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APC:Zulum To The Zenith Or El-Rufai For The Eldorado

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Professor Babagana Umara Zulum

 

By Bala Ibrahim.

In the race to clinch victory and sweep the presidential polls come 2023, the two major political parties in Nigeria, the APC and the PDP, are undoubtedly hysteric, particularly after the choice of the Waziri of Adamawa, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, as the flag bearer of the PDP. The calculations were earlier complicated for them with the decision of Kwankwaso to fly the presidential flag of a dark and initially lowly rated political party, the NNPP.

In Nigerian politics, if Atiku is an enigma, then Kwankwaso is a quandary. Underrate or trivialize the importance of the two, at the risk of you labouring in tribulation. They are forces too strong to treat with triviality.

I am not a political scientist with the mastery in political permutations, but I was a student of marketing, and a regular visitor to the market. So in the art of competition, especially with regards the strive to gain advantage or win support or defeat an opponent in the market, I have a near comfortable comprehension of how the forces work. It is from that comprehension, that I intend to market the merit of matching Atiku Abubakar with either Mallam Nasir El-Rufai or Professor Babagana Zulum, as the panacea to the present problem of how best the APC can keep the keys to the presidency.

Marketing strategy involves the outlining of visions and values, in the direction that are in tandem with the overall selling efforts of the business’s value proposition. This means with good marketing strategies, there would be an improvement in sales and the possibility of success in the business, be it the business of selling beans, or the political marketing of a presidential candidate.

 

With the choice of Atiku Abubakar by the PDP, one needs not be a soothsayer to say that the game plan would change. The issues would not be looked at from the sense of sensible reasoning, but the prism of sectional sentiments. The likelihood of issue-based campaign and conviction is deformed, as the opponent would take advantage of every mistake to entice the electorate, using sectional sentiment silently and secretly. In the end, performance, patriotism and national balance, would not be allowed to play any role in balancing the equation. Northerners may vote just on the basis of sectional sentiments. And the north controls the vote.

Kwankwaso had already placed himself as a spoiler, that would work towards splitting the northern votes, particularly the votes from Kano, the big reservoir of Nigeria’s votes.

Kwankwaso is not interested in winning the presidency because he knows it’s a herculean task, and he hasn’t the structure for effective national reach. All he want’s is to take control of the Kano votes, humiliate Ganduje and remain relevant in politics till they part ways with his stooge and son in law, Abba Kabiru Yusuf. From experience, that’s only a matter of time and the degree of frequency of siren and the power of the air-conditioning in the government house.

The APC therefore needs to put on its thinking cap, by setting aside the issue of zoning or power shift, after all the PDP started it, and has now violated it.

Like the PDP, it should bring in a northerner with zeal and zest. For me, Zulum has the zeal and zest to take the party to the zenith. Some may argue he hasn’t the muscle to beat Atiku politically, but I beg to disagree.

Yes Zulum hasn’t the political mileage of Atiku, but with what he has achieved in Borno within four years, particularly in placing premium on the security of the citizenry and the development of physical infrastructure in the state, Zulum can comfortably square up with Atiku, especially if given another strong man from the other side of the block as a running mate.

Zulum may also come out clinically clean on corruption.

Another person to do the job is Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the man that is hated only by those without the courage to touch the gate of gallantry. Yes, El-Eufai has the antecedent of taking Nigeria to the Eldorado, and can injure Atiku seriously in the political ring. Forget the noise from my people on the social media, they are bloggers and not voters. They are asleep all day on the day of the election, only for them to wake up in the evening, and start analysing the situation from the comfort of their air conditioned rooms.

Nasiru is a tested political wheeler-dealer that can be trusted to deliver, at least against Atiku.

It may interest APC to be reminded of the tenacity of Atiku, who has ran for the President of Nigeria five times, and now, he is running for the sixth time.

In 1992, Atiku ran under the Social Democratic Party, the SDP. He lost to late Chief Moshood Abiola. In 2007, Atiku ran under the Action Congress, AC, which merged with other political parties to form the All Progressives Congress, APC. He lost to the candidate of the PDP, late Umaru Yar’Adua. Atiku’s third attempt was in 2010, when he was beaten by former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. Again Atiku had a go at the presidency in 2015, but was beaten by President Muhammadu Buhari, who repeated the beating on him in his fifth attempt in 2019.

Yet, Atiku is running again in 2023. You think it’s for nothing?

Because he has a history of being beaten, some may think he is a familiar car to crush. But that is naked naivety.

As things stand now, with the likelihood of sectional sentiments playing out, the sectional factor must be exploited, by bringing someone good from the same region to face him.

And between Zulum and El-Rufai, the road to the Eldorado is sign posted, I think.

 

 

Bala Ibrahim is a Journalist and public affairs commentator

Politics

Gov. Gida-Gida and Ganduje: The Firing of Unwarranted Political Salvos-Adamu Aminu

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Former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Successor Abba Kabir Yusuf

 

By Adamu Aminu.

It is extremely disheartening to see how recently our two elder statesmen, the Kano state Governor, His Excellency, Abba Kabir Yusif, politically known as Abba Gida-Gida, and his immediate predecessor, the ex-Kano and present APC National chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are busy exchanging salvos directly at each other.

The exchanges of verbal brawls through their spokesmen emanated shortly after Governor Abba Kabir Yusif inaugurated two judicial commissions of inquiry to investigate cases of misappropriation of public property, political violence, and missing persons from 2015 to 2019 to 2023.

It was unfortunate; all the accusations and counter-accusations from both sides were riddled with harsh and demeaning words, deemed unrepeatable and unworthy to come from our respected leaders who are beating chests of leading Kano, the state that has reached the zenith of political maturity in the whole nation.

I was automatically dumbfounded by how the exchanged salvos and political sarcasm were randomly so directed at each other, without revisiting the fact that history never lies; someday, posterity will judge them.

This comes at a time when the warring parties should set aside their differences and make Kano their concern and priority, but they resorted to opening the doors of all blackmailing arsenals at their disposal, overtly directed at each other, without knowing that their utterances and accusations are doing more harm than good to Kano state in general.

This came at a time when our counterpart States in the South, like Lagos, Rivers, and others, have already set politics aside and deeply engaged in the execution of developmental projects for their people, but Kano, a state of whole-tenure politics, is dragging feet towards the fulfillment of promises during electioneering campaigns.

At this time when most Kano industries are not functional, there is no portable water, unemployment, poverty, hunger, and thuggery clogging the wheels of Kano’s economic development, instead, they resorted to engaged in trading bitter words and pointing accusing fingers at themselves.

I think it’s time for our Excellency, the state governor Abba Kabir Yusif, and his predecessor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to wake up from their slumbers and stop demeaning themselves politically.

Trading accusations of one’s incompetence, docility, and another’s accusation of land grabbing and rat-like behavior is not the utmost priority for Kano populace.

It’s time to stop deceiving ourselves with the longstanding Kano praise “Kano Tumbin Giwa, Ko dame Kazo An Fika,” which means Kano, the melting pot, whatever you came along with, you’re far left behind. Kano state in this modern era deserves to be far from where it is now.

I do hope and pray that Governor Abba and his predecessor Ganduje make Kano and Kanawas their utmost priority. They are our role models, exchanging incendiary remarks with each other will show that politics isn’t only a dirty game, it’s a dirty war of raining curses and abuses.

They should know that someday around this time, they will be no more; only their legacies will make them immortal in the memory of Kano populace.

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Politics

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Is The Head of All Political Parties in Kano-Dala

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In a surprising turn of events following Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent victory at the Supreme Court, Anas Abba Dala, a former APC chieftain and a devoted supporter of the Governor, has declared that Governor Yusuf is now the de facto head of all political parties in Kano. This assertion includes the APC, the NNPP, and the PDP.

Speaking exclusively to Kano based radio station Freedom Radio, Anas Abba Dala expressed his conviction that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Supreme Court triumph has positioned him as a unifying figure transcending party lines. Dala, who was once a prominent member of the APC, emphasized the significance of the Governor’s victory in unifying Kano’s political landscape.

In the interview, Dala highlighted the historical context of Governor Yusuf’s political journey, acknowledging the Governor’s ability to garner support across party lines. He commended the Supreme Court’s decision, declaring it a victory for not only the PDP but for all political parties in Kano.

Anas Abba Dala’s statement reflects a shifting political narrative, as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s leadership is perceived as a unifying force that transcends partisan affiliations. The Supreme Court’s validation of the Governor’s victory serves as a catalyst for a renewed sense of political collaboration and cooperation in Kano.

While this declaration is likely to stir conversations within the political sphere, it underlines the potential for a more inclusive and cooperative political landscape in Kano under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s leadership. As the news of this assertion spreads, it will be interesting to observe how political dynamics in Kano evolve in response to this declaration of unity across party lines.

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Politics

Non-indigenes in Kano Unite in Prayer for Dr Nasir Gawuna’s Success at Supreme Court

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Honourable Seyi Olorunsola, a prominent APC stalwart and Opinion Leader in Kano, has mobilized the non-indigenous Christian community to fervently pray for the success of Dr Nasir Gawuna, the APC candidate, in an impending Supreme Court hearing. This legal battle arises from the NNPC’s appeal, led by Governor Abna Yusuf, challenging the results of the March 18, 2023, Gubernatorial elections in Kano State.

At a prayer conference organized by Honourable Seyi, the non-indigenous Christian community gathered to intercede for Dr Nasir Gawuna, seeking divine intervention in the pursuit of reclaiming his mandate. Honourable Seyi urged attendees to persevere in prayer until victory is secured and cautioned against potential interference, notably mentioning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing the need to remain unaffected by NNPP propaganda aiming to undermine the APC administration.

Expressing gratitude to the judiciary for upholding the rule of law, Honourable Seyi emphasized the crucial role of the judiciary in ensuring justice. He encouraged them to remain vigilant until justice is unequivocally served, highlighting the commitment to a fair and impartial legal process, free from external influences.

Addressing NNPP concerns about the legitimacy of the APC victory, Honourable Seyi reassured the public of the APC’s commitment to the democratic process. The call for prayers from the non-indigenous Christian community not only testifies to their faith but also demonstrates solidarity with Dr Nasir Gawuna.

The prayer conference also included appeals for peace and prosperity in Kano State and Nigeria at large, emphasizing a broader vision for a united and flourishing nation. The collective hopes extend beyond the immediate political context, envisioning a Kano and Nigeria where peace prevails, prosperity thrives, and democratic principles are upheld.

Honourable Seyi Olorunsola’s call for a prayer conference reflects not just the intensity of the political situation in Kano but also underscores the significance of faith and unity during times of uncertainty.

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