The imminent decision of former anti graft czar, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Adamawa State is stirring the hornet’s nest with stakeholders in the dominant Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at daggers drawn over the propriety of serving juice to their one time tormentor

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was the only person to have aspired to govern Adamawa State that ever got near to his ambition. Occupying the Adamawa Government House, just like the Nigerian presidency, has been a matter of luck and certainly so for the three men to have so far occupied it since the advent of the fourth republic.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu

When in 1999 Atiku got a higher calling to be vice-president after winning the Adamawa gubernatorial election, his gubernatorial running mate, Mr. Boni Haruna became a shoo-in for the empty office. As the end of Mr. Haruna’s eight year stewardship approached in 2007, many prominent Adamawa citizens, including Gen. Buba Marwa, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Adamu Modibo, Joel Madaki, Senator Abubakar Girei, Engr. Markus Gindri, the late Comrade Paschal Bafyau, among many others sought for the governorship of the state, but the lot fell on the elderly Admiral Murtala Nyako who few years before then was a member of the then All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

Nyako was by almost every account made the least effort for the governorship but fate occasioned by the whims of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his linkman in the state, Senator Jibril Aminu caused Nyako to be enthroned as governor. The acting governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintri who is now occupying the Government House got there just by fate on account of the failure of Nyako to protect his mandate. This is indeed the third time that Fintiri is riding on Nyako’s bad luck to act as governor of the state.

Following Nyako’s well scripted removal from office last month, it had looked as if his many traducers were about to enjoy the fruit of their many years of struggle against Nyako. Well, that was until the latest permutation that have now put the erstwhile chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC into the position of the candidate to beat in the forthcoming gubernatorial election to fill the vacancy created by Nyako’s exit.

Mallam Ribadu defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC despite being the 2011 presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN it is alleged was upon his conviction that the 2015 presidential ticket of the APC was out of his reach. Sources claim that he was few weeks ago told point blank by some revered national APC elders to vie for the Adamawa governorship. That exhortation it was assumed was a subtle message to him that he was not in favour for the 2015 presidential ticket of the APC.

That message apparently merged into plans by some elements in the presidency to also splinter the APC. One very influential presidency official from Adamawa State, who is also claimed to be a childhood friend of Ribadu’s was said to have pushed his name to the president.

It is claimed that the president was won over on the issue of Ribadu, his former friend turned rival in the 2011 presidential election, returning to the PDP. The president it was learnt was, however, alleged to have insisted that Ribadu could be given the ticket but only on a level playing ground. That assurance was enough for the presidential official to now work the other appendages of power especially through the PDP national secretariat to set off the buzz on Ribadu.
A number of local party chieftains were alleged to be won over and have now started trumpeting the Ribadu is good chorus.

Ribadu’s favoured entry into the PDP has, however, not won over everyone as it is now causing serious tension in the state chapter of the party. Many of those who worked seriously for the removal of Nyako, it is alleged, are crying foul that they are being betrayed by the presidency with the entry of Ribadu.
Associates of some of the leading gubernatorial aspirants, notably those of the acting governor, Fintiri, former Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak and a major party chieftain, Dr. Panny Boga are said to be among those championing the rebellion against Ribadu.

They along with some other party stakeholders Vanguard learnt, are warning that they could either defect from the party or work against the interest of the PDP if Ribadu is imposed on the party by Abuja.
Their grouse is that he is being asked to eat where he did not sow as they allege that when they were in the trenches plotting for the removal of Nyako that Ribadu, as a senior chieftain of the APC was working at cross purposes with them to save the former governor.

“The National Chairman of the party has a choice to make and the choice is simple, Ribadu or the party’s victory. The Osun outing of the PDP is still fresh and must be noted that it has a long way in affecting the 2015 presidential election.
“This was how we fought in 2007 and the ticket was eventually given to Murtala Nyako, who was a member of the ANPP then and we are all witnesses to the eventual result. What is the difference between what happened in 2007 and now with regards to Nyako and now Ribadu. Can’t our leaders ever see the handwriting on the wall and learn,” he asked.

The confusion in the state chapter of the PDP was compounded last week when the acting governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmadu Fintri picked the party’s nomination form to contest the election now scheduled for October.
Fintri’s quest is an unprecedented effort since the advent of the Fourth Republic and it is the first time that an acting governor constitutionally appointed to hold forth as governor pending a substantive election is participating in the contest.

Fintri’s quest is fuelling suspicions that the impeachment of Nyako and the suspicious resignation of his deputy, Bala Ngilari were conspiracies fanned by the Adamawa State House of Assembly to make way for Fintri to become governor.
Blasting the decision of the acting governor to involve himself in the gubernatorial election, the Adamawa Progressive People Movement alleged that the acting governor’s quest could set a dangerous precedent for the nation’s democracy.

“Ambitions and overzealous politicians in the State Assembles and the National Assembly can decide and hold their states to ransom by impeaching their governor and deputies in one fell swoop as it happened in Adamawa State and then take over the apparatus of power”, the movement regretted.
In the midst of this is the growing confusion in the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. Among the major candidates are long time Atiku Abubakar associate, Boss Mustapha and Senators Ahmed Barata and Jubrila Gindow. There were insinuations yesterday that Atiku may have decided to throw his support behind Mustapha.

That claim was steadfastly denied yesterday by Atiku’s spokesman, Alhaji Garba Shehu yesterday who said the former vice-president was determined to ensure a level playing ground for all APC gubernatorial aspirants.
“I am on my way to Turaki’s house and I am sure that I will meet the two senators and also meet with Boss Mustapha as they are all part of a united team,” Garba said yesterday as he observed that Atiku had recently given his commitment to a free and fair primary in the emergence of the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

The basis of Atiku’s stipulation of a free and fair primary is his own determination to ensure that the same free and fair primary is applied in the emergence of the party’s presidential ticket. Given Atiku’s own pursuit of the APC primary ticket, sources close to him disclosed that he was determined to use the Adamawa APC primary to show a good example to the national leadership in the conduct of the presidential primary.