SOKOTO GUBER CONTENDERS: THEIR STRENGHTS, WEAKNESSES, CHANCES

•Bafarawa & •Wamakko
Ahead of Saturday's governorship poll in Sokoto State, our North-West Bureau Chief, ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, takes a look at the contenders, their strategies, plans and plots to emerge as governor. In Nigeria today, apart from probably the South-West, Edo State and one or two states in the North, getting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, is as good as emerging victorious in the secondary election. This, no doubt explains the reason aspirants in the PDP employ all means possible, legal and sometimes extra-legal, to be named the party's candidate.

Sokoto State is no exception. This no doubt explains why once ex-governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and his colleagues in the Northern Governors' Forum succeeded in 'blackmailing' the Presidency from giving him the Sylva's style, his chances of being re-elected this Saturday became brighter, even though his performance in his first term was far below average.

There are several governorship hopefuls waiting to test their popularity this Saturday. But so far, only three gladiators appear formidable. They are: Wamakko, immediate past governor, who is of the PDP, Alhaji Yusha'u Ahmed Mohammed, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Abubakar Aliyu Yabo, who is of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko
The inroad into the state's political arena by Wamakko has been widely described as unprecedented in the political history of the state. He reached the peak of his civil service career as a Permanent Secretary at several ministries in the state's civil service. He joined politics in1999 and emerged deputy governor on the platform of All Peoples Party (APP) now ANPP with Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa as governor.

Wamakko, as deputy governor was made to oversee the administration and finances of the local government councils as a commissioner in charge of the ministry from 1999 to 2004. This, Daily Sun gathered gave Wamakko the singular opportunity to build his political structure, comprising mostly of grassroots politicians in the 23 councils of the state.

During this period, it was said that Wamakko sold his political ideology to the downtrodden people popularly called 'Talakawa' in the North. This set of people are believed to be the deciders in any election and most times they choose their own leader without interference from any 'godfather.' What many also did not know is that Wamakko identifies with the commonest of people in the state, in their times of joy and sorrow. For these people, any leader who refuses to sit on their mats with them, during funeral, naming or wedding ceremonies, cannot be trusted with their votes.

Besides, it appears to have become a norm, for any aspiring politician who is openly vilified by a sitting governor in the state, to emerge governor subsequently. They did it to Bafarawa, he later emerged governor. Bafarawa did it to Wamakko, and Wamakko became governor. The scenario, Daily Sun authoritatively learnt, was responsible for the kid glove, with which Wamakko has continually used, to handle his deputy, Mukthar Shagari, even when it is clear, that Shagari, has never 'been' with the governor. They work and operate at cross purposes. But Wamakko, Daily Sun gathered, has never held it against the deputy, at least, publicly.

It was also believed that his respect for traditional institution in the state might have boosted his popularity and general acceptance among the masses, a thing that made his rise to political stardom possible, thus succeeding his former boss as governor in 2011, against the boss' wish and desire. He may not have performed 'wonders' as governor, in the last five years. He nonetheless enjoys the tremendous support of those who matter most in the state and beyond.

This can be confirmed by the public pronouncement by the North-West vice chairman of the party, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure. He declared that the PDP would support Wamakko in his bid to get re-elected on the party's platform.

Not only that, the public affirmation by Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido that all stakeholders in the PDP, including President Goodluck Jonathan, the Governors' Forum and the North-West zone of the party are backing Wamakko for his second term bid, before the primary, was a clear signal to those who had wanted it that the Bayelsa drama, where a sitting governor was literarily blocked from participating in the primary, would be difficult in Sokoto. And the moving of the seat of power to Sokoto last week, during the campaign, is a further confirmation that Wamakko remains the man to beat, this Saturday.

Again, the mere fact that Bafarawa's chief strategist and former DPP chairman in the state, Umaru Kwabo, has pitched tent with Wamakko, is a further indication that Bafarawa's return to the ANPP, would make little or no impact on the fortunes of Wamakko, this Saturday.

Yusha'u Ahmed Mohammed
Mohammed is a retired banker. Politically, he could be regarded as a non-starter. His sole and major credential is the popularity of Bafarawa, the former governor. But the structures Bafarawa had in the ANPP, before 2007 polls, is not the same as the structures on ground today.

The mere fact that not all his loyalists and supporters followed him back to the ANPP, from the DPP, is a clear indication that Bafarawa has lost so much ground, politically, in the state. Besides, even when Bafarawa was still formidable, Wamakko, on two occasions, trounced Bafarawa's anointed candidates on the platform of the DPP, in 2007 and 2008.

In spite of the fact that political observers see Mohammed as a political greenhorn, if all the about 30 contenders are put on a scale, he, would certainly be ranked in the second position, after Wamakko, in terms of strength and deep pocket.

Abubakar Aliyu Yabo
Yabo, is a retired federal civil servant. As at the time of filing this report, Yabo was yet to commence his governorship campaign. But he remains one of the strong contenders. However, in his absence, his running mate, Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji Gusau, who is a retired deputy registrar of a Federal university, is trying to convince Sokoto electorates to vote for the desired change, by voting for the CPC.

But there are 23 councils in the state. While both Wamakko and Mohammed, PDP and ANPP candidates respectively, have gone round virtually the whole councils, it remains to be seen how the CPC and its candidate would perform similar feat, before this Saturday.

Although, CPC and ANPP may eventually close ranks, by forming an alliance, ahead of Saturday's poll, Daily Sun learnt that it may not be enough to make a significant difference on their fortunes, as 'Sai Alu,' Wamakko's slogan, appears to be the order of day, in Sokoto State today.