Kwankaso and Abacha
In Kano, the political terrain had in recent times witnessed new alliances due largely to the hullabaloo generated by the outcome of primary elections hitherto in the 3 of the 67 active parties in the state.
Interestingly the inability of the stakeholders to manage their in house disagreements gave birth to Action Congress of Nigeria taking a foothold in Kano through the incumbent Deputy Governor, Tijjani Abdullahi Gwarzo. This has thereby widened the frontiers of the theater of war for Kano Government House.
The existing scenario gave credence to those who hold the opinion that the impending general election in the city state at least for now is too close to call.
The four active parties with retinue of faithful today in Kano include the ruling All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP with Malam Salihu Sagir, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP having the former Defense minister and former Governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as flag bearer, the Congress for Progressive Change which has Muhammad Abacha, eldest son of the former Head of state, General Sani Abacha and lately the ACN whose flag will be flown by the incumbent Deputy Governor, Gwarzo known in Kano political circles as Mr. loyalty.
The contestants: their strength and weaknesses.
Malam Salihu Sagir (ANPP) Salihu Sagir was chairman of Takai local council on the platform of APP in 1999_2003. Highly revered for his religious piety among the clerics in the commercial city, Takai as he is fondly referred to by admirers cuts the mein of level headed personality that believes in equity.
A local breed intellectual, Takai had all his education career in Kano, and had committed a large chunk of his private life to serve his people with a record of unbroken promises and humility in the discharge of his duties which perhaps explains why his choice dwarfed others considerations when the outgoing Governor anointed him as a successor.
However, Salihu Sagir Takai’s anointment by Malam Ibrahim Shekarau sparked off a kind of political tremor in the party culminating in the exodus of founding fathers of the party in protest.
The long list of defectors include the deputy Governor, Tijjani Gwarzo, the quintessential youth leader, and erstwhile Director General of the Kano Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sani Lawan Kofar Mata. Mata’s is believed to be soul of the ANPP in Kano and was largely central to Shekarau’s victory for a second term in office.
As it stands today, the ANPP Governorship candidate requires elevating his political dexterity beyond the religious biases if he is to make appreciable impact in the election.
TIJJANI MUHAMMAD GWARZO, (ACN)
A grassroot mobilzer, he is the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state. He is arguably the most loyal deputy Governor in Kano’s recent history. He came from a zone that has not been opportune to rule the state since the advent of participatory democracy.
Loved by many for his political maturity, Tijjani Gwarzo is one candidate that enjoys cross spectrum of support in the state. His strength lies among the dwellers of the Kano’s 44 councils, and also at home with the elites. Gwarzo’s grip on the grass root and subsequent decampment has altered the calculation for the coveted trophy. He also enjoys the respect of those in the opposition camp.
MUAHAMMAD SANI ABACHA (CPC)
Muhammad Sani Abacha, eldest son of the late Head of state, General Sani Abacha presents a serious challenge to the Kano guber race ahead 2011 General election, no thanks to stupendous wealth at his disposal.
His enormous wealth, connection, grassroot support, influence makes him a candidate to beat. Though ill experienced, the scion of Abacha family is surrounded by a name that makes Kano politics tick. His major problem lies within the top echelon of his party in Abuja who had openly demonstrated they preferred another aspirant to flag the party flag in Kano.
Pundits are of the opinion that the circle of friends around him is not genuine hinging their argument on the near absence of aggressive campaign in his camp. If eventually his party decides to lie low over his candidacy, Kano may witness a fierce fight in the history of competitive election.
RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO (PDP)
The former Governor, former Defense minister, former envoy to Sudan, leader of domineering and disciplined political clan known as the Kwankwasiyya group. The fall out of the PDP primary where an attempt was made to remove him following perceived wrongs against Abuja’s godfathers buoys his popularity among the Kano resident.
Although Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was swept out of power by ANPP in the 2003 general election, that episode had failed to erode his presence from the political equation in Kano. His influence and power has continued to rise. Once described by late Abubakar Rimi as a ‘gentleman difficult to work with’, his group is seeking for his return to power.
Kwankwaso’s major impediment is the elite within and outside his party who see him as one who behaves like an emperor. As it stands now Kwankwaso’s candidacy towers above others as demonstrated on the streets, in the neighbourhood, among the clerics, students, peasants and artisans.
That Kano may be bowing for his second coming was shown as a huge and orderly crowd turned out to welcome him to Kano last Sunday.
The elite who pitched against him have been pushed to a tight corner, and whether they still possess the power to reenact the magic that sent him packing from Government House in 2003 will certainly be seen by April.
Source:vanguardngr.com
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