BASHIR MOHAMMED writes on the recent PDP rally in Kano, describing it as a precursor to what to expect in 2015
Kwankwaso, Sekarau rivalry
Kano, being a melting pot of political intrigues is witnessing a resurgence of two competing power blocs following the scramble for influence and supremacy by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his loyalists on the one hand and his arch rival and predecessor in office, Malam Ibrahim Shekaru and his die-hard supporters on the other.
At the time Shekarau mooted the idea of defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), notable chieftains at the top echelon of the party in the state heaved a sigh of relief knowing that, they have caught a big fish in the face of Kwankwaso’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Shekarau is widely believed to have defected from the party he helped co-founded to avoid being submerged by the Kwankwanso’s political dominance.
Defection to PDP
For his teeming supporters to be absolutely convinced he has every justifiable premise to renounce his ideological faith, Shekarau said, with his membership in the APC and with Kwankwaso calling the shots, he was destined to remain at the lower rung of the ladder with alleged injustice and blatant persecution likely to be sadistically meted out against his person.
However, succor came his way when he got the assurance from the PDP top brass that, his seeming paranoia of political obscurity should end as the party is poised to hold and fully embrace him in its fold.
Despite this, Shekarau insisted the only way his political enemies could be kept at an arms length and tactfully be put to shame is by organizing a tumultuous reception for him at an open rally with President Goodluck Jonathan and top personalities in his government in attendance.
With the endless postponement of the much expected presidential visit to Kano changing the perception of Shekarau’s implacable enemies that his defection to PDP may turn dross, series of dates were slated for his formal welcoming into the mainstream of the PDP to calm frayed nerves.
Despite his charming populist appeal, many saw his eleventh hour capitulation to the party he had once touted as the party of infidels, as a total sell-out to the cronies of the presidency willing to use him as guinea pig in order to achieve a selfish political interest.
Postponed visits
Jonathan may have taken the decision to put the visit on hold due to the exigencies of time or in the face of certain unavoidable circumstances. One reason political pundits however adduced to this, is that the presidency feared that it might receive a cold shoulder from people of the state over his controversial suspension and replacement of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Lamido Sanusi Lamido, a much revered prince from the ruling royal dynasty in Kano. The reaction from the royalty which followed Sanusi’s suspension also lent credence to the suspicion harboured by many political observers in the state that Jonathan may not be welcomed with high enthusiasm.
The rally
The formal reception organized to usher Malam Ibrahim Shekarau into the mainstream family of the PDP was a litmus test to the fact that, he had been fully accepted and recognized as an influential card carrying member of the party who is very much expected to pull a surprise in 2015. Events that unfolded during the rally aptly showed and demonstrated the PDP’s readiness to turn the table against the ruling APC in 2015 gubernatorial election.
Setting the ball rolling at the electioneering the party chose to call a rally, the chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, castigated those he described as faceless evil forces and their foreign collaborators who take solace in committing heinous atrocities against innocent people, referring to the Abuja dastardly suicide bombing. He said the people of the state could bear testimony that the PDP government was performing at both the state and federal levels.
Also speaking, the Cross River state governor, Senator Lyel Imoke recalled that Kano was a PDP state in 2011 but now conceded to APC on the prodding of Kwankwaso, assuring that, PDP will employ its magic wand to restore it to its rightful owners.
He said: ”Kano is for all and it welcomes everyone, irrespective of one’s religion or ethnic background. It is a home to everybody provided that you are a Nigerian. Kano is still a PDP state and the issue of cheap slogan and propaganda would be over”.
On his part, their Katsina counterpart, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema said the PDP has cut across all frontiers of acceptance and popularity in all the six geo-political zones in the country, courtesy of God’s blessing.
Also in a remark, the party’s Board of Trustees(BoT),Senator Walid Jibrin, instilled some aura of confidence in the minds of tens of thousands of PDP supporters that, Jonathan would be the one to lead the country in 2015, claiming PDP has swallowed every political party in the country in the face of its awesome might.
And sounding a note of optimism, Senate President David Mark said, the PDP would retain its hegemony in 2015 and described the Kano rally as second to none in the country as it had recorded an unprecedented crowd.
He used the occasion to lambast forces of terror bombing killing innocent Nigerians, lamenting that some irresponsible people are precipitating anarchy for their own selfish motives.
According to him, Kano is a symbol of unity as it unites people from all shades of opinion and had chosen to pitch tent with the central government, stressing that, the state cannot afford to be relegated to opposition and that it would remain in the mainstream of governance.
He said: ”We are not here to campaign but to receive Malam Ibrahim Shekarau into the mainstream family of the PDP. We are here to tell you what we are really up to. We will not promise you the sun and the moon. PDP is a party of God-fearing people. Nigeria will never be a haven for terrorists.”
Taking his turn, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, while assuring PDP supporters that their stolen mandate would be recovered in 2015, also said the act of insurgency would be a thing of the past, as the Federal Government will not fold its arms helplessly watching.
On his part, the National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu said all the PDP top shots were in Kano to receive Shekarau, he described as a great leader, saying the former governor has wisely made his foray into a party universally acknowledged for its high popularity.
He said:” Since I was a governor I have been calling on Malam to wisely join our great party the PDP. I had always told him that PDP has a wider appeal being the biggest party in Africa. With his defection to the party, I can now say that, he had heeded the call I was making.”
Taking the centre stage, Shekarau noted that “his defection to the PDP is a new dawn of freedom, liberty and choice in a democratic setting and pledged his commitment to upholding the ideals and values of the Peoples Democratic Party”.
”Today is a memorable day for all people of goodwill, a day of fulfillment for my associates’ high expectations. We are all gathered to pledge our commitment and propel the PDP to greater height,” the former governor added.
Shekarau said all he aspires is the promotion of an egalitarian society with equity and justice taking a firm root, saying with his foray into the PDP, the political equation would change for the better.
Jonathan hits Kwankwaso
And when it was his turn to mount the podium, President Jonathan never left anybody in doubt that he was out to give it back to Kwankwaso who had earlier attacked the nation’s number one citizen. He took on the governor in a psychological war of attrition where he castigated Kwankwaso on issues Jonathan believed would spell doom for his political ambition.
Taking Kwankwaso down the memory lane, Jonathan recalled with nostalgia how the former refused to vote for him in 2011 and allegedly squandered the hefty sum of about N285 billion accruing to the coffers of the state government from the Federation Account.
Realizing the fact that, he was snubbed by Kwankwaso for failing to receive him on arrival at Kano, the President said, despite his political difference with Shekaru while in office, he accorded him a tumultuous reception as vice president at Kano Government House, on three occasions.
With the seeming cold war between the duo reaching a crescendo, Jonathan vowed to wrest power from the APC in Kano in 2015, saying the PDP’s mandate was craftily stolen and would by all means recapture its seat from those he described as the forces of political robbery.
The president minced no words in telling the bevy of PDP supporters that Kano had immensely benefited from his transformation agenda with the state agricultural sector accorded top priority.
Kwankwaso counters
And countering the president, Governor Kwankwaso fired back describing him and his vice as vultures who lack a scintilla of legitimacy and credibility in the PDP. Despite dumping the party, the governor boasted that he will defeat the duo in a political bout. And as a further demonstration of his resentment for Jonathan,
Kwankwaso quickly mobilized his commissioners and special advisers and proceeded to the venue of the rally, and swept clean the entire premises of the polo ground, saying it’s been polluted by the foot-steps of Jonathan and his cronies.
Jonathan’s vitriol against Kwankwaso was greeted with a fusillade of counter attack by a staunch member of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Alhaji Audu Bichi who spoke to Blueprint shortly after the visit. Bichi said Jonathan’s vituperative remarks were akin to a pot calling a kettle black as he himself could not account for the missing $20billion which the NNPC failed to remit to the federation account.
According to him, Jonathan had also chosen to sweep the findings of the incriminating subsidy probe under the carpet in order to shield his acolytes who had directly or indirectly benefited from the subsidy scam.
But a prominent PDP chieftain in Kano, Alhaji Musa Danbirni, Shekarau is a treasure-trove and a great asset to the party, stressing that he had chosen to pitch a tent with the party at an auspicious time.
Danbirni who exuded so much confidence however, stated that with people like Aminu Wali on the saddle of power, neophytes would find it very difficult to cross the rubicon of victory in Kano gubernatorial tussle, adding that Kwankwaso is like a dying behemoth that can no longer harm anybody.
He said: ”Wait for 2015, you will see what will happen. Kwakwaso rose to stardom courtesy of the PDP and he is now rubbishing what he had so much cherished with honour.”
He called on PDP members to extend a hand of support to Shekaru for him to succeed in his mission, stressing that with members’ considerable backing he would surmount all obstacles.
But in spite of the spectacular success claimed to have been recorded during the rally, political observers considered Jonathan’s campaign of psychological war of attrition as a subterfuge that would not work against Kwankwaso, giving the governor’s giant strides.
They believed Jonathan may not be taken serious at a time he is supposed to have paid attention to the business of exterminating the Boko Haram menace. In conclsuon, if there is anything the rally achieved, it was deepening the crisis between Kwankwaso and Jonathan. But as things stand, the question on the lip of all is: will Shekarau really make any impact in 2015?