As Gombe prepares for 2011

As Gombe prepares for 2011
The political stage of Gombe politics will soon be set for the race to Gombe government house as the incumbent Governor is completing his second tenure in 2011. For anyone conversant with Gombe politics knows well that politics in Gombe is very tricky, because of lack of tolerance for opposition. This attitude cannot be attributed to PDP alone, because even during the time of Alhaji Abubakar Hashidu intolerance existed. The only difference is that, during the time of Hashidu we have to admit that there was semblance of tolerance, though they won’t allow any opposition to speak in the state owned media.
Politics, as they say is a game that cannot be played by cowards. Despite intolerance and incumbency factor, the present Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Danjuma Goje was able to fight the then incumbent Governor in 2003. The problem with Gombe politics is that violence has become part of the political process that it has now become a norm for anyone with political ambition to gather as many ‘yan Kalare as he could.
I have seen that in 2003 and 2007, because I was part and parcel of the build-up to the general elections. In fact in 2007 the atmosphere in Gombe was that of an environment awaiting war. That made Gombe subject of focus for many international observers and journalists. But let us leave that subject for another day.
Since Goje by the will of Allah is going to finish his tenure in 2011, rumours have started circulating in Gombe and environs as to who is going to succeed him. Gombawa have every reason to start speculating because the performance of the present Governor is incomparable to any of his predecessors, therefore, they (Gombawa) have to be careful in choosing his successor. Goje has said time without number that he is not going to make a mistake of choosing his successor; rather he will allow people to do that because wrong decision can put his achievements over the years in jeopardy.
Therefore, the focus has now shifted to who is going to succeed Goje in 2011. The most circulated rumour is that Goje want to nurture his in-law and current chairman, Gombe local government, Alhaji Dasuki Jalo Waziri to succeed him. As I said, this is a rumour, but you can’t just dismiss any rumour. The argument of those who peddle this rumour is that even his emergence as Chairman ALGON, Nigeria is to give him the needed exposure that will pave way for him to become the next governor. He has the advantage of coming from Gombe North senatorial district. However, critics are quick to point that Dasuki is not capable of being a governor. One, he is not expose, and secondly he is hardly known beyond the state capital. He is also accused of being arrogant, sometime mistreating even the very people who helped him to the current position he is holding. Others argue that he lacks leadership character. Whatever, Dasuki is sighted as one of the likely successors of Goje.
Other aspirants for the 2011 gubernatorial race, as the grapevine have it include Barrister Abdullahi Idris, Senator representing Gombe Central. He has all the qualities needed to be a governor but his problem is that he has lost contact with his constituency. Little is heard of him since after the 2007 election. One other thing that will count against him is that he hails from the same constituency with the present governor.
There is also the Minister of FCT, Dr Aliyu Modibbo. Unprintable things are said about this Minister that I think only PDP can make him a governor if they like but not people’s vote. He is a person said to have lost touch with the electorates. He can hardly win his ward in free and fair elections. He has been in corridors of power for over a decade but one can hardly point what the people of Gombe state benefited from him. One other thing that will count against him is that he hails from Akko LGA, the same LGA with the present governor and based on PDP arrangement of power shift Modibbo’s chances are slim.
Other likely aspirants include Alhaji Faruk Bamusa, Alhaji Jamilu Ishaka Gwamna, and Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, who are termed as Diaspora politicians; they operate from Kaduna or Abuja. It is alleged that they are afraid to make their ambition known because of the fear of the incumbent governor, who is alleged to have no tolerance for opposition and who wants things to be done his way. Others are Alhaji Abubakar Walama (current Chairman Dukku LGA), Alhaji Inuwa Yahya, the son of Gombe business mogul, Alhaji Yahya Umaru and current Commissioner of Finance.
Most of these aspirants are afraid to pronounce their intentions because they are afraid of the incumbent governor. Goje was not like any of them when he started the march to Gombe Government House in 2003. We saw a fearless, courageous, determined and serious contender in an environment where everybody was afraid to come out and talk for fear of being termed the enemy of the then governor, Hashidu. But Goje’s resolve and audacity helped him to wrestle power from an incumbent governor.
However, if there is anybody that can be compared to Governor Goje in terms of courage, audacity, determination, leadership qualities, charisma and achievements is no other person but the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Usman Bayero Nafada. Bayero, as he is fondly called is an epitome of unprecedented sense of humility, a perfect gentleman, a man of the people whose determination to help his people is incomparable to any of the above mentioned. Nafada is a symbol of progressive politicians that are rare in the political landscape of Gombe.
Although no mention was made about the political ambitions of the man either by him or his political associates, no doubt nobody can rule this gentleman from the likely contenders in the 2011 governorship race. He came to limelight when he was elected a member State House of Assembly in 1999. He was the Majority Leader and later Speaker of the house in 2000. He is a grassroots politician who has his people close to his heart.
Unlike the other politicians who try to push themselves on electorates, Bayero never open his mind or show desperateness in holding a political office. Even though I am not sure whether the incumbent governor will support this man or not, but the issue is that not supporting Bayero may lead to the repeat of PDP mistake in Bauchi, where Mu’azu supported unpopular candidate that led to the defeat of PDP in the polls. Whatever happen we wait and see the coming of 2011.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25, Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369