While in every state of the federation the PDP factions are either
called Obasanjo or Atiku faction, Ahmadu Ali or Lar faction, in
Adamawa state the two factions have names dubbed to them by ordinary
man on the streets; the Obasanjo-led faction under the leadership of
Jibrin Aminu is called ‘PDP mai bindiga’ (PDP by the barrel
of the Gun), while the Atiku led faction is called ‘PDP mai jama’a’
(PDP of the people). And one attention-grabbing thing in the
PDP mai bindiga’ is; it is over-crowded with gubernatorial
candidates, but shockingly, each of the contender is pegging his
success to Obasanjo’s endorsement, forgetting it is far beyond that.
Both pundits and on-the–street opinions on most of the aspirants seem
to be matching.
Jonathan Zwingina is presently a senator from Adamawa south
senatorial, he came to limelight in 1983, when he testified as a
witness in the Wilson Sabiya/ Bamanga Tukur governorship court tussle;
since then, people start to believe he has political ambition,
Zwingina is very articulate and well educated. Within the fold of the
contenders - he is among the few that are showing seriousness in the
contest, he has offices through out the state and enough personnel,
Zwingina has the financial muscles to pursue his ambition, he came to
the race to capitalized on minority / majority issue, but
unfortunate he is, most of the contenders are parading themselves
under the same style, and such issues has never yield fruits in
Adamawa politics. To Zwingina’s drawbacks, there are some issues that
will post a great deal of setbacks to his gubernatorial ambitions –
his opponents are using the accusation that, he had once committed a
taboo that a normal society see as an immorality, but the truth is ;
such issues do not normally carry weight in politics, secondly, the
Paul Wanpana commission of enquiry , has found some skeletons in his
cupboard when he was commissioner of water resources in Adamawa
state, thirdly, the much celebrated (EL-Rufai-Senate) fifty million
naira bribe scandal ; and Zwingina was an ardent supporter of the
third term agenda, which has infuriated many people; this led to
attacks on his campaign offices throughout Adamawa state. Despite the
fact that Zwingina is the only notable figure in his campaign
organization, he is a candidate to beat.
Muhammad Koiranga Jada came to limelight in 1983 governorship
campaign, when he became a ‘trouble shooter’ playing the
spoiler man to Bamanga Tukur’s governorship ambition, a respected man
Walin Ganye has to intervened and settled the issue; this formed the
basis of Walin Ganye been nicknamed Kalu, from the
famous justice kalu of Borno, and Koiranga was compensated
with a position of special assistant to Bamanga Tukur. To Koiranga’s
disadvantage - the masses see him as a candidate ‘for sale’ to the
highest bidder; because he has shown interest in contesting every
governorship election in the state, but never participated in any of
the party primaries, and to proved this, recently a contender was
having a meeting with his followers, but, out of the blue, Koiranga
appeared and attended the meeting, surprising many people, His chances
in the contest are very slim
Chief Joel Madaki is the oldest politicians amidst the contenders; he
was elected a ward councilor during the 1976-1977 Local Govt. reforms
and member House of Assembly in 1979; he was commissioner for local
Govt. in the Abubakar Barde administration, Joel is someone that is a
good planner, and to his plus, people see him as someone that is frank
and straightforward in tackling issues. Since 1999, he was the state
chairman of the PDP until recently when he became Chairman of Ahmadu
Ali’s faction of the PDP, but the Emmanuel Nwanyawu PDP reconciliation
committee forced him to resign, thus, halting his using of the PDP
structures in oiling his governorship campaign. Joel Madaki is among
the greatest beneficiaries of Governor Boni’s goodwill; people that
Joel brought to government are still in the government; including his
old time political associate Mr. Simon Sitto, the Chairman Adamawa
State Local Govt. Pension Board. His betrayal of vice president Atiku
Abubakar has made people to view him as not trust worthy, his nowadays
constant visits to government house Yola, is making people to see him
as someone that is confused, the agitation for the next governor to
come from Adamawa central can be an advantage to him; though he lacks
political network and financial resources
Dahiru Bobbo is among the technocrats and seasoned administrators of
his generation, he has been in public service since early 70’s, from
registrar university of Maiduguri to the Secretary of the government
of former Gongola state, he was once elected senator under the defunct
UNCP; his age might seriously work against him, he came to the race
late, and observers are of the opinion that, he is a man in a dilemma
of loyalty; because he was brought to his present position of DG
National Boundaries Commission by Vice president Atiku Abubakar; this
has left him in a ‘crocodile phase’ towards formal declaration for
the race; though his generosity will bestow on him an edge over the
other contenders.
Senator Abubakar Girei; came to limelight when he contested for
senator in the former UNCP but lost to his In-law Dahiru Bobbo; in
1999 he was elected senator under the PDP; in 2003 he
slugged-it-out with Gov. Boni Haruna in PDP governorship primaries;
but senator Girei was only able to got one vote; he instantly knelt
down at the venue of the party primaries and make a public apology;
asking GOV. Boni to plead for forgiveness on his behalf from Vice
president Atiku Abubakar, this marked the beginning of his political
predicaments; the general opinion is, senator Girei is in the race
just to have relevance.
Kasim Jidda is relatively unknown within the populace of Adamawa;
he was the former Managing Director of Afri Bank; on paper he has
everything it takes to be a governor, but he lacks the political
structure and he has found himself amidst a political grouping that
is complex and well calculating ,i.e. the ACD. Which in its are
political heavy-weight like former Gov. Saleh Michika, Lynn Nathan,
Bala Takaya and Boss Mustapha
The ANPP have two contenders: Mr. R.T Gajere and Abdurrahman
Adamu, the younger brother of Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta; the duo are
contesting probably to remind the public that the ANPP is still in
existence; though Abdurrahman Adamu can make an impact owing to his
political experience and principles, he is the only convener of the
ANPP in Adamawa, that is still in the party; and he is the deputy
national vice chairman north-east; he was in 1999 running mate to Bala
Takaya in the governorship election under the ANPP but the they lost
to Atiku Abubakar of the PDP; an advantage to Abdurrahman Adamu is ,
he is known throughout the state but his political rigidity may work
against him.
Pascal Bafiyau, is a national political figure, this writer
believes, the man sometimes do ask himself what is going wrong; he is
a national figure but at home he always failed to make any political
impact, despite being a former NLC president and was even reported to
have been short-listed for the post of vice president during the SDP
days, he was elected senator during the Abacha days, he contested for
senator in 1999 but lost, 1n 2003 he contested for Gov. under the
ANPP but did not went beyond the primaries,
Colonel Aliyu Kama was a military Governor of Plateau state
during the IBB days; his coming into the race is probably motivated
by Gen. Marwa’s entry into politics, his chances in the race are slim
– financial capacity, political structures are his major constraints,
though his once being a military Governor is an advantage to him.
Bello Tukur is the current Deputy Governor in Adamawa, the Obasanjo/Atiku
political tussle is greatly impacting on his governorship ambition,
his inability to identify the party he is contesting on, is a clear
attest to that, but he possess great deal of political influence in
his constituency of Fufore; his supporters argue, he has undergone
leadership apprenticeship under a proactive and goal seeking – Gov.
Boni Haruna. His greatest weak point is, he is confine only to his
political constituency, his adversaries says, this make Tukur’s
candidature not appealing to the entire state, Tukur has a Herculean
task of stretching his hands outside, and win support outside his
constituency, nevertheless, he is one of the frontrunner in the
contest.
Adamu Mu’azu Modibbo has been showing interest in politics since his
school days, he was once a student union president. In 1983 he was
among the ‘Rambo boys’ of the famous Kontiki Research of
the Bamanga Tukur Campaign office , Mua’zu’s recent political
moves can best be described as full of controversies and comics – he
will go down in history as a governorship aspirant that emerged from a
party primary election that lasted only for two hours from 6am to 8pm,
this was necessitated when his opponents went to court to stop the
primaries; Adamu Mu’azu quickly organized the primaries and emerged
as 2003 ANPP governorship candidate ;one can summed it this way –
while his opponent tried to get victory in court , the man used fraud
to have his way- so to speak. His another controversial moment was
his decamping to Ahmadu Ali’s faction of the PDP; the day he was
about to decamped to the PDP, Muhammadu Buhari phoned him to confirm
the rumors, Mu’azu denied he is making such a move; but he declared
for the PDP on that day. Buhari was shocked to the extent that he
said: “politics is not for people like me”. In 2003 governorship
election Adamu Mu’azu Modibbo was only able to won two local Govts.
out of the twenty –one local Govts. in Adamawa state; since then his
political fortunes have been diminishing – because he only appear when
election time approaches, his membership of the Ahmadu Ali factions of
the PDP has put him at poles apart with so many of his followers; he
is good but his one-man approach to issues and prof. Jibril Aminu’s
bragging that he would installed Mu’azu as Governor would be a serious
blow to Adamu’s governorship ambition.
One unique thing is, most of these gentlemen presenting themselves for
the governorship position and indeed their membership of the Ahmadu
Ali led faction of the PDP in Adamawa state is motivated by one reason
– they want to show president Obasanjo that they are on the board for
the fight against Atiku, probably thinking they may have one favor or
another from OBJ - business patronage or last minute juicy political
appointment. In due course this writer will do an in-depth analysis
taking each of these gentlemen one at a time.
Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Nigeria
