By March 2021, it will be two years since the 2019 general elections were conducted in the country. Consequently, arrangements for the conduct of the 2023 general elections have since begun with political parties and aspirants for various elective offices holding talks and consultations
It seems to be too early to some apolitically inclined minds, but for political parties and gladiators, there is no better time to start mapping out political strategies and brainstorming than now – to them, the earlier, the better. In fact, individual’s political orientation and acculturation, to a large extent, determine one’s perception and possible viewpoint.
Similarly, on its part, to further steam up the political atmosphere, the electoral umpire, the Independed National Electoral Commission (INEC), has released the 2023 general elections time-table. This gesture is unprecedented in the history of the commission.
Let me, hurriedly, recap the word of an American ink-slinger and political philosopher, Benjamin Franklin, who postulated that, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail”. In unanimity to the famous scholar and father of America, as he is fondly referred to, the early shooters are doing the right thing; timely preparation is very vital in all our dealings.
It is apparent that there is disquiet within the ranks of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe state because there is a kind of mistrust between the leadership at the centre and those who supported the emergence of the present government in the state.Today, instead of the major opposition party in Gombe state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to do the work of opposition by criticising the policies of the APC led administration, it is conversely the members of the ruling party who are consistently busy criticiising the supposedly their own government.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya is often accused of being indifferent to the welfare and wellbeing of the party and his supporters who worked thick and thin to see to his success in the 2019 governorship election. On several occasions, his supporters were heard on various radio programmes lamenting over the neglect they suffer from the same government they brought to power.
The discussions are usually wrapped up by sounding a word of caution to the governor of the likelihood of him and the party losing the seat to PDP in the 2023 election if he refuses to turn a new leaf in the way he manages politics.
It was on the same political tactlessness that a stalwart of the party, Director General, APC Campaign Council for the December 19 local government election, Habu Mu’azu, advised the governor that while executing projects, concern should also be given to the welfare of the people. His said, “It is only in politics that one can be running while scratching his rumps concurrently”.
Yet, the governor is not showing any remorse or sign that he will heed the advice of his people to either retrace his steps or change his approach. Thus, a strong and threatening tidal wave is seemingly sailing towards what looks like the governor’s misadventure ship that will sink by 2023 in the murky sea of Gombe politics.
It is obvious that majority of the state’s voting population have lost confidence in the present stewardship and are opting for a worthwhile option, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna (Sardaunan Gombe), whose stars are gleaming like a bright light in a dim world.
It’s not yet dyed-in-the-wool that Jamil Gwamna will throw his golden hat in the ring come 2023 but the blizzards of calls by well-meaning citizens of the state cut across all boundaries and political parties; it is overwhelming and manifesting as tough tidal wave that will push to the bank the Inuwa Yahaya administration.
There are credible insinuations that Gwamna will be contesting on the flagship of his former party, the PDP, which would have been a workable idea for him, the beleaguered citizens, and the PDP as a party.As fate would have it and which no man can alter, it is being unambiguously and widely whispered that, had the PDP picked Jamil Gwamna as its flag bearer in 2019, the party would have been victorious at the ill-fated polls.
It was the emergence of Sen. Usman Bayero Nafada as the party’s candidate who appears to be an unpopular candidate that infuriated many voters to vote against the PDP. It iwas believed that fielding Bayero was akin to a humiliating failure of the party and it happened as predicted. PDP lost virtually all the contested seats in the state, vindicating those who had vehemently rejected Bayero in the first place.
For us in the state, the off beamed decision by the PDP was what paved the way for the emergence of the present leadership in the state which has, in barely two years, shown conspicuous administrative inadequacies and dimness.
The 2023 governorship election in Gombe must be considered as a rescue mission to bring out the state from the unfortunate misgovernance. Therefore, every right thinking mind must unanimously reechoe the call for Dr. Jamil Gwamna to reconsider contesting.
For the opposition PDP, with Sardauna, 2023 will offer a glaring chance to reclaim the party’s mandate by wresting power from the incumbent APC. It happened in our neighbouring Adamawa and Bauchi states in 2019; we shall together replicate the feats in Gombe state.
Comrade Mathew writes from Kaltungo, Gombe state.
