Leadership (Abuja)
Chibuzo Ukaibe
11 January 2009
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They were once colleagues of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, yet after their tenure as governors, they still seem to wield some form of influence or relevance in this present administration.
Most of them are of the 1999 set of governors, who heralded the present democratisation process. Their influence however is indicative of the role they have played or about to play in this government since its emergence. While some have just been made ministers, others have operated from behind the scenes. Some have decided to pitch their tent in the Senate. This category include Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Bukar Ibrahim (Yobe), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), George Akume (Benue), Sani Yerima (Zamfara) and Ahmed Markafi (Kaduna).
Chief James Ibori
He is perhaps the most influential governor of Delta State ever. He is alleged to be in the President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua administration. Chief James Ibori conveniently held tight the power structure in Delta State, and effortlessly silenced whatever opposition there was in the state, particularly Chief Great Ogboru of the Gideon Orkar coup fame.
His influence in the Yar'Adua administration is hinged on the allegation that he was very instrumental to the success of the presidential campaign of the incumbent president, and also that he is linked with some of the key appointments in the Yar'Adua administration. This was further heightened following the redeployment of erstwhile chairman of the EFCC Nuhu Ribadu and his subsequent ouster.
Sani Yerima
He emerged onto the scene when he introduced of the Sharia law in Zamfara State. Yerima, after successfully stalling his deputy as governor, took a seat at the Senate. He was governor of the state for eight years. But despite being an extract of the ANPP, his influential disposition in this present government is evident in his stance as regards his party's involvement in the Government of National Unity. From the onset, he, with the ANPP party, Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke, spearheaded the marriage of his party in the arrangement, which resulted in the crevice within the party. On the platform of the GNU, he was alleged to have influenced the appointment of his candidates as federal minister and directors in parastatals to the dismay of other members of the party. Following the cabinet reshuffle recently, and the outburst of the opposition parties who thought they had been sidelined by the president, he was instrumental to dousing the resulting friction as he, in company of his party chairman, visited Aso Villa and subsequently announced that their slots were guaranteed. In spite of being a key member in the ANPP, he had severally been accused of frolicking with the PDP. This was attested to by his surprise appearance at the PDP gubernatorial campaign re-run in Sokoto State.
Sam Egwu
After serving as governor of Ebonyi State for eight years and his presidential ambition gone sour, he decided to run for the position of the PDP national chairman which was zoned to the south-east. But he made headlines as a perceived Obasanjo pawn at a time when the yearnings within the party were aimed at dislodging the enormous influence of the immediate past president. Nevertheless, following a late consensus arrangement adopted by major stakeholders in the party, much to the chagrin of other contestants, Egwu was schemed out of the contest, which was eventually given to Prince Vincent Ogbulafor. But just when it seemed that he had relaxed into political obscurity, he made the list of ministerial nominees and currently serves as the minister of education. Feelers are that he is being compensated for his loyalty to his party following the political misadventures he has had to endure.
His influence in this government is played up by his track record in the educational sector while he served as governor. In 2001, he reached an agreement with the Higher Education Partnership and Action (HiPACT) for exchange programmes with British universities affiliated to the body with the aim of improving the quality of education in Ebonyi State's higher institutions and the training of higher cadre manpower. Like Yar'Adua, Egwu was a lecturer.
Adamu Aliero
From the stables of the Senate, he was picked out by President Yar'Adua to serve as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Senator Adamu Aliero was Kebbi State governor from 1999 to 2007. He was notable for dishing out political patronage as he wished. At the expiration of his tenure last year, Aliero proceeded to the Senate having installed a reliable successor, Alhaji Saidu Usman Darkingari, who incidentally is the son-in-law of the president. Beyond this, he was remarked to have built and rehabilitated a network of roads in the region of 1,000 kilometres and made social infrastructure available in both towns and villages in the state.
Abdullahi Adamu
Abdullahi Adamu is the immediate past governor of Nasarawa State, and was popularly referred to as the "bridge-builder". He held the saddle as chairman of Governors' Forum for a long time. He was regarded as a foremost loyalist of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2007, he sought the presidency of Nigeria but had to withdraw his contest for President Yar'Adua. While it appears he had maintained a private life, he is a member of the PDP Board of Trustees.
Achike Udenwa
His nomination and subsequent certification as minister of commerce was greeted by disenchantment from sections of his state Imo. But this was after he was screened out by security operatives following certain security concerns. He was however given a late clean bill of health. Having served as governor of Imo State for eight years, Udenwa tried to remain relevant by seeking the PDP national chairman during its last convention early this year. But like his colleague Sam Egwu, it did not work out for him.
Rabiu Kwankwaso
Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso was governor of Kano State between 1999 and 2003 under the platform of the PDP. He presently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP. Although his bid to serve a second term was not successful, Kwankwaso was appointed minister of defence in the 2003 cabinet of Obasanjo and subsequently a special envoy to Somalia and Darfur by the same administration. He was shortlisted for ambassadorial appointment by the Yar'Adua administration.
Bola Tinubu
He is known to be a fighter and astute tactician when it comes to the power game. Ex-governor of Lagos State Bola Ahmed Tinubu severally made it clear that beyond the party divide, he enjoys a good rapport with the president. It would be recalled that after the verdict on the presidential election was given by the appeal court, he influenced the Lagos State commissioner for information to issue out a congratulatory statement on the verdict. He was alleged to have not been favourably inclined to contesting the victory of Yar'Adua any further at the Supreme Court. Having fought former president Obasanjo on various fronts during his term as governor, it is alleged that he is influential to the seeming smooth relationship enjoyed between the state and the federal government.
Where Are They?
Jolly Nyame
After his term of eight years in Taraba State as governor, Rev Jolly Nyame was accussed by the EFCC of stealing N1.64bn from the state coffers. He is therefore facing a 41-count charge and has pleaded not guilty. His father Mr Tavoro Nyame was also summoned by the EFCC in Abuja for questioning. His case has not been concluded. He has since gone out of the spotlight.
Adamu Muazu
He was governor of Bauchi State for eight years under the platform of the PDP, but presently in a sour relationship with estranged friend and present governor of the state Isa Yuguda. He had a failed senatorial ambition and resorted to the sidelines politically.
Joshua Dariye
After a turbulent spell as governor of Plateau State under the Obasanjo administration and a rigorous escapade at the hands of the EFCC over charges of financial corruption, Dariye has taken the back seat of political matters in the state.
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