In addition to the supreme will of God, the other reason Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, Senate President, scaled all odds to become governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and eventually elected governor of Akwa Ibom state in 2007, was because one Tafida Jibrin stridently resisted attempts to compromise the gubernatorial primaries. Tafida, who presently is the Special Adviser on NGOs to Akpabio, no doubt, a man of high integrity and conscience, strongly rebuffed the moves to rig the primaries by the desperate and powerful forces that were determined to foist Dr. Udoma Bob Ekarika, the son-in-law of Victor Attah, the then incumbent governor as the PDP candidate.
Tafida Jibrin succeeded simply by insisting on a level playing ground for all the aspirants, and by making it abundantly clear that he could not be bought at any price.
This is the story of how Distinguished Senator Akpabio, who at various times had been Victor Attah’s commissioner for Petroleum, Lands and Housing, and Local Government, emerged as the flag bearer of the PDP to succeed Attah in 2007.
Before the Tafida Jibrin Governorship Election Committee successfully conducted the primary, two other governorship panels had woefully failed, due to the determination of Attah to impose his son-in-law. Both primaries were cancelled due to manifest irregularities.
The abysmal failure of the two previous committees to produce an acceptable governorship candidate for the party thoroughly embarrassed Col. Ahmadu Ali, the then National Chairman of the PDP. The late Ali was forced to embark on an extensive search for an incorruptible person to lead the panel that could sort out the Akwa Ibom mess. Ali was convinced that an incorruptible chairman would make the difference, and he was proved right by the 33-year-old Tafida Jibrin, who, based on strong recommendations of those that had served with him in previous assignments, was charged with the task by Ali.
Thankfully, Tafida Jibrin didn’t disappoint Ali, the garrison commander, nor those who had stuck out their neck for him.
Another man that Akpabio of the “uncommon transformation” fame has remained eternally grateful to, apart from Tafida Jibrin, is former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who equally resisted the attempts by the powerful backers of Ekarika to snatch the governorship ticket from Akpabio, who had not only won the primary election fair and square, but was also the clear choice of Akwa Ibom people.
At Obasanjo’s 75th birthday, Akpabio publicly acknowledged Obasanjo’s unflinching support, which at that point in time was highly critical, as all the stakes were against him. Akpabio was up against a serving governor with enormous state resources at his disposal, which he couldn’t match despite being a man of means himself.
Akpabio said, “At that time, I didn’t know anyone. I had no powerful sponsor, but for Baba’s sense of fairness and insistence on justice, fair play and deepening of democracy, I wouldn’t have become the governor of Akwa Ibom state”.
Senator Akpabio, without doubt, was destined to be governor, because Obasanjo at that same PDP, Port-Harcourt rally, without any cogent reason, had single handedly denied Rotimi Ameachi the governorship ticket for Rivers state.
Since 1999, political parties’ primaries into the various elective offices, most especially those of state governors, have been so acrimonious, such that foreign observers have described primary elections in Nigeria as “civil wars”. And in the case of the oil rich states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta, governorship primaries as “a do-or-die affair” because of the huge resources at the disposal of whoever wins. Tragically, nothing has changed as the governors, with successive election cycles have, in fact, become more powerful in determining who succeeds them, and who becomes President of the Federation.
Unknown to many is the fact that the highly conscientious, disciplined, and upright Tafida Jibrin, who abhors corruption in all ramifications, has always been as constant as the northern star. As Vice Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government Council, under late Shehu Giant, Tafida Jibrin vehemently disagreed with his political associates over the general direction of the council, especially the endemic corruption. As vice-chairman, his refusal to partake in the sharing of the people’s patrimony that accrued from unexecuted contracts angered his colleagues.
For rejecting the “largesse”, Tafida Jibrin was declared public enemy, ironically, by the real enemies of the people, the rampaging vampires, because his action exposed them. And being a man of high moral rectitude, Tafida Jibrin didn’t hesitate resigning his juicy position, rather than witnessing the reckless looting of the treasury. It’s not surprising that Kaduna North Local Government Council became bankrupt: owing backlog of workers’ salaries and unable to meet its basic obligations to the people it was supposed to serve. On June 24, 2009, Tafida Jibrin voluntarily resigned his position.
Tafida Jibrin will most likely never be a candidate for any elective position again, because of his nasty experience and the fact that the political operatives, who fix “things”, full aware that he will never agree to the sharing of the resources belonging to the people, will always “block” him. His disdain for those who aspire to offices with the sole intention to loot the treasury is well known.
If the North can get a few more Tafida Jibrins, its ugly story will definitely be different. Unlike many Nigerian politicians who have held power, and have no business, Tafida Jibrin owns many thriving businesses that are helping to reduce unemployment. His Jita Group of Companies is into real estate, agriculture and transportation. While the Lawal Tafida Foundation has been very supportive of the less-privileged, it has awarded scholarships to indigent students, built schools, and sank boreholes. He remains a benefactor of many pensioners of New Nigerian Newspapers.
Tafida Jibrin’s conduct is a profound lesson and a shining example to politicians to abandon their cash and carry mentality; to be upright and build relationships which, in the long run, would be beneficial to their political career. When he rebuffed the deep pockets who wanted to “buy” the gubernatorial ticket in Akwa Ibom state, he never knew that his actions of 2006 would be the beginning of a relationship with Akpabio that has spanned more than one decade and a half.
Between 1987 and 2002, Kaduna state witnessed several devastating crises in which over 2,000 people reportedly lost their lives, properties worth billions of naira destroyed and relationships fractured, leaving long lasting scars and deep divisions. Being a man of peace, Tafida Jibrin has continued to play a critical role as the Chairman of Northern and Southern Kaduna Youth Committee on Kaduna Religious Crisis, in healing wounds and promoting reconciliation among the divided people of Kaduna state.
Tafida Jibrin’s appointment as Special Adviser Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to Senate President Godswill Akpabio is based on proven competence and his bridge building experience. It’s a recognition and reward well deserved by a man who has, over the years, become a trusted political ally and friend because of his sense of justice which Akpabio experienced firsthand.
There is no doubt that, in him, Akpabio has found a loyal and trustworthy political ally. In the political circles, the message is, if you have any difficult assignment, especially one that requires competence and integrity, look for Tafida Jibrin, a rising northern star, who will always deliver beyond expectations!
Tafida Jibrin, an epitome of northerners’ famed sense of justice, fair play and equity, would certainly go much farther in life, considering his reputation as a man of character!
Ado writes from Kaduna
