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Like Tinubu And Osinbajo Like Shettima And Zulum

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Professor Babagana Umara Zulum,Borno state governor

 

By Bala Ibrahim.

Since June 8th this year, when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, for the 2023 presidential election, the issue of his running mate has remained tough and thorny, with terrible threats to the party’s tenacity.

While Tinubu says he is searching for a substantive running mate, after the name of Kabir Masari from Katsina State has been submitted to INEC in ‘place holding’ capacity, the media space is filled with all manner of stories, including the sponsored campaign that a Muslim from South-west can not pick another Muslim from the north.

The northern Christians are advancing the argument for a balanced Muslim/Christian ticket. But Tinubu is a Yoruba Muslim in the south, and the position of Muslims in the south is arguably in the minority, just like the position of the Christian in the north. So the argument of a Muslim/Christian ticket with Tinubu on board, would be confronted with the additional dilemma of minority/minority, which is a bigger burden that is likely to put the ticket at a more disadvantage.

Although Tinubu has maintained the stance that he is yet to decide on who becomes his running mate, names like Lalong, Shetima, Zulum and El-Rufai are resonating in a repetitive pattern.

I don’t have any quarrel with any of them becoming Tinubu’s running mate, and eventually Nigeria’s Vice President. My qualm is with the appropriateness of who amongst them is picked under the present political circumstances of Nigeria.

The opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, which introduced zoning as a way of promoting unity and national stability, in a country that is divided along religion and ethnicity, has disrespected that policy, by picking Atiku Abubakar, a northerner, as against a southerner, to fly the party’s flag for the 2023 presidential election. The PDP arrangement makes it such that the presidential candidate is alternated every two terms, between the predominately Christian South and the predominantly Muslim North.

By reneging on the zoning arrangement, the PDP has goofed, and the stage is now set for the potential polarization of the contest, in a manner that would certainly split the votes along regional cleavages. South Easterners, who have been harping on the imperative of an Ibo president, would surely retaliate at the polls, to the disadvantage of the PDP. Furthermore, by ditching Governor Wike in the game plan for the running mate, the fate of his awaited decision, would definately affect the destiny of the party, come 2023.

It now behoves on the APC and Tinubu, to be thoughtful and tactful in arriving at the choice of a running mate. If the APC has an arrangement on the zone from which the Vice President should emerge, that arrangement should be respected, and respected fully but tactfully. The party stands to gain from the miscalculations of the PDP.

Unconfirmed reports are saying that Asiwaju has narrowed the search for the running mate to between Kashim Ibrahim Shetima, the former Governor of Borno state, and the present Governor of the state, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. Both are Muslims from the north east, which means the ticket is going to be a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

Either of the two is good, but Zulum is better for a number of reasons, with the least reason coming from his boss, the same Kashim Shetima. In an interview with the Daily Trust, Shetima said Zulum is a gift from God to Borno state, and indeed Borno State got it right with him.

When asked about the reason for his respect for Zulum and the cordial relationship between them, Shetima said, “A Russian writer and philosopher, Leo Tolstoy or so once wrote in his wisdom that the two most powerful warriors in life are patience and time. As a human being, I have many shortcomings, but one of the strengths Allah has given me is patience and the anticipation and acceptance of time. Oftentimes, one mistake we mostly make as humans is to deliberately ignore times that we all know will surely come to pass. From May 29, 2015, when I was sworn into office for the second term as the governor of Borno State, I initiated my search for a successor, and by September 2016, I started narrowing down my list, purely based on performances. By December 2017, I had a potential successor in mind. I was only waiting for how to actualise it. The day Professor Zulum became the candidate of the APC in October 2018, I no longer thought of myself as governor of Borno. I began to involve him in most decisions I was taking and I increased his involvement when he became governor-elect. Many times, if I asked him to take decisions, he would insist I was still the governor and I would also insist he was to be affected by any decision, so he needed to be part of it”.

By this submission, Shetima is saying Zulum is loyal and an obedient performer. Impliedly also, he is saying that although he is eminently qualified to be picked as Tinubu’s running mate, if Zulum is ordained to be, he would not contest with the choice of God, because he is a man of patience, with respect for time.

When confronted with an almost similar scenario on the choice of a running mate for Buhari in 2015, Tinubu sacrificed his ambition in favour of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, his one time commissioner of Justice.

So please, let history be repeated. Let Shetima give way to Zulum, like Tinubu gave way to Osinbajo. It would be a handing over of office, from a professor to a professor.

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Politics

200,000 APC Members in Kano Dismiss Allegations Against Ministerial Nominee Yusuf Abdullah Atta as Baseless

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Over 200,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have dismissed allegations of incompetence against the ministerial nominee, retired Hon. Yusuf Abdullah Atta, as baseless. Some APC members in Kano believe the allegations stem from personal grudges held by a few individuals who are not legitimate members of the party.

In a statement, Mustapha Gidan Magani, the secretary of APC Kwaciri Ward, on behalf of the entire executive committee of APC Fagge Local Government Area, rejected the allegations of anti-party activities during the 2023 general election. The executives argued that those intending to submit a petition to the Senate, claiming to represent 50,000 APC members, have no legal standing to make such claims.

The APC executives from Fagge Local Government Area are prepared to counter the petition, asserting that it will have little impact on the confirmation of Atta as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development. They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating Atta, highlighting his administrative skills and dedication to serving humanity.

 

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PDP Youth Activist Calls for Suspension of Shekarau, Bello Hayatu from the party

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Salisu Usman Karaskabuli, a youth activist of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, has called for the immediate suspension of several high-ranking party members, including former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, and Yahaya Bagobiri.

He accused them of sabotaging the party’s efforts in the state and hindering PDP’s progress in the region.

Addressing journalists in Kano, Salisu Karaskabuli alleged that Shekarau has engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election.
“Despite being a PDP leader, the majority of his supporters backed the APC candidate,” Salisu Karaskabuli said.
He further claimed that Shekarau is already mobilizing his supporters to work for Senator Barau’s governorship ambitions in 2027, signaling ongoing disloyalty.

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Salisu Karaskabuli also blamed the PDP National Vice Chairman for the Northwest Bello Hayatu Gwarzo for failing to unite the party across the region.
He noted that prominent PDP members, such as former governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, had defected to other parties due to Gwarzo’s ineffective leadership.
Concerning the recent PDP congress in Kano, Usman expressed frustration, rejecting the outcomes of the ward, local government, and state congresses.
He accused the leadership of the party for partisan zoning and disqualifying candidates without valid reasons.

Further accusations were leveled at Yahaya Bagobiri, the chairman of PDP elders in Kano.
Salisu Usman claimed that Bagobiri had leaked sensitive party information to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Usman Karaskabuli called on the national leadership of the PDP to investigate the accused members and, if found guilty, take appropriate disciplinary action.

The accusations come at a time when the PDP in Kano and the wider Northwest is grappling with internal divisions, which some fear could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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APC Youth Activist Urges President Tinubu to Appoint Murtala Sule Garo as Minister

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Sadiq Ali Sango

 

Sadiq Ali Sango, a prominent youth activist of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider appointing Murtala Sule Garo as a minister in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Sango made this known in a statement released to journalists in Kano.

The Federal Government recently announced that President Tinubu would soon reshuffle his cabinet, sparking widespread speculation over potential new appointees.
Sango expressed optimism that Garo, a grassroots politician with a proven track record, would be a fitting choice for a ministerial position.

“Murtala Sule Garo is not only a politician but a true son of the soil, with immense contributions to the APC in Kano,” Sango stated.
“His service as the APC’s deputy gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election and his unwavering commitment to the party despite not having the reins of government in Kano makes him the ideal candidate for Tinubu’s cabinet.”

Sango further highlighted Garo’s role in holding the party together during difficult times, describing him as the “supporting pillar” of the APC in Kano.
“He has carried the party on his shoulders, providing support to party leaders and members alike,” he added.

With the APC no longer in control of Kano State’s government, Garo’s influence at the grassroots level has been pivotal for the party’s continued strength in the region.
According to Sango, Garo’s appointment would reinforce the party’s position in Kano and contribute to the success of President Tinubu’s administration.

The call for Murtala Sule Garo’s inclusion in the Federal Executive Council comes amid growing anticipation regarding the composition of the new cabinet and the need for strong political figures to represent Kano at the national level.

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