Who Succeeds Lamido?

There are strong indication that “Buhari wind of Change”, coupled with mass exodus of the prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members notably the Jigawa State former Governor Saminu Turaki, the current Deputy Governor, Ahmad Mahmud Gumel among several others dumping the party for All Progressives Congress (APC) may hinder the success of Mal. Aminu Ringim, the PDP gubernatorial candidate in succeeding his boss, Governor Lamido in tomorrow’s gubernatorial elections.
Ringim whose political experiences started as far back as 1978 first participated in the then first civilian administration of Governor Ali Saad with his appointment as Commissioner of Agriculture and thereafter became the Executive Chairman, Jigawa State Electoral Commission under former Governor Saminu Turaki.
The PDP flag bearer’s status was later elevated by the same government to the status of  Chief of Staff under Governor Turaki-led ANPP administration down to the present administration of Governor Lamido in the same portfolio of Chief of Staff for eight years.
This, among other vast exposure to politics and the art of governance, Ringim has all it takes to defeat his contender Alh. Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of the APC gubernatorial candidate in the next gubernatorial poll.
To Ringim, the government they intend to form was nothing short of continuity of Governor Lamido’s led-PDP government: “If given the mandate, we assure you we will do our best in forging our younger state to progress and development devoid of any prejudice”, while also assuring unflinching loyalty to his boss, Lamido, as well as involving him on any state policies when time warrants.
Even though Mal. Ringim has come of age in retaining jigawa State for continuity, one fundamental factor that may thwart his noble cause is “the Buhari wind of change” which has affected the political atmosphere in Jigawa.
Despite the fact that both the ruling PDP and the APC are the leading parties, Ringim has great challenges before him in accomplishing his dream. First, being a beginner without a political structure in place with regards to his ambition is a major threat in the realisation of his dream.
Secondly the poor performance of his PDP in the last presidential poll, coupled with Buhari’s wind of change could definitely affect his chances in beating his contender, Alh. Abubakar of the APC who is an astute politician with vast public experience in both government and politics.
Again, the mass exodus of PDP supporters to APC is another factor that may weaken his chances. Over 5,000 PDP supporters headed by former Governor Turaki, the present Deputy Governor, Mahmud Gumel among other top government officials have dumped PDP for APC.
The influential business mogul that Ringim will face in the gubernatorial poll, Badaru Abubakar of the APC has pledged if elected into office as as governor to transform Jigawa in the areas of Agriculture, Human development for self reliance, assuring an open door policy.
Abubakar who was the immediate past National Chairman of the NACCIMA and business tycoon started his political career in 1978 an astute politician occuping various political portfolios in different political parties and associations, notably the proscribed PRP, SDP, ACN, among others. He contested along with Governor Lamido in 2011 under ACN and performed credibly well giving Lamido a tough time.
In one of his campaign tours, he was quoted as saying: “We the APC if given the mandate we pledge to uphold probity and accountability as our watchdog in governance. We promise to run a people’s mandate that will cater for all and sundry devoid of any difference in sex, races, religion or ethnic affiliations”.
With the expulsion from the ruling PDP of Jigawa deputy governor by his Gumel Constituency on allegations that he wooed support for APC during the just concluded presidential elections, Badaru said it was a welcome development, adding that will ginger us to put more efforts in snatching Jigawa from the hands of the PDP.
Commenting over his sudden defection from PDP, Gumel said what the PDP did to him by expelling him from the party was undemocratic but added that “as a Moslem, I accept it in good faith as an act of God, and resolve to embrace the APC” as his second political base for future politicking. This will definitely be a minus for his former party in retaining Jigawa State leadership.
Before taking this final decision to expel Gumel, the Jigawa PDP was confortable with him, as he was accused of double face in the party in preparation to embrace the APC.
The swift decision was approved and ratified by the Gumel stakeholders of the PDP who had earlier accused the deputy governor of wooing the communities of his polling unit (Kalanga ward) in Gumel local government area to cast their votes for APC.
Even before the decision, Gumel has made preparations for dumping the PDP for APC, which had been widely speculated and worrisome to the government, Governor Lamido, as well the state’s big shots in the PDP who authorised his Gumel constituency’s party caucus to expel him from the party.
Making the announcement, Gumel Chairman of the PDP, Alh. Ibrahim Dogo Kafinta said the deputy governor’s exit from the party might not be unconnected with alleged anti-party activities during the recent presidential and national assembly’s polls in Jigawa State.
“Our resolve in expelling the Jigawa deputy governor from our midst was informed by his anti-party activities exhibited during the just concluded presidential elections,” he said.
But at a mammoth APC rally to welcome the Deputy Governor who was described as an astute politician, a man of the people, and of popular majority, the party’s flag bearer, Alh. Abubakar stated that the action was a clear testimony that the ruling PDP is dead, assuring: “we will bury the party come next Saturday’s gubernatorial and state assembly elections”.
According to Abubakar, the coming into the fold by the deputy governor is a welcome development, since it will make APC stronger, going by high calibre of people accompanying him.
Gumel who defected alongside over 2,000 PDP supporters pledged to work tirelessly for the success of the party in subsequent elections.
“We resolve to embrace the APC based on the party’s cardinal objectives of true democracy, good governance, social justice, and above all internal democracy, qualities that PDP lacks”, he said.
Going by this development, couple with the massive success of the APC during the presidential elections, with the defeat of all the three senators of the PDP by APC, the strength of the ruling party has reduced without any hope of making any impact in the gubernatorial and state assembly’s elections.
Reports indicated that the PDP in Jigawa State, is trying to persuade the weaker political parties in going into alliance with it to attract more votes to win, a situation that be difficult as most of the supporters of such weak parties like UNCP, APG, ACCORD, and alike have embraced the APC.
But PDP state Chairman, Alh. Salisu Mamuda debunked such a claim saying he was not aware of the development adding that it may be coming from the opposition that has lost hope of winning next Saturday’s gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
He contended that PDP is set for elections, and is not afraid of any intimidation or harassment.
“PDP will beat the APC hands down, as we are fully prepared for Saturday’s elections”, said Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, Deputy National Chairman, North West Zone of the PDP during the grand rally in Birninkudu council.
Kazaure said he is confident that the party will sweep the elections based on laudable achievements of Governor Lamido’s administration in transforming the state in the last eight years. “Certainly, what our party the PDP delivered is enough for the party to attract a mammoth success”, he said.
Also speaking, Governor Lamido who enjoined electorate to differentiate between a party that is concerned about their progress and development and one of deceit, with large formation of betrayals.
Former Minister of Commerce in the second Republic, and a former Senator, Bello Maitama Yusuf said Jigawa people should be thankful to God for giving them Lamido as governor for his vision, commitment, and dedication to the service of humanity, and his success in transforming the state within the shortest time.
According to Yusuf, before the advent of the present administration, Jigawa state was among the least backward states in the federation. “But today, Jigawa has been transformed to becoming a reference point to others”, he said and called on the people to reciprocate this good gesture by re-electing the ruling PDP for continuity as he has confidence in the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Mal. Ringim.
“With Ringim’s oustanding qualities, expertise and public exposure, I doubt much if he can let Governor Lamido nor the state down”, adding, “instead I have the belief that he will deliver and continue from where his boss stopped”.
Ringim said: “If given the mandate, we assure you we will do our best in forging our younger state to progress and development devoid of any prejudice”.
The crux of the matter is that it will be rough for PDP to succeed in tomorrow’s gubernatorial and state assembly’s elections due to Buhari’s wind of change, as many of the electorate are saying they wont cast their votes for PDP as they are fed-up with its failed mission especially in failing to exhibit purposeful leadership for the country in the last 16 years.