Terfa Ayaga
3 July 2009
analysis
Yola — FROM every indications, the Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had different notion of the last Democracy Day, an occasion which marked the tenth year anniversary of democratic rule in the country and the two years anniversary of the Aliyu's led administration in the state.
While Aliyu believed and saw the occasion as an avenue for stock taking, to review the performance of the administration in the last two years and commission some projects in marking the occasion, the PDP as a party, saw the occasion as an outlet to celebrate an eventful two years in office and commence political activities preparatory for the re-election of the party with Aliyu as its candidate in 2011.
The party which believed that a lot had been achieved by the government in the last two years as compared to what the situation was in the state in the last political dispensation had earlier endorsed Aliyu as the party's candidate prior to the 2011 elections' activities.
A pressure group of PDP in the state tagged: "Talba Twice" has also spring up with the sole aim of ensuring the re-election of Aliyu at the 2011 poll and to the group, there could not be a more auspicious moment to commence its activities than during the Democracy Day slated for Kontagora headquarters of not only Kontagora Local Government Area, but that of the Niger North Senatorial District of the state against the notion held by the state governor in tandem with that of President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua that it is too early to commence electioneering campaign for the 2011 general elections.
Kontagora on record was the arrowhead of opposition during the immediate past administration of Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure. The masses and elite of the town massively dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party over allegations of poor performance in the last political dispensation and defected to PRP for the 2003 general elections.
Oppositions from the area, to the then PDP government became so fierce that the local government secretariat, PDP Zonal office together with party vehicles among others valuables were burnt by irate youths from the area in protest of what they perceived as the theft of their mandates in the2003 local government elections where they voted for the Peoples Redemption Party with the outcome of the poll manipulated in favour of the ruling party.
After the violent protest and court litigations, the court, however, ruled in favour of the masses as the PDP candidate was sacked and the PRP's candidate returned, as duly elected local government chairman.
The coming on board of the Aliyu's administration and the developmental programmes embarked upon by the administration in the state and most especially in the area gingered the elite and the people to bury their hatchet and returned to the PDP's fold.
As evidence of the new found love, it was gathered, the people of the zone mounted pressures on the leadership of the party to stage the Democracy Day in the area and seize the occasion to launch the political campaign for re-election of Aliyu in the 2011 general elections.
From Minna the state capital to Kontagora, a distance of nearly 200 kilometers, several bill boards, banners and posters were displayed on houses, trees and other conspicuous places announcing the choice of the governor for a second term.
"One good term deserves another, "one of the bill boards reads while another reads: "This good should continue to 2011".
The Kontagora Stadium, venue of the rally was decorated in similar fashion with digital banners and bill boards around the stadium as party supporters were dressed in specially made attire with the portrait of the governor and the caption Talba 2011 boldly printed on them.
Aliyu following the report of the activities of the PDP's campaign group, had publicly prior to the Democracy Day denounced the commencement of political campaign for re-election insisting that such campaigners and organizers should save that energy for now and dissipate same in ensuring that the state government recorded more feats in the areas of performance and that the party garnered more stability.
But various speakers at the Democracy Day rally in deviant to the position of the state governor took advantage of the event to make political speeches and gave credence to the earlier endorsement of Aliyu's candidacy by the state's PDP.
A gubernatorial candidate of the PRP in the 2003 general election, Alhaji Mustapha Bello, while speaking on behalf of the people of the Niger East Senatorial District acknowledged the successes achieved by Aliyu's administration in the last two years.
Bello, who was once a Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration and the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Export and Investment Promotion Commission, pointed out the equitable distribution and execution of developmental projects across the three political zones that make up the state and the relative peace and stability enjoyed by the state during Aliyu's administration as what endeared the people of the area to the state government. Political stalwarts such as Alhaji Yabagi Sani representing the Zone A (Niger North Senatorial District), and Ambassador Zubairu Dada, representing Zone B, (Niger Central Senatorial District) also in their various comments at the occasion described the governor as deserving a second term, following what they described as his remarkable performance in the last two years.
Sani said the people of the area are ready to massively support the re-election bid and vote for Aliyu at the forthcoming poll, but however, said: "to be assured of 100 percent votes in the area the governor must execute more projects for the people and continue with its Ward Development Committee projects policy which has made all the 274 wards in the state to enjoy dividends of democracy from the administration".
Dada in his comment vowed that the zone which returned the highest number of votes for the opposition candidate in the April14, 2007 governorship election following the poor performance of the PDP past administration is ready to pull its weight behind the state government and ensure a massive support for the administration.
He expressed joy that following the endorsement and general support for Aliyu's candidacy at the forthcoming election "victory for Aliyu is now a foregone conclusion"
Senator Nuhu Aliyu, and Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta led members of the National and state assemblies to the rally and also voiced their support for the Aliyu's candidacy.
Aliyu while speaking at the occasion regretted that emphasis on money politics by the previous administration had contributed immensely to the slide in the fortunes of the state.
He stated that his administration did not believe in politics of sharing public funds to private individuals, adding that public funds are meant for the provision of social amenities in improving the living standard and condition of the people.
He appealed to the people of the area to allow the incidents of the past to serve as a lesson to all, that issues should be resolved through dialogue as burning of public and private property is not in anybody's interest.
The political rally designed to commence at 2.30pm did not start until about 4.10pm when the governor aand his deputy Ahmed Musa Ibeto drove into the stadium in a Wrangler open jeep with special number plate Niger Talba Twice 2011.
This special number plate is now being used by most of the campaigners for the governors second term.
After acknowledging cheers from the hundreds of supporter, the governor's and his deputy had hardly sat down that the heavens opened up for the rain that the people had expected for over three weeks.
Though the shower did not last long enough to disrupt the event Alhaji Yabagi Sani said the light rain is a sign that God has blessed the reason for our being here.
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