The raging debate on whether President Goodluck Jonathan should contest the 2011 election or not has continued to dominate public discourse, even when the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP has cleared him to contest in the spirit of continuity and the joint ticket he has with the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Though the NEC also insisted that zoning as enshrined in the party’s constitution should remain.

Well, the PDP zoning formula is only between the North and South. Why didn’t the party extend the zoning formula to states, so that power can rotate among the three senatorial zones that make up every state in the country. It is only when this is done that the PDP zoning formula will be complete, fair, balanced and just to all. That is by the way.

It appears that Jonathan’s fate may not be different from that of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa who was sworn-into office on May 20, 2010 following the nomination of his former boss and governor of the state, Namadi Sambo as the Vice President of the country.

Though, the issue of whether he can or would contest or not the governorship election in the State in 2011 has not arisen, but definitely it will, considering the nature of man and the struggle for power, especially in our own part of the world.

Though Yakowa has not said that he will or will not contest, rather he has concentrated efforts in addressing the challenges facing the state in the area of peace and security, infrastructural development and others. If the NEC of the party at the national level has endorsed Jonathan to run in 2011 in order to complete the remaining four years of the joint-ticket he has with the late Yar’Adua.

It behoves the Kaduna State party executive committee members and other stakeholders to toe the line of the NEC in wooing Yakowa to contest in 2011 to complete the joint-ticket he has with Sambo.

Besides, PDP since 1999 has never denied the incumbent second term ticket except in Anambra State in 2003 where they accused the then incumbent, Chief Chinwoke Mbadinuju of under-performing.

Yakowa has, before now, paid his dues, both in civil and public service as a retired career civil servant and politician. Just like President Jonathan, Yakowa’s greatest weapon remains diligence, humility and patience. He epitomizes humility and caring.

Having served as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and later, Deputy Governor under former governor now Senator Ahmed Makarafi, many had thought that he will succeed Makarafi in 2007, but it did not come to pass. Vice President Namadi Sambo emerged as the PDP governorship candidate and Yakowa was given a second fiddle role again as his running mate for the election.

Yakowa unlike the typical ambitious Nigerian politician never complained; he kept his political interest aside, accepted the whole situation in good faith and worked tirelessly for the party victory in the election, so that the state could move forward.

While serving as deputy governor under Sambo, he brought his immeasurable experiences in civil service to bare as he helped the administration in fashioning programmes and projects that directly impacted on the lives of the people.

The much-touted political animosity and suspicion between governors and their deputies that sometimes lead to political crisis and impeachment was never became an issue. There was cordial and mutual relationship between him, his boss and their aides.

No wonder when it became clear and imperative that Yakowa will be governor, he was supported by all and sundry in the state, as people trooped out en masse to witness his swearing-in ceremony on May 20.

Actions of the people of the state on that day was a clear demonstration of their deep trust, confidence and belief in Yakowa’s ability to steer the ship of the state to the promised land. In conformity with people’s belief, his former boss, Vice President Sambo urged the people to support his government, because he is a leader to be entrusted with authority and responsibilities.

Signs of what to come or expect from his government became clear to the people when in his uncommon inspirational speech at the swearing-in said: “I am not governor for Christians, because I took an oath of allegiance and office to serve all the people in the state, irrespective of tribe, gender or religion. I just want to dedicatedly serve the people with the fear of God and without discrimination”.

Since he assumed office, council areas have been getting their monthly allocation untouched. Salaries and arrears of workers are being paid promptly and he has cleared all the backlogs he inherited from his predecessors.

Besides, he has continued with 11-point agenda of his predecessor and is doing everything possible to ensure that the state stands tall among others in the country. In all peace and security, peaceful co-existence of the people has remained of paramount importance to his administration.

By Sule Ibrahim Muktar, a public affairs analyst, writes from Jabi, Abuja