KATSINA 2015 AND THE RETURN OF YARADUA BOYS Not just in Katsina but the entire nation, the name Yaradua had been a predominent feature and a household name since first republic when Late Musa Yaradua was the minister of Lagos affairs, to the military era of Muratala, Obj and IBB when Late Shehu Yaradua was respectively a minister, vice president and a leading presidential aspirant, followed by the era of Late Ummaru Yaradua as the Katsina executive governor from 1999 before becoming Nigerias President up to his death in 2010. This feature will chronicle the desciples and political associates of only the junior Yaradua Malam Ummaru Musa, Matawallen Katsina who are contesting for various positions in 2015 general elections. Gentle, calm, soft-spoken, humble, principled, focused, and down to the earth person, Malam Umaru Yaradua who I consider the father of todays politics in Katsina was able to build a network of associates consisting of technocrats, politiacians, businessmen and civil servants from the length and breadth of Katsina (from Dankama to Damari) that lead Katsina from to 1999 to date. Build up to the 2015 elections, Katsina has now seen scores of contestants, who were Late Yaraduas political associates angling for various elective offices in the state as not less than 10 gubernatorial contestants from PDP to APC to PDM featured which are all from his political family. To start with the ruling party, it is noteworthy that eventhough its current candidates can not be termed as the Yaradua boy, the current governor who spear-headed his elevation was part of the late Yaraduas political family. A former senator that represented Katsina central zone who was a close friend of the late Yaradua was one of the states PDP gubernatorial aspirants. A cousin of Yaradua, who rose from a director in katsina civil service, to SSG in the tenure of the current governor before heading a federal government agency NIWA owed his ascension to late Yaradua was also among the PDP gubernatorial aspirants. Another Yaraduas first cousin who built his carrier as NNPC staff, though can not be considered to belong to the Yaraduas political family also featured among the contestants of Katsina PDP gubernatorial ticket. Yaraduas deputy during his first tenure as Katsina governor also seaked the PDP gubernatorial ticket. Among the PDP gubernatorial contestants was a carrier federal civil servant who earned appointment as head of FERMA during Yaraduas presidential tenure. Now to the leading opposition party of APC. It is also interesting that the state party chairman was one of the Yaradua boys having served as commisioner and then SSG during the Yaraduas tenure as governor. The APC flag bearer was also a political associate of late Malam Ummaru as he supported his re-election as house of representative member as well as his ascention as speaker of the federal house of representative. Another Yaraduas deputy during his second term as Katsina governor who later became Saudi ambassador also contested APC gubernatorial ticket. A former chief whip of Nigerias senator from Daura zone was also at one time an associate of late malam Ummaru featured among APC gubernatorial contestants. A serving senator and one term house of representative member of katsina central is also among the late Yaradua boys that contested the APC gubernatorial ticket. A younger brother of Late Yaradua also seaked the APC gubernatorial ticket of the state. Though, the retired military officer was not among the political family of Malam Ummaru, it is however worthy of note that the younger Yaradua served his elder brother as one of the securities of the presidency. And finally, the PDM gubernatorial candidate was also an Yaradua boy having been a local government chairman, house of representative member and a senator all supported by the late Yaradua. Not only governorship, I can also notice about 5 senatorial contestants from both a APC and PDP. One of them, from Funtua zone under APC platform was a trusted friend of malam Umaru Yaradua, as he served SUBEB chairman for 8yrs during Yaraduas tenure as before being house of representative member. Another friend of Yaradua also cotested the APC Funtua senatorial ticket, he was a senator from 1999 to 2003. The current Daura zone PDP senatorial flag bearer who is a 2 term speaker of Katsina house of assembly and twice a local government chairman was also amongst the Late Yaradua boys. Katsina central APCs senatorial flag bearer was also among the late yaraduas associates having been a rep member upon the help of the late president. A serving deputy governor and former commisioner during late Yaraduas tenure is currently flagging the PDPs Funtua senatorial ticket. A number of house of representative contestants were the students of Yaraduas political thought, many of them in both PDP and APC. One of them who is seeking for Katsina central in PDP was a commisioner under late Yaradua governorship and became the head of PTDF courtesy of malam Umaru. A 2 term local government chairman, house of assembly member and member of representative under late Yaradua is seeking APC house of reps seat for Batsari, Danmusa and Safana. Another 2 term local government chairman under late Yaradua is also contesting for a APC funtua,Dandume constituency. A 3 term house of reps member who was Yaradua associate is looking for musawa, and matazu constituency. Also jibia kaita and mashi Dutsi PDP house of reps ticket are held by Yaraddua boys. Many other Yaradua boys are jostling for variety of house assembly elections across the political parties. It is obvious that some of these contestants being frontline candidates for the 2015 elections from the 2 dominant parties of the state will be successful. But for how long, will Yaraduas political family, associates and boys hold the power of Katsina? Only time will tell.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:10:29 +0000
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