Kano — The announcement by the Kano chapter of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to vest the right of anointing the party's governorship flag-bearer in 2011 causes commotion in the otherwise serene house of the party.

Political pundits say the decision was reached in order to pave way for the candidacy of a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Khaleel.

Aspirants who may wish to contest the Kano State governorship seat on the platform of ANPP may not likely run for primaries as the power to select the candidate lies on no less an individual than Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. Having all the four aces in his hand, the governor can now simply pick the candidate in spite of the looming protests that will greet the choice.

Already, the posters of those interested in the coveted seat have adorned the streets of Kano. Posters of a number of commissioners, a senator, a member of the State House Assembly, some members of the House of Representatives, top government officials, among others flood the streets of Kano metropolis and environs.

Juxtaposed between the politicians' posters is a cleric, whose posters bear the slogan: Daga Malam Sai Malam (successor of Malam would be Malam). Although he seems to be taciturn, his actions tell much about his aspiration. Recent reports say that he had even said on Radio Kano that people's assertion that he was eyeing the seat was true.

Meek and unassuming, Sheikh Khaleel's fatwa is always simple as he depicts Islam as the easiest religion to practice. Many a religious leader in the state had in some instances challenged the Sheikh's teachings. The simple but controversial fatwas apparently earned the sheikh the sobriquet 'Starcomms'. In local parlance, whatever is cheap in Kano is now synonymous to Starcomms because of the telecom service provider's supposed low tariff.

The list of his controversial teachings is endless, many people said. When in 2005 almost all the ulamas within and outside the country condemned a woman who led a prayer in the US, Sheikh Khaleel openly said there was nothing wrong for the woman to have led prayer.

During one of his Ramadan lectures in 2006, the cleric was quoted as saying he was against the idea of Islamic preachers venturing into politics. "I will never support a cleric who vies for election because they could be worse than the politicians," he was quoted to have said in the residential mosque of Alhaji Madu Biu in Hotoro Quarters three years ago. Citing example of credible Islamic teachers who he would never support, he said: "Even if it is Malam Yahya Tanko, I won't support him if he ventures into politics."

Lacing his spiritual lectures with political discourse, Sheikh Khaleel is the most controversial conformist scholar in Kano. While other Islamic teachers hide their political affiliations during elections, Sheikh Khaleel openly supported Governor Shekarau, saying he was the right candidate for people to vote at the governorship polls.

Considering the Sheikh's foregoing comments, his intention to vie for the post came as a surprise to many. But the Sheikh's closeness to Governor Shekarau somehow made people to smell a rat in the political permutation. Already one of the Sheikh's wives, Hajiya Fatima Bello Aliyu, is a Special Adviser to Governor Shekarau on Child Welfare, and she is rumoured to become the next First Lady.

Although some months ago the governor denied having any candidate in mind while answering a reporter's question at a mid-year media briefing, many people were not satisfied with Governor Shekarau's response. Many people believe the governor is more satisfied with the cleric as his successor than other aspirants because of Sheikh Khaleel's modest posture and submission to the government in power.

Already the party is threatening fire and brimstone on whoever dares to challenge Governor Shekarau's decision on the issue of who would be the party's flag-bearer.

Most of the internal war in the party takes place on radio, where loyalists of some aspirants directly or indirectly fire salvo on other aspirants. Until recent attack on a senator, the war perpetually remained on radio. Senator Mohammed Bello, who is believed to be a strong aspirant was attacked by party supporters in Fagge while attending the wedding Fatiha of the daughter of one of the party's elders. Since the Fagge attack, many others who indicated their interests in the seat were now either threatened or harassed by some the party's supporters.

Many commissioners who want the coveted position now secretly accuse their party of showing support to Sheikh's candidature. Daily Trust learnt that certain aspirants are planning to gang up against Sheikh if the party eventually gives him the ticket. Political analysts say that the internal wrangling and attack on one another spell misfortune for the party as the major opposition party in the state, the PDP, seems to be cleaning its house for the 2011 elections.

Until recently when the Sheikh Khaleel's governorship interest became manifest, many people believed that he would be the last person to venture into politics.

"Malam Ibrahim Khaleel's decision to vie for governor came as a surprise to me; because as a regular listener of his lectures, he had said in the past that he would never venture into politics," said Malam Kabiru, a regular listener of the of the Sheikh's preaching.

It will be recalled that the Kano ANPP recently held a meeting with all its Senate members from the state, members of the House of Representatives, members of the State House of Assembly, party leaders, local governments chiefs, among others, to discuss the issues of tenure of the party's leadership, during which the governor was vested with the power to handpick gubernatorial candidate for the party.

The tenure of the current party executive is however ending in December, and the national headquarters sent a letter to the party directing it to conduct congresses at ward, local government and state levels.

Our correspondent gathered that during the meeting, all the stakeholders agreed - at least on the spot - to allow Governor Shekarau to anoint 'the right person' as the party's gubernatorial flag-bearer for 2011 governorship election. The leadership of the party under Alhaji Sani Hashim Hotoro called on those eyeing the seat to exercise patience.

It was gathered that during the meeting, former Kano State governor Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya spoke on behalf of Senate members from the state to endorse the decision. It was also learnt Kawu Sumaila of the House of Representatives equally endorsed the decision on behalf of other members.

"The leadership of the party did the same thing, the commissioner of agriculture Alhaji Shanono spoke on behalf of the commissioners; special adviser to the governor on political matters also spoke on his colleagues' behalf; ALGON spoke on behalf of council chairmen and chairman of ANPP Alhaji Sani Hashim Hotoro spoke on our behalf," the party's legal adviser, Baffa Babba DanAgundi said in a recent interview with Daily Trust.

Addressing the press over the issue, the party's state secretary Alhaji Rabiu Bako, explained that the decision was taken to avert intra party crisis on who will succeed Governor Shekarau.

He said that the party did not direct any gubernatorial aspirant to indicate interest and that campaign in the media has been stopped. He said the party had agreed to mete out a penalty on anybody who violates, saying anybody found wanting would risk sack from the party.

Although the governor never reacted openly to his party's decision to vest the power on him, many people in Kano believe that the party was directed by the governor to give him the power. Feelers in the state politics and government circle say that the party's decision was a direct plan to give Sheikh Khaleel the party's gubernatorial ticket come 2011.