayo Adefarati(Dead) of Ondo state, Alhaji Lam Adesina of Oyo state(Dead), and Chief Segun Osoba of Ogun State.
Others are Abdulkarim Bisi Akande of Osun state and Mr. Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti state who is currently in the federal cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
But during the 2003 general elections, only one governor survive the political Tsunami that swept the whole southwestern states of Nigeria as the PDP took over with the exception of Lagos state.
In the North-Western part of Nigeria, seven Governors held sway from 1999 to 2007, they are Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi of Kaduna State, Umaru Musa YAradua of Katsina state(late) Ahmad Sani Yerima of Zamfara State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki of Jigawa state and Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa of Sokoto state and Muhammad Adamu Aliero of Kebbi state.
Only Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, and Muhammad Adamu Aliero are being heard and their presence registered in the political affairs of Nigeria.
In the Northeastern part of the country, the governors that governed the states are Alhaji Mala Kachalla (now Late)of Borno state, Mr Boni Haruna of Adamawa state, Reverend Jolly Toro Nyame of Taraba state, Abubakar Habu Hashidu(late) of Gombe state, others are Ahmad Adamu Muazu of Bauchi state and Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe state.
Only Ahmad Adamu Muazu is being heard recently as PDP national chairman during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, while senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim that serves as the senator from 2007 to 2019 quit the stage.
But Reverend Jolly Nyame is serving a jail term due to corrupt acts involving him when he was a governor from 1999 to 2007.
The southeast has the following as Governors, Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra state, Achike Udenwa of Imo state,Dr Sam Egwu of Ebonyi state, Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu state and Dr Orji Uzo Kalu of Abia state.
Only Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu remains politically relevant as a serving senator of the federal republic and whose jail term for corrupt acts was quashed by a higher court thus returning him to the senate.
While the Governors of the south-south are Donald Duke of Cross River State, Obong Victor Bassey Attah of Akwa-Ibom state, Dr. Peter Odili of Rivers state, Diepreiye Alamiesigha (Dead)of Bayelsa state, James Ibori of Delta state, and Lucky Igbenidion of Edo state.
Only one,Dr. Donald Duke of Cross River state seems to be politically relevant as he contested the 2019 Presidential election.
The North-central geo-political zone had Late Abdulkadir Kure as Governor of Niger State , Kwara has retired Navy captain Muhammad Alabi Lawal who is also late, Nassarawa Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, Plateau Joshua Chibi Dariye, Benue George Akume, Kogi Late Abubakar Audu.
Only George Akume seems to be politically relevant as he is a serving minister of special duties in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
While Joshua Dariye of Plateau state is currently serving a 15-year jail term over corrupt acts and for squandering ecological funds meant for the state.
A political scientist Dr Muttaqa Yushau told NIGERIAN TRACKER that the reason while the majority of those governors who are alive and cannot be heard of shows that political power is transient.
The only legacy one bequeathed to the people is what he has done to impact on the lives of the people he governs and on the aspect of human development
