By Musa Saadu
Political parties remain the only vehicle or platforms were candidates/politicians aspire for political offices. This reason however lead to the emergence of various interest groups within a party. The groups works harmoniously together to pursue their common goals. The success or otherwise of a political party depends largely on how the stakeholders manage these interest groups in distribution of party positions, party tickets, appointment and the traditional largesse as the case may be. Failure to do these as a result of high-handedness and aggrandizement nature to control all the machineries by the party leaders; the Governors as it were in Nigeria has on so many instances lead to the internal party crises.
Kano APC besides the formidable opposition PDP- Kwankwasiyya that is waxing power to unseat them, the party is bedeviled with internal party crises that by day sliming and reducing it’s electoral chances comes 2023. Internal party crises is the major driving force that negatively affects party performance in a poll. Prior Governorship elections in Kano that spring surprises are born out of internal party squabble and wranglings.
The 1983 election that produce Senator Sabo Bakinzuwo against a well performing Governor Abubakar Rimi who is seeking reelection was a result of party crises. The PRP crises that metamorphoses in to ‘Tabo’ and ‘Santsi’ led by Malam Aminu Kano and Rimi respectively has forced Rimi as a sitting Governor to dump PRP for NPP to seek reelection. This however was one of the cardinal reasons behind his Waterloo despite his performance in office throughout Kano and Jigawa.
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The botched third republic one can learn a lesson from it. The popular and well accepted SDP lost the Governorship election to NRC due to the internal crises in SDP which was an offshoot of Santsi and Tabo from second republic. After about three series of primary election that produce an independent candidate Eng. Magaji Abdullahi against Aminu Inuwa of Santsi faction and Ahmad Rufa’i of Tabo faction. The wrong choice of Ahmad Rufa’i as running mate to Magaji Abdullahi led Santsi group to revolt and enter an agreement with NRC candidate Kabiru Gaya. This development has changed the outcome of the election in favor of the NRC candidate.
Kwankwaso, Shekarau and of course Ganduje are no doubt the principal actors of the fourth republic Kano politics and all the trio has benefited and suffered the consequences of internal party crises. Our memories are still intact on how the political hullabaloo, shenanigansm and internal party wranglings ruined the reelection bid of Governor Kwankwaso during 2003 Governorship election. The defection of Danhassan, crises between Kwankwaso and some members of the National Assembly notably the then speaker of the House Of Representatives Hon. Ghali Na Abba and perhaps Buhari factor are among the contributing factors that led to Kwankwaso/ Ganduje downfall and emergence of Malam Shekarau.
Likewise Shekarau has suffered the repercussions of internal party crises, his anointed candidate Salihu Sagir Takai was defeated by Kwankwaso/Ganduje. The crises between Shekarau and his Deputy Abdullahi Gwarzo popularly known as Ruwa Baba, the over fifty thousand votes ganered by him during the Governorship election has smoothly leverage the second coming of Kwankwaso and Ganduje in the 2011 election.
The current turmoil that’s rocking the Kano APC is a cause of concern to any committed party member. The internal crises that paved way for two parallel convention that produce Abdullahi Abbas and Haruna Zago representing Ganduje and Shekarau led faction respectively will create a hole that will gradually sink the Kano APC ship and neither the Ganduje nor Shekarau will survive the mishaps including their supporters.
In politics number matters; everyone is important! Don’t tell me someone who’s Governor for 8 years and a serving senator doesn’t have political influence and these G-7 as they fondly called themselves are blessed with dogged fighters and resources to bankroll political movement that can mar or make an election.
With the Tuesday court verdict that favor the Shekarau faction and considering the nature of Nigerian litigation processes I’m afraid that whichever faction the pendulum swings and even if they won the general polls the replica of Zamfara 2019 is imminent.
Both Ganduje and Shekarau should tread with caution, their is still time. They shouldn’t listen to the sycophants instigating the crises. Let them sit, discuss and iron out the grey and thorny areas and find out political solution otherwise Kwankwaso will send them to political oblivion.
Musa Sa’adu wrote from Sumaila and can be reach through musasaadu0181@gmail.com
