How Dogara’s exit from PDP is changing Bauchi’s political narrative

By Samuel Luka

Recently, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara parted ways with his political friend, the governor of Bauchi State when he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Since the exit, many groups and individuals from Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro federal constituency have stepped forward to show their loyalty and approval for or against the development depending on which side of the divide they belong.

There are speculations that last week’s resignation of a commissioner from the state executive council was meant to show loyalty to the former Speaker who happened to be his boss.

Mohammed Al-Hassan Sadiq, the former commissioner for Commerce and Industry resigned after a post on his Facebook page last week, Wednesday evening. “Alhamdulillah, Masha Allah. Every beginning has an end.

Today, the 19th day of August 2020, I have honourably tendered my voluntary resignation as a Commissioner (Ministry of Commerce & Industries) and a Member of the State Executive Council in the Government of Bauchi State,” he had said.

The commissioner who could not give clear reasons for his action appreciated Governor Bala for giving him the opportunity to serve in his cabinet.

“In the same vein, I must appreciate my boss, H.E, the Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara for his usual support and the role he played in influencing same,” he added.

Sadiq is the second commissioner to have resigned from Governor Bala Mohammed’s cabinet since his ascension to office last year.

Dogara’s defection left many shocked, wondering what must have happened between the two great sons of Bauchi state, causing them to part political ways just months after collectively dislodging the then incumbent governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar from office.

Trouble started when Dogara in his letter of resignation addressed to the Bogoro ‘C’ Ward Chairman of the PDP dated July 24, 2020, attributed his resolve to quit the PDP to failure or breakdown of governance in his native state of Bauchi under the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed whom he helped install as a governor in the 2019 elections.

Dogara noted that he could not successfully ask questions about those issues without being accused of disloyalty if he were to remain in the PDP.

He argued that if he abdicated this responsibility of telling the truth to power in Bauchi state, having done same under the administrations of former Governors Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abubakar, he would be the most irresponsible and unprincipled politician in Bauchi State.

“This became necessary because the same reasons why we fought hard in 2019 to effect changes in the Governance of our dear state are festering now,” the former speaker had said.

He had also accused the Governor of failure to fulfill part of their campaign promise to conduct election within six months of assumption of office, disdain for the traditional institution, contract inflation, amongst others.

Immediately after the departure of Dogara, some PDP members from his constituency of Dass, Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa paid a solidarity visit to Governor Bala Mohammed at the Government House Bauchi.

The visit which was led by the leaders of the party from the constituency was to reaffirm their support and loyalty to the governor and that of his administration, boasting that Dogara’s defection will not affect the governor’s popularity and love in the area.

Moved by their love for him, Governor Mohammed told his visitors that the number of votes given to him by the constituency in the last gubernatorial election was above that of Dogara.

He debunked all the allegations levelled against him by the former Speaker, describing them as baseless.

The governor also challenged Dogara whom he said is too small for him to provide evidence of overpaid contracts awarded by his administration.

Apparently irked by the solidarity visit on the governor by some PDP members from the three local governments, a group known as Tafawa Balewa, Dass, and Bogoro Youth Development Foundation (TDBYDF), held a press conference, to restate its loyalty and support to the former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

The group which described Dogara as its political icon, vowed to follow him wherever he goes.

The Chairman of the foundation, Engr Emmanuel Isheni accused the government of Bauchi under the leadership of Senator Bala Mohammed of showing no concern to the interest of the masses and youths, going by his leadership style.

On their part, another group under the umbrella of Concerned Citizens of Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa Forum, at a press conference like their counterpart, accused the ex-speaker of betrayal of trust.

Mr. Samaila Shekarau who addressed the press on behalf of the group said they were not in agreement with the assertion by some group of people from the three local governments that the immediate past speaker constitutes a political party.

They argued that the speaker, being a card carrying member could not be said to be a political party for the people of the three local governments he represented at the National Assembly.

The forum while declaring its support and loyalty to governor Bala said that the former speaker was simply pursuing his personal agenda without the consent of the people of Bogoro, Dass, and Tafawa Balewa.

“We wish to state clearly here that, Rt. Hon Dogara has betrayed the trust of the entire people of Bauchi state amidst COVID-19 global pandemic to pursue his greedy political ambition regardless of our collective interests, and therefore, he is on his own”, the concern citizens said.

They also accused the former speaker of not attending house sittings at the National Assembly and as such, according them, has created leadership vacuum, leaving them behind in the affairs of the country.

The forum also alleged that the former speaker did not consult them before defecting to the All Progressives Party (APC), saying the move shows his level of disrespect and disregard for the constituency.

However, pundits believe that the Cold War between the ex-speaker and his state governor is not unconnected with permutations ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Senator Walid Jibrin was reported to have said that the former speaker resigned his membership of the PDP due to his ambition for the office of the vice president or president come 2023.

“I am beginning to suspect that Mr. Dogara has a plan of becoming President or Vice President in 2023 which he knows he will never achieve in PDP,” Jibrin had said.

With the current development, analysts fear that what happened to ex-governor M. A Abubakar might rear its head in 2023 if the unhealthy relationship between the two political gladiators is not put to rest.

Dogara’s political ally and the immediate past member representing Lere /Bula in the Bauchi state assembly, Hon. Aminu Tukur said there is no doubt that they have been used and discarded after winning election.

Tukur who alleged that Dogara has been used and dumped said, “Yeah, they have forgotten about him, forgetting about those people who canvassed for the success of the PDP under him.

“What I am trying to say here is that, nobody can dispute the fact that we were part and parcel of the team that worked tirelessly for the success of the PDP administration in the state.”

The former lawmaker pointed out that at the initial stage, they were being carried along but abandoned along the line within a period of 90 days.

Also, there are strong indications that more prominent politicians in Bauchi state will follow suit.

Sen Isah Mohammed Hamma Misau while giving the hint in a recent interview said that their expectations of joining the PDP at the wake of the 2019 general elections have been dashed.

The former Senator who represented the Bauchi Central District declared that the contributions they made to the PDP that gave it success at the gubernatorial election has been thrown to the wind to the extent that they have been relegated to the background.

Misau alleged that as top members of the party and considering the sacrifice they made, they have not been carried along in the affairs of the party in the state.

He is aggrieved that the views of their camp were not considered during the congresses of the PDP that took place last week, they were neither consulted nor allowed to make inputs in the exercise.

Hamma Misau described the conduct of the congresses as very unfair because according to him, the exercise did not reflect the popular wish of the people.

“And I am convinced that if the right thing was not done, people will vote out the PDP as was done to APC in 2019”, he opined.

“Our political mentor, former Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara has left for the APC, we too are holding consultations with our supporters and by the grace of God in the next two weeks we are leaving the PDP”, Misau explained.

Adding that, “one of us, former Commissioner of Commerce left last week, this is to show that we are very serious”.

Reacting to the claims, the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Yayanuwa Zainabari dismissed the allegations raised by the former Senator as baseless and unfounded.

“What we did in the conduct of the primaries was to ensure that the people spoke and chose their preferred candidates, we are as transparent as possible”, Zainabari said.

He added, “when he and others came into the PDP at the wake of the 2019 general election, we gave them automatic tickets, that negatively affected us, we don’t want to repeat that, that is the reason we are meticulous now”.

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On the plan of defection by the Isa Hamma Misau led group, the PDP spokesperson said, “We cannot stop anybody from leaving or coming, we have an opened door and people are free to move in and out but I want to assure you that the impact is going to be minimal because we have more people coming in to the PDP every day”.

Yayanuwa Zainabari said, “On behalf of the leadership of the PDP in Bauchi state, I wish Yakubu Dogara and others who left the PDP well wherever they find themselves and we are ready to welcome them back if they decide to come back”.

He concluded that, “we have to join hands together as brothers and leaders who have development of Bauchi State at heart to work for its good. We cannot afford to let the people down.”