2019: When will the credible Dankwambo declare? , by Olanrewaju G. Joseph

The race to the 2019 general elections is gathering steam.
Alliances, consultations and other features of Nigerian politics are being seen and felt.
With special attention to the two major political parties in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, political pundits are on the lookout for the emergence of flag bearers of the various political parties.
For anyone who truly values good governance and wellbeing of the country over and above personal or primordial interests, a major point of departure from the political landscape is an increased demand for competence.
Put differently, a presidential material of this dispensation will be one who can guarantee security of lives and property, boost the dwindling economy, restore love, mutual trust and confidence among the various ethnic nationalities of the federation and ultimately lead the country to achieve its desired national goals.
Obviously, the incumbent president despite the enormous goodwill lavished on him cannot be said to have done well in these areas.
This automatically gives the PDP a rather unfair opportunity to right its wrongs.
At the moment, many party shots are jostling across the Niger with hope of getting enough support and goodwill to clinch the PDP presidential tickets.
Typical with Nigerian political class, the extent of desperation is usually unimaginable.
Billions of naira is beginning to exchange hands.
To be frank, many of those who have indicated interest in the number one office in the land deserve it only by the franchise that the constitution confers on them.
The rush and visible desperation notwithstanding.
If we zero in on antecedents and other factors like acceptance across ethnic and religious lines, only a few of them would scale the hurdle.
For instance, there have been calls across the northern and southern parts of the country beckoning on Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe state to take the daunting task of returning the country to the path of unity peace, peace and progress.
This is, indeed, humbling for some of his contemporaries whose desperations have reached embarrassing proportions.
The call by people of goodwill across the country also shows that Nigeria is not unmindful of outstanding performances.
But it is ironic Dankwambo has yet to declare any intentions to run for the president.
What then is so special about the man Dankwambo? A quick search shows that Dankwambo is topping the chart; and for the right reasons.
This curiosity to know more about him attest to the growing interest in the potentiality of his presidency.
Frankly, Governor Dankwambo has made a name for himself as a man of excellence.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo may not be everyone’s favorite but his administration’s attachment with the finest technocrats remains a legacy to beat.
The quest for the very best led him to locate and appoint Dankwambo as Nigeria’s number one accountant, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF).
Talking about Dankwambo, it will amount to injustice against him if anyone fails to note his high sense of integrity.
He is one man who through his public service engagements has a clean sheet.
He has a history of not only excelling in his job but refusing to dip his hands into the cookie jar.
No indictment, no prosecution.
This is clearly one area of strength that his contemporaries wish they have.
There is gracefulness around the person of Dr Dankwambo that his billionaire counterparts (if he yields to the overwhelming call) do not have.
This largely has to do with the fact that Dankwambo is not vain.
He is not discriminatory of people whose understandings and convictions are different from his.
He has consistently demonstrated that popularity among the people is a good will that can only be earned by the currency of love and respect.
One of the outstanding qualities of Dankwambo is his believability.
At a time when the country’s trust in the leadership has been mindlessly botched by sectionalism, cronyism and clear disregard for the masses’ interest, the contemporariness of Dankwambo is a robust goodwill earner.
For the purposes of the upcoming generation, it is important to mention that Dankwambo is accorded these recognitions by no magic but by a lifestyle of diligence, consistency and true integrity.
Dankwambo does not harbor hidden agenda in the exercise of public office.
While he was the Accountant General of Gombe state, the love and affection, humility and friendly disposition of the vibrant Dankwambo endeared him to his people.
His high sense of professionalism and diligence proved him to be the right material to which greater responsibility could be accorded.
He proved himself as a technocrat in the true sense of the word.
During his engagement in the civil service, he was a member, CBN Board of Directors; President and Chairman, Accountants-General and Auditors-General Forum of West Africa; Chairman, ECOWAS Audit Committee; Board Member, Extractive Industries Transparency International, etc.
As Accountant-General of the Federation under the Obasanjo administration, Dankwambo was highly instrumental to the introduction of many innovative reforms.
Treasury Single Account (TSA), E-payment and Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS), Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) are a brainchild of Dankwambo.
These innovative ideas and his cool and likable nature would later become the oil that makes his political wheel run smoothly.
Dankwambo became the chief executive of Gombe state, the Jewel of the Savannah! Without necessarily comparing his leadership qualities with his contemporaries across the country, though this is inevitable, the Dankwambo leadership became a model.
His leadership is a classic example for those who are already gunning for the presidency.
An irony.
As a result of his meritorious service in his first term as governor, the 2015 political tsunami that swept his contemporaries could not as much shake him.
The Buhari and APC effect, strong as it then was, was a dismal failure in Gombe.
The endorsement of the Gombe people of Governor Dankwambo remained massive and unshakable.
He was reelected for a second term in office.
So, with his emergence as the last man standing, the self-effacing and visionary leader had the people answer the skeptics that he is real and most importantly, that power does not change those who hold it in trust and see it as opportunity to serve God and humanity.
Now more than ever before, the question, who is Dr.
Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo is still being echoed in high crescendo in both low and high quarters, near and distant lands.
Yet, answers are being thrown up by various organizations and communities.
If what will matter in the 2019 general elections will have to do, largely, with individual track record and influence, Dankwambo’s intimidating credentials would be a defining factor for the party that fields him.
Comrade Joseph writes from Ogun