Leadership
(Abuja)
Sanusi Muhammad
8 October 2008
opinion
Democracy is globally defined as a system of government by the people, for the people and of the people. This was the definition given to the world by a renown American president and first class democrat, Abraham Lincoln.
The art of governance in any acclaimed democracy is usually obtained or realised through the ballot box where registered and accredited voters are encouraged and supported to exercise their fundamental rights as bonafide citizens to elect a government of their conviction. Votes of the electorate are sought for the formation of a government by duly registered political parties who publicise their manifestoes, package their candidates for electoral contests and embark on electioneering campaigns.
In Nigeria, before the attaintment of independence in 1960, the British colonial government of Her Majesty, the Queen of England, lifted the imposed ban on political activities in preparation for self rule to Nigerians.
Several political associations sprouted out to seek recognition and subsequent mandate from the electorate. At independence, Nigeria had only few formidable political parties though with regional affiliations that include; Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC), Action Group (AG) and National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).
At independence, the Northern Peoples Congress led by the late premier of northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto), out floored the other parties to form the national government with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a school teacher from Bauchi/Yola-Adamawa province as the prime minister while the leader of the party, remained in the north and became the premier of the region. The National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) through an accord with the NPC, produced Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Owelle of Onitsha) as the first indigenous Governor-General while Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Micheal Okpara were premiers in western and eastern regions. Later after independence, another region was curved out of eastern and western regions to be known as Mid-western region with Chief Dennis Osadebey as premier.
The basis of this brief history is to refresh memory of the reader and be well-positioned to appreciate the logic of arguements in this piece. So many attempts were made by military leaders who continued to truncate the democracy to return the country to civil rule, until 1998/99 when a more sincere effort was put-in place by another military leader, General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar for a return of Nigeria to the league of democratic nations. The necessary structures were put-in place and democratic governance ushered in through the then three registered political parties viz-viz, All Peoples Party later All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD). The three parties had a good geographical spread and sizeable followership. At contest, the PDP scored more votes nationally and therefore, formed the government at the centre with the other two parties making an impressive presence in almost all the states of the federation. In Bauchi state, the contest was keenly contested between a conservative political lord of the APP, late Ajiyan Bauchi, Adamu Tafawa Balewa and a newbreed argentine, Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu of the PDP. The PDP through a concerted effort and determination, coupled with the goodwill it enjoyed from prominent Nigerian politicians and past leaders, defeated the APP to emerge victorious at the polls. At that period, the national leadership of the PDP was under the control of an old argentine, Chief Solomon Daushep Lar (Walin Langtang) who was ably supported by the likes of Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chief Jim Nwobodo, Chief Dapo Sarumi, Titi Ajanaku, Lamidi Adedibu, Orji Uzor Kalu and a host of others. Behind these notables were prominent Nigerians such as General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Atiku Abubakar, Chief Earnest Shonekan, Aliko Dangote, Aliko Muhammed (Dan Iyan Misau), Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and Shehu Musa Gabam of the youth wing.
At the Bauchi state level, the PDP having captured power, had the support and sympathy of certain illustrous sons that include; Alhaji Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed (Ajiyan Katagum), Dr Muhammadu Bello Kirfi (Wazirin Bauchi), late Alhaji Abdulkadir Mijinyawa (Shettiman Bauchi), late Senator Bashir Mustapha (Shettiman Katagum), late Mr Zakka Arewa, Honourable Yelmi Baraya, Honourable William Wadni, Alhaji Garba Muhammed Noma (Jarman Bauchi), Alhaji Sanusi Baban Takko (Barayan Bauchi), Honourable Ashriel Zabbs, Aminu Muhammed (Dan Malikin Bauchi), Malam Isa Yuguda, Honourable Abdul Ahmed Ningi, Honourable Abubakar Sammako, Honourable Tanko Ibrahim Jalam, Honourable Haruna Bappah Disina and many more.
These illustrous sons were determined to provide effective leadership and provide the envisaged dividends of democracy to the people. Lucky enough, the camp of the opposition parties were systematically penetrated and weakened to enable the party in the control of power to concentrate on providing the required service.
The man at the helm of affairs, Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu was a practical leader, courageous, prudent and disciplined. He provided the required needs of the state in terms of service delivery, human development, security to lives and property and rekindled hopes in the minds of many. He was rated as the best governor in the north-east sub-region and amongst the first best three in the federation of Nigeria.
The PDP was not only the strongest political party in the state but was an institution built by Mu'azu which provided an enabling environment for the survival of the nascent democracy.
As it continued to enjoy a comfortable lead as the largest political party in Africa, its leaders remained focussed and determined to serve the people with all sincerity while keeping a watch on the opposition parties.
Suddenly, in 2007 when the PDP commenced another round of politiking to reshape its destiny and improve its fortunes in the state, it over looked and under rated some teething problems it considered as immaterial that later snowballed to frustrate its efforts at the 2007 gubernatorial election.
As the ruling party in the state that served the people well, it was carried away by illusions and over confidence. It perhaps under rated the strength of opposition most especially the strength of its break away members who defected to the ANPP including the present state governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, Shehu Musa Gabam, Tanko Dutse, Lele Raga, Ibrahim Makama etc. Amongst the decampees, Shehu Musa Gabam was considered a good political player at national politics and well connected to politicians and leaders of substance. He is believed to have provided the winning formula to the Yuguda Campaign Organisation which emerged victorious at the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election and defeated the power of incumbency. Shehu and his 'battalion commanders', took complete charge of the Yuguda campaign strategy to victory and to the surprise of many. The rest is now history.
The PDP was unfortunately defeated by its own illustrous son but definately not dejected or rejected. Gabam was the 'General Officer Commanding" the Yuguda train that 'forced' his mother party out of power and installed an ertswhile opposition, ANPP with Malam Isa Mahmoud Yuguda as a governor.Since that historic but memorable defeat in 2007, the PDP has not been itself again though it still remain intact but weak. The party is weak in Bauchi state because of two pronounced factors that should be addressed by its national leadership at this embroyic stage if its political chances are to be brightened for the 2011 contest.
The first factor is that of appointments to key and strategic positions in the Federal Government.
The second factor is that of support to the survival of the party in the state to have the capacity to contain and condon the ANPP administration and give it stiff opposition.
What the national leadership should do to resuscitate the fortunes and lost glory of the party in the state is to appoint practical and grassroots politicians that are blessed and experienced in the art of grassroot politics to ministerial and other sensitive positions of responsibilities.
These category of people should be politicians that can squeeze water from a stone and can force opposition to willful submission at a go and those that are versed in the political intricacies of the state and are determined to move the party forward to an appreciable level. It may also be wise idea if the PDP-controlled central government considers those politicians who are conversant with the operations of the ANPP administration in the state, especially those who worked closely with governor Yuguda or wined and dined with the group that worked assidously for the success of Yuguda at the poll in 2007, as ministerial nominees from the state.
The PDP is in desperate need of surgery from a qualified physician who has the courage and determination to carry the party to greater heights and who without an asking is ready to proffer solutions to all the problems threatening the corporate existence of the party and its political fortunes in the state.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Dr Mahmoud Yayale Ahmed, has not only contributed to the growth and strength of the PDP at local, state and national levels, but is determined to proffer solution to the identified problems of the party in the state as its incumbent leader. Yayale cannot alone succeed in the task unless he has those that have the capacity and wherewithal to actualise his dream of a better and greater PDP in Nigeria and Bauchi state.
The appointment of a minister from Bauchi state should not be allowed to increase the problems of the party. There are those who once enjoyed political patronage based on their loyalty and membership of the party and today, are said to be lobbying for ministerial position. This is wrong. What the PDP need for now in Bauchi state, is a new wine in a new bottle for a renewed struggle. Those who once served or are still serving in any PDP controlled government, are best advised to rescind their decisions of seeking for positions at this stage. Some of them, were not of any assistance to the party through out their tenures while some are part of the party's problems now. There are those who served as Ambassadors, Ministers, Board members and commissioners of federal establishments but could not even deliver their electoral wards to the presidential election. Those are not the politicians we need in Bauchi state. There are those who occupied positions of responsibilities at state and federal levels but could not get even a single un-employed secondary school graduate employed. There are those who were supported by the party to prominence but are not heroes in their localities. There are those who contributed to the present problems of the party but making desperate efforts to get appointed into the Yar'Adua administration for personal reasons. What Bauchi PDP need are representatives that enjoy the support and goodwill of the electorate and who can bring success to the party as Shehu Musa Gabam brought to the ANPP when he parted ways with the PDP before his return to continue the struggle for a better Nigeria. Bauchi PDP need the likes of Gabam to take it out from its present pathetic position and restore its lost glory. I have no doubt in my mind that the SGF is determined to provide the required solution but he needs to be reminded of the fact that Bauchi PDP is in need of a practical politician not arm-chair politicians that seek for positions for selfish reasons.
The party should under go a real x-ray by a practical politician and prescribe the correct medication in preparation for the 2011 election.
Muhammad is a Bauchi State based political commentator
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