Lagos — Political observers in Kano State were jolted recently, when the posters of Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, the son of the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, dot the nooks and crannies of the state. Ibrahim Shuaib writes that the news of the younger Abacha's governorship ambition was received by political leaders in the state with mixed feelingsIntrigues in Kano as Abacha's Son Joins Guber Race aa_headline publisher This Day publisher_location Lagos reporter dateline Lagos rank    ( + / - ) 3 kind_of_story news

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The race to Government House in Kano State come 2011 is becoming more and more intriguing as many aspirants jostling for the governorship seat in the state have continued to emerge.

The latest among the new entrants, Alhaji Mohammed Abacha, son of the late former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, had publicly expressed his ambition to succeed Governor Ibrahim Shekarau come 2011. The son of the late Head of State is contesting on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, Mohammed may have to work harder in view of the clouts of other political bigwigs who have lined up for the job.

Although the young businessman is said to be making underground contacts, reaching out to various stakeholders within the PDP in the state, his colorful posters announcing his ambition have also been strategically positioned across the state.

Even though Mohammed has not openly declared his ambition, the rising number of political and community leaders who have been trooping to his Bank Road office, has been instructive of the attitude towards his ambition. THISDAY learnt that a number of meetings have been held to establish political structures for him at the grassroots in a bid to deliver the party's ticket to him.

But the opposition has begun to raise eye brows against Muhammed's ambition. In the same vein, an influential PDP member, Mallam Suleiman Hashimu Dungurawa, a native of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state, told THISDAY that a number of PDP members were opposed to Muhammed's candidature because he was not a card carrying member of the party.

According to Dungurawa, some people believed that Mohammed's background as the son of the late Head of State might also work against him because of the fear that as governor, he might be too powerful for the party to influence.

"What we see are his posters and nothing more and you know that everybody has the right to print posters and paste them anywhere. I can print my own posters if I wish to be publicity-crazy. Becoming the governor of Kano State is not guaranteed by the printing of posters. If Mohammed Abacha is nursing any ambition, we are yet to be duly informed," Dungurawa said..

However, Mohammed's ambition has received support from notable and influential political leaders in the state. One of them is a former Ambassador during Abacha's regime who was said to have been placating leaders on the need to support Mohammed's ambition in 2011.

Ironically, the Rabiu Kwankwaso group, said to be the most influential group in Kano PDP, has also denied the knowledge of Mohammed's ambition.The group currently controls the party structures in the state and has in its fold, party leaders such as the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Imam Salisu Buhari, former ministers, Ahmed Garba Bichi and Alhaji Bala Borodo as well as the incumbent Executive Secretary of Lake Chad Basin Commission, who was the deputy governor during the administration of Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Gandujen.

It would however, be re called that Mohammed was among those who graced the inauguration of the newly elected members of the party's state executive led by Barrister Farouk Iya Sambo, which was held at the Race Course.

But according to Kwankwaso who spoke after the inauguration, those who are coming into politics with the sole aim of seeking the party's ticket for the 2011 governorship race should have a rethink. He said the essence of politics was not to satisfy personal aggrandisement or the selfish objective of seeking political offices.

"Politics is not all about pasting posters and seeking positions. If you want anything in the party, you have to work for it. The people must see you making sacrifices for the party. But when you want to come over night to highjack the party's machinery, it will not be possible. So people should shelve their personal interest and face the reality of politics," Kwankwaso said.

However, Mohammed, while justifying his ambition, said that he had a burden to right the wrongs adding that he was in politics to contribute his own quota to the socio-economic development of Kano State in particular and Nigeria in general.

However, only time will reveal how far Mohammed can go in the pursuit of his ambition, bearing in mind that he has to contend with strong political structures of his opponents in the race.