IBRAHIM ABDUL’AZIZ writes on the mutual suspicion in the camps of the Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, both of whom are presently in APC
Adamawa is home to prominent political actors in the country and it is on record that most of the political crises that blow up in the state usually end up at national scene. For instance, political rift between Atiku and Obasanjo and the latest political tussle between Nyako and the dethroned national chairman of the Peoples Democratic party(PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur are just few of such cases.
And at the moment , political intrigues are fast playing out in the state following the recent defection of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress(APC). The development which appears to have altered the political equation, has forced political gladiators in the state to re-strategise ahead of 2015 general election.
There are strong indications that Atiku’s entrance into the APC fold may be a time bomb that will soon explode, especially if personal interest of the major players in the party rates higher and over that of the party.
“APC needs to avoid any sort of crisis that may consume the party by putting its house in other andembarking on inclusive party structure with unity of purpose and the singular determination to winning the 2015 general elections,” so suggests Garba Usman Santuraki, a Yola based commentator.
The view is also shared by Pwaneno Habila, another analyst who stresses the need for APC to guard against any wrangling ahead of the next general poll by drawing a sharing formula. This, he says “ is to accommodate the interest of Nyako, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nuhu Ribadu, Gen Buba Marwa, Barr. Boss Gida Mustapha and others, with their teaming supporters.”
“You can see, some gladiators have started defecting, we just heard that Gundiri and Marwa left for PDP,” Turaki further explains.
Our correspondent gathered that the political romance between Atiku and Nyako is based on the understanding that Nyako should gather supports for Atiku’s presidential ambition in the north east in 2015. It’s now obvious that Adamawa state chapter of APC has becomes a ship with many captains hovering to paddle the affair of the party because of the components that fused together to form the party in the state.
Some political actors in the state who had earlier indicated interest both in PDP and APC to contest in 2015 general elections are presently in confusion following Atiku’s defection to APC as uncertainty beclouds their political permutations. Similarly, fear has gripped major stakeholders of the ruling PDP who have hurriedly gone back to their drawing boards to strategize ahead of 2015 general elections by putting their arsenal on red alert.
Political pundits have predicted unavoidable tension and personality clash that may likely range between Atiku and Nyako over the control of APC ‘s soul in the state ahead of the 2015 general election. Though at different fora, the duo had maintained that they are more than ever prepared to work together to ensure the party’s victory at both national and state levels.
“We can see, I Atiku,Nyako, Marwa,Boss Mustapha among others have all resolved to work together as one entity for APC, “Atiku claims while registering as APC member in Jada.
Before now, both the former VP and the governor were walking different political paths until the emergence of the new PDP, which had Atiku in its fold, led the G7 governors in a walkout on President Goodluck Jonathan at the last mini- PDP convention last year in Abuja. Since the development, the duos have been working out modalities to mend their political differences to confront a common political foe.
By the APC arrangement, Nyako, being one of the G5 governors that first defected to the APC ,is automatically leader of the party in Adamawa state, and sees Atiku as “auto-focus” politician who can defect after due consultation with many stakeholders.
Nyako’s defection to APC, had earlier met resistance from his arch rivals, including the former military administrator of Lagos and Borno states, Brigadier General Buba Marwa, and Engr.Markus Gundiri, both of who recently defected to PDP.
However, the success story of Nyako in APC is attributed to the assistance given by his eldest son, the Sarkin Matasa Adamawa ,Comdr. Abdul’Aziz Nyako (rtd) who used his political structure in APC to create enabling environment for his father to operate.
Already, the young Nyako has begun to split the rank and file of the party in the state, a situation that jitters many. “He commands followership in the party.
This young Nyako has proved to be a grassroots political mobilizer following the prominent role he played to find political platform for his father, Governor Nyako and his teeming supporters who recently defected to APC,” says Musa Yakubu,an APC member.
While others are celebrating the younger Nyako for carving out a place for them in the political landscape of the state, already disenchanted members had envisaged that the latter could spoil the game for his father.
“That has been Nyako’s problems. He allowed his son to feature prominently in the scheme of affairs. He was accused of been the brain behind failure of this administration. I think something needs to be done,’’ cautions Beatrice Louis, another APC member.
It was gathered that during the hot PDP bedlam Governor Nyako had contemplated quitting politics and to retire back to his farm after completing his eight years in office as the executive governor of the state, but his son saw that as suicidal, particularly sensing that his father’s teeming grassroots supporters would become political orphans, hence his swift involvement in the formidable opposition APC.
But unknown to many, Nyako may be working towards technically endorsing former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu as his successor. This therefore means that Marwa would have to do battle with the ex-EFCC head if the former gets the PDP ticket.
Now that the former VP can’t be underrated as an APC member in the state, it is believed that the cosmetic relationship between the governor and Atiku may resurface based on the fact that some of Atiku loyalists do not trust Nyako as the state leader of the party. This is because of the alleged spoiler role the governor played during the 2010 PDP convention where Nyako led the state delegates to back President Goodluck Jonathan.
In similar vein, the Nyako camps are suspecting Atiku as spoiler on allegation that Atiku bankrolled late Ibrahim Bapetel of AC during the election that brought Nyako to office. Bapetel through Atiku’s support, challenged Nyako’s victory from electoral tribunal to the Appeal Court Jos where the court ordered a re-run election won by Nyako with overwhelming victory.
Though in politics there seems to be no permanent friend nor enemies but permanent interest, the political scenario playing out in the state has shown that Nyako/Atiku relationship can be likened to that of cat and mouse relationship, since it is difficult to change leopard’s spots!
