FLASH BACK: YOBE NORTH SENATORIAL TUSSLE: IS ARC. SHETIMA MOHAMMED SALEH PALATABLE? Yobe North is one of the three senatorial districts of Yobe state. It has six local governments namely; Yusufari, Karasuwa, Machina, Nguru, Bade and Jakusko. The first three are bordering Niger republic to the north. Yobe north is also called zone C and since inception of democratic dispensation in 1999 to date, the zone is solidly dominated and controlled by All Nigeria Peoples Party (A.N.P.P.). It produces the highest number of votes in all the three senatorial districts; majorities do turned out en mass and vote and that determines the success or failure of any gubernatorial aspirant in the state. The firm-grip and enormous clouts of Yobe north’s ANPP which in reality steers Yobe politics, made many political pundits to describe the region as heart of Yobe ANPP. Not long ago, the calmed and congenial political atmosphere of Yobe state boils to an un-assumed and reeling dimension. This is said to evolve when the apex court ruled against Senator Usman Albishir, who has - for nearly three years, since when late Sen. Mamman B. Ali was alive – been battling from one court to another challenging INEC for wrongful substitution of his candidature in the 2007 gubernatorial polls. The ruling of the apex court against his favour culminated to his defection to PDP amid several reconciliatory attempts from a committee set-up by the incumbent governor Geidam. Senator Albishir in his penchant, flare and strong appetite for annexing the number one seat, hew and seceded to PDP together with his supporters. Presently, at a stake, only two individuals are gleefully eyeing for the Yobe North senatorial seat under the flat-form of ANPP. Contenders from other political parties, although are many, they are yet to open their ambitious missions. Those under ANPP are the incumbent Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan who is clamouring for re-ascendancy. And arch. Shetima Mohammed Saleh, a Maiduguri based architecture and a commissioner in Yobe ministry of integration. Senator Doctor Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan PhD, MNIS, MNISORS, MRSS Senator Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan is a legislative guru who served exquisitely for eight years in the lower chamber and presently one of the top vibrant Senators in the upper legislative chamber. Sen. Dr. Lawan was until now a die-hard and arch-ally of senator Albishir but, bluntly repeal to join suit in cross-carpeting to PDP. The cross-carpeting saga is enough to catapult one into the ambit of political dilemma. But, Senator Dr. Lawan worked out his political equations and calculations using analytical formulas and with no iota of regret, summed-up to remain in his ANPP that provides monumental succour to his political career. Some of the defectors in their abysmal desire to stymie him are throwing their heavy weight against him by prevaricating on the subject that the line he has chosen is synonymous to loosing his seat. They do it in order to spawn and impede uncertainties, fear, worries and anxiety into his mind. He adjudged those people as from a crop of highly bunkums in political gamesmanship, faux and inexperienced politician who have no even voting cards but, paraded themselves as genuine politician. They lack sufficient political savvy to hammer out framework or mechanism for electoral victory talk less to recommend for his relapse to PDP. He neither shows any sign of jiggling nor bemusing. He remains focused, determined and overtly brushed aside their views as too bizarre, reckless, half-baked, fact-averse and intellectually bogus. Moreover, in a piecemeal speed, some of the defectors are recoiling back to ANPP fold due to spurn by the horrifying saga of old and new PDP membership intemperate hullabaloo. Senator Dr. Ahmed Lawan is Yobe North’s besotted politician with lofty proven integrity and ability. He is already known throughout as progressive element and public-spirited icon that projected Yobe North to greatness. He is a man of timbre who speaks with high degree of clarity, precision and sharpness. He surpasses mere bombastic grammar blowers on the floor of the house by being initiator, sponsor and co-sponsor of many public-oriented motions and bills. His recent giant stride in breaking the deadlock of Kafin Zaki dam construction with a good deterrence, swept the agrarian Yobe north and beyond with array of hopes. The recent upright plods he undertook in ensuring smooth flow of water in River Yobe healed our ills and wounds. This and many more of his contributions to the legislative business, stranglehold on his constituency with a wide follower-ship and fans at home and around the downstream region of North-eastern Nigeria. The political movement of the distinguished senator is powered and supported by politically powerful individuals and sundry of all backgrounds. “Looking around at every lever of power in Yobe north, one would assert that all the political energy is on the side of the invincible senator Dr. Lawan”, says comrade Bashir Nguru, chairman Yobe Youth Network. Further more, on the achievements of Senator Dr. Lawan, Abubakar mohammed Barka, a Damaturu-based commentator who writes on political and economic matters had this to say; “his scintillating representation magnetised people to skimp on him, cook support and grapple for his second electoral victory”. Architect Shetima Mohammed Saleh He is another contender hunting for the coveted senatorial seat. Presently, is a commissioner in the Yobe ministry of integration, there abound serious battles and hurdles on his path to realize his dream. He is seen and considered by many political pundits and junkie as paradoxical politician who lacks the political wherewithal and maneuverings in the state and talk less of national level. His style of politics has been castigated for its ineptitude, mediocrity and insufficient ideology. This could be amply evident in his political antecedent which was dotted and marred by a pull-out syndrome; he pulled-out and withdrew from the 2003 and 2007 gubernatorial race, after his supporters had worked a serious campaign for electoral victory. To their dismay, were left in the latch to wallow in despair. Moreover, his vocal ability is insignificant to partake in a debate of the hospice of upper chamber. Such purview of legislation requires elegant and loquacious mind not that who will bubble or gruff. Equally, for him to ascertain and comprehend the legislative arena, the years might be squandered. Another obstacle on his road to his dream land is the scanty number of elders in his movement. If one may ask, who are his political loyalists within and outside the corridor of power that form his political empire? Are his political forces stronger enough to charm voters? A fair answerer to these questions may consider them unanswerable or beat around the bush. His political train is filled and saddled by collusion of youth mostly who are deficient of the necessary requisite to fashion modalities to attract political loyalty or popularity; the train, believed to be full-loaded with gift logistics, is only vibrant in doling out its contents to the dwellers of Bade local government and hence it is accused for its torpid locomotive sluggishness to cross other segments of the senatorial district. “A gift is a very good thing politically but, his gifts and popularity is more pronounced in no more than two local governments out of the six of the senatorial district. This foredoomed to failure of his mission” says one Saleh Jaji Katuzu. This and many of his political blunders, qualifies his candidature as fragile and unpalatable. Lastly, if the utterances and proxy attitudes of some top government functionaries of the state particularly at a political gathering in Jaji Maji, Karasuwa local government are anything to go by, one may probably hype that government supports will heavily be tilted to the senator Dr.Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan come 2011. But only time will tell. Lawan Bulama, Writes from Bayan Gidan Sarki, Gashua. Yobe State. He can be reached at: 080 65029050 or Comradelb@yahoo
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 14:04:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015