YAR'ADUA'S ASSOCIATE EMERGES CPC GUBER CANDIDATE

Late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua political associate, Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke who defected to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina State after the demise of Yar'adua has been unanimously picked as the consensus candidate to vie for gubernatorial aspirant in the state under the CPC.

Lado  hailed from (CPC, Katsina South)  as the gubernatorial candidate of the party in the 2011 elections was arrived at after all the three gubernatorial aspirants 'voluntarily' submitted themselves before the elders committee and collectively agreed that a consensus candidate be selected from among them and the committee chaired by Engineer Bala Adamu.

The six members consensus committee was inaugurated by the elders' committee of the party on October 19th, 2010 with Engineer Bala Adamu as chairman, Alhaji Hamisu Buhari and Engineer Kabir Abubakar as members. Others are Alhaji Kasimu Ibrahim Danja, Alhaji Bala Kankia and Engineer Sabo I. Sodangi.

The terms of reference of the committee include among other things to meet with all the governorship aspirants and 'the committee should consult elders with ways and means of persuading contestants to reach consensuses and was given three weeks to submit its report.

The committee met with Senator Lado, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari and  Alhaji Mannir Yakubu  on the 25th of November where 'the three candidates unanimously agreed to let the committee select a consensus candidate.

They also requested the committee to recommend each of the other two candidates to the party leadership hierarchy for a number of positions in compensation.'

Therefore, written comments were given by all the candidates in conjunction with constituency party officials to select a 'suitable person' to contest the seat and consequently, the committee selected Senator Lado as the consensus candidate after holding seven meetings.

The Criteria used by the committee include commitment, loyalty to the party, leaders and supporters, acceptability to the leadership, prospects of winning, ability to se u government, integrity, honesty of the candidate and programs planned for the office. Other criteria are performance in previous offices held and readiness to sign agreement not to cross carpet and whether the candidates shared the philosophy and ideals of the CPC and its leader General Muhammadu Buhari.

After several meetings the committee asked the candidates to choose among themselves but they could not agree after which the committee went ahead to pick a winner by vote. Results show that Senator Lado scored four votes while Masari and Yakubu scored one each.

Consequently, Masari and  was offered the position of a Senator, Federal minister or party post at the National headquarters while, Yabuku was asked to be Lado's running mate, Senatorial candidate or Federal minister.

THISDAY sources in Katsina said Senator Lado's choice was based on his grassroots support and influence in the state; this according to source will give chance for him to defeat Governor Shema in the 2011 polls.