On his emergence as the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu promised not to tamper with Governor Isa Yuguda’s grip of the party in their native Bauchi State. That promise is a long way from being kept given the prize before them.

BY SUZAN EDEH

THE emergence of the  immediate past governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has opened a new chapter for the party in Bauchi. It has also altered political calculations ahead of the 2015 election.

Before now, Governor Isa Yuguda, who is in his second term, was arguably the sole ‘kingmaker’ in the PDP and all those nursing political ambitions milled around him wittingly and unwittingly soliciting his endorsement.

Now, another ‘kingmaker’ has emerged and expectations of PDP stalwarts in the state are high. Prior to Mu’azu’s appointment as PDP national chairman, the party in the state was facing intense pressure mounted by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which led to massive defection of PDP members to the APC.

But with the emergence of Mu‘azu as the PDP national chairman, all those disaffected with Yuguda and had been contemplating shifting to the APC are having second thoughts.

Test for Yuguda, Mu’azu’s renewed friendship
The friendship between the governor and the national chairman according to local folklore goes back to their childhood. Their relationship, however, fell apart in 2006 when Mu‘azu stopped Yuguda from getting the PDP gubernatorial ticket forcing the latter to decamp to the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP on whose ticket he won the election. And then the vengeance. Mu‘azu was probed and his associates disappeared until President Goodluck Jonathan reportedly intervened to broker peace which eventually culminated in the election of Mu‘azu.

Though Mu‘azu promised to be of good behaviour after he was proclaimed national chairman, there are still fears that the question of selecting Yuguda’s successor may remain a sore thumb because of the political aspirations of many of their associates.

Many Mu’azu’s loyalists who went into hiding when Mu’azu had problems with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have now resurfaced and are declaring their political ambitions which could threaten the political calculations of Yuguda for 2015.

The development if not properly managed may not go down well with Yuguda and his associates who view this situation as a threat to their future political hold on the state.

Conversely, the national chairman may also encounter some challenges in carrying out his assignment in some northern parts of the country if President Gooduck Jonathan insists on re-contesting.

In 2011, Yuguda who was at the forefront of the campaign team of President Jonathan had a difficult task in convincing Bauchi people to vote for Jonathan and he almost lost his seat while campaigning for Jonathan. Buhari won with the majority of votes against Jonathan.

Mu’azu too, may not find it easy to deliver his state to Jonathan in 2015 even though he and Yuguda work together on the project.

Yuguda’s anointed candidates
Many politicians in the state believe that Yuguda has anointed Barrister Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija, the Secretary to the State Government to succeed him because he has been part and parcel of his government from inception and can continue with the programme of the Yuguda administration seamlessly.

That assertion is, however, disputed in other circles where it is claimed that Dr. Musa Babayo, a former acting national chairman of the PDP is the favoured candidate. Babayo is favoured by the fact of zoning, which also works against Dandija. It is given wisdom that Yuguda would want his successor to come from Bauchi North, given that that part of the state is yet to produce a governor.

Aside these two, there are six other PDP chieftains, who have indicated interest in succeeding Yuguda. They include Alhaji Babayo Gamawa, former deputy governor during Yuguda’s first term; the incumbent Deputy Governor Sagir Aminu Saleh; Alhaji Ibrahim Makama Misau; Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi; FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and Barrister Ibrahim Zailani.
Politicians speak

Some politicians, who spoke with Vanguard said that with the appointment of Ahmed Mu’azu from the Southern Senatorial district, the chances of Bauchi North producing the next governor may be bright given that both Yuguda and Mu’azu are from South.

However, a political analyst, Ibrahim Sani said: “At the end of the day Yuguda and Mu’azu may likely have a common and consensus candidate in order to continue to work together as friends. At this juncture, they will have to bury their differences and work together. Yuguda will have to sacrifice his interest to save his political future”.

A one-time Commissioner for Information during the tenure of Mu’azu, Alhaji Madaki Hamma said Mu’azu’s appointment is a blessing to the state and the nation as a whole and there is nothing to fear because Yuguda and Mu’azu are friends and they have reconciled their differences.

“The Ahmed Mu’azu I know and have worked with for over eight years is a leader that will work hard to unite the PDP family. He has assured every member of the party of a level playing field during the elections and will respect the choices of the electorate,” he said

A PDP chieftain in Bauchi, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam said that he does not foresee any problem between Yuguda and Mu’azu in 2015 general election as they have been childhood friends and are brothers.

According to him, “I think when the time comes the two friends will cross the bridge without any arguments”
In the view of the North East zonal Publicity Secretary of APC Youth Vanguard Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim Darazo, Mu’azu’s appointment cannot change anything because PDP is an old fashioned party that has no respect for internal democracy.