As the tenure of the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, winds down as the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum on May 29, ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU takes a look at his prospective successors, their chances and the task ahead.
The PDP Governors’ Forum was inaugurated in 2014 informally, but on October 12, 2021, it was formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a separate entity. Over the years, the Forum has grown into an alternative voice in governance; the major voice of opposition in the country.
Governor Tambuwal was elected as the chairman of the Forum in January 2020, after the expiration of the tenure of a former governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson.
In his acceptance speech, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives pledged to run an all-inclusive administration in order to move the party forward.
He had said, “I assure you that by the grace of God, we shall work together to continue to strengthen our party and deepen democracy in Nigeria.”
However, under his reign, the party and the Forum witnessed some ups and downs. For the first time in a long while, the Forum moved its monthly meetings from one state to another, to also conduct peer reviews of governors’ performances in terms of projects and to address the state of the nation. This, perhaps, was one of the upsides of the Tambuwal-led Forum.
In the early stages, Tambuwal led the Forum to unite the governors and helped the party to weather the storm, but his ambition almost undid all the good work he did.
The biggest downfall of the Tambuwal-led Forum was its inability to manage the crisis that engulfed the party after its national convention that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the candidate in April 2022. This among others cost the party in the 2023 presidential election.
The contestants
Zoning between the North and South is an arrangement usually considered by the Forum in the election and selection of the most senior governor to lead the Forum.
As it stands today, the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, is the most senior serving PDP governor. So, by the principle of zoning that has already been established in the Forum, Obaseki is one of the favoured candidates to succeed Tambuwal.
However, Blueprint Weekend gathered that the plot for the party’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections is already building up within the party and so, some stakeholders and even governors are not comfortable with Obaseki.
A source who does not want his name in print said most governors, especially second-term governors, and a few new ones that are loyal to some of the out-going governors don’t want Obaseki.
The source said, “Some governors and governors-elect are not comfortable with Obaseki. They said Obaseki has not been a good party man and with the crisis in the forum, there is a need to have a core party man to lead the forum and rally other governors to help unite the Forum and party for future elections.”
Makinde
Speaking further, the source said a few other governors and governors-elect want the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde to succeed Tambuwal.
The source said, “They are more comfortable with Makinde because he can make other governors when the need arises and will commit some resources to the party and Forum.
“Already, the Wike- led group and some new governors-elect that are loyal to them are rooting for Makinde on the fact that Obaseki must not be the Forum chairman because he can’t manage it well. Many of those who don’t want Makinde to lead the Forum believe that he and other members of the G-5 group were involved in anti-party activities that played out before and during the 2023 presidential election.”
Out-going’s admonition
Meanwhile, Tambuwal has said that aside from the leadership, the need for unity, cooperation, and love among the Forum is paramount.
He maintained that it is the surest way to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people who elected them into office even as it would keep the party waxing stronger and achieving its mission and vision.
Speaking at a recent event, Tambuwal said, “Sometimes, it was tough agreeing on all things, but we never forgot to put our interests behind that of our party, people, and nation.
“The moments we have shared under this Forum have been moments of joy, learning, comradeship, support for one another, and a desire for the best of our party, states, and country. To you all, I express my gratitude.”
‘Who the cap fits’
As far as he is concerned, a political analyst, Aminu Mohammed, said the governor that should succeed Tambuwal as the forum chairman needs to be a mobiliser that would be willing to put the Forum and the party’s interests ahead of his interest.
Mohammed, in a phone interview with Blueprint Weekend said part of the problems that consumed the Tambuwal-led Forum was the chairman’s ambition and interest.
He said, “The next chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum must put the Forum’s and the party’s interests ahead of his. This will enable him to lead other members very well.
“Whoever will succeed Tambuwal must be a good mobiliser. He needs to mobilise for the party and also mobilise his fellow governors for the Forum. So, the chairman of the Forum must be able to mobilise members and resources for the party’s organs across all levels.
“The person will have to work for the party’s unity; he must be someone that all the governors and party’s stakeholders respect and listen to. Above all, the next leader of the Forum must be willing and ready to reconcile aggrieved members and chart a new course for the Forum and the party.”
Party’s backbone
In his view, the party’s acting national chairman, Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum, noted that the Forum is the backbone of the party. He added that without the governors the party will not be able to achieve its set objectives.
“The PDP Governors Forum is the backbone of the party. We need their support to achieve our goals as a party. I want to urge them to remain committed to the party. They also need to be united to confront the other party, APC that has derailed Nigeria. We look forward to working with the re-elected and newly elected governors to reposition our party,” he said.
