Indications
emerged at the weekend that no fewer than three political camps are at present
arrayed against Vice President Namadi Sambo, moving to replace him as veepee,
in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.
emerged at the weekend that no fewer than three political camps are at present
arrayed against Vice President Namadi Sambo, moving to replace him as veepee,
in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.
In the first group, according to THISDAY checks, are two Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) governors, Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Isa Yuguda
(Bauchi), who believe that in the event President Goodluck Jonathan picks the
party’s ticket, he should anoint one of them as running mate for the election.
Democratic Party (PDP) governors, Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Isa Yuguda
(Bauchi), who believe that in the event President Goodluck Jonathan picks the
party’s ticket, he should anoint one of them as running mate for the election.
Some senior officials in the presidency are also said to have
promised either of the two governors the veepee job in a bid to shore up
support for President Jonathan in the North.
promised either of the two governors the veepee job in a bid to shore up
support for President Jonathan in the North.
As a first step to bagging the plum job, Shema and Yuguda are
said to have embarked on underground campaigns to emerge as the new chairman of
the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, to replace NGF Chairman and Rivers State
Governor Chibuike Amaechi in the election slated for May.
said to have embarked on underground campaigns to emerge as the new chairman of
the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, to replace NGF Chairman and Rivers State
Governor Chibuike Amaechi in the election slated for May.
But their colleagues from the North are said to be blocking the
move at present, as a majority of the Northern governors are solidly backing
Amaechi to retain the position.
move at present, as a majority of the Northern governors are solidly backing
Amaechi to retain the position.
Both Shema and Yuguda are allegedly presenting Sambo as weak and
incapable of pulling the North behind President Jonathan in the 2015 election.
incapable of pulling the North behind President Jonathan in the 2015 election.
One of the governors is alleged
to have engaged in sponsoring surveys to portray Sambo as a featherweight
politician in the North.
One of the surveys allegedly conducted under the aegis of a group known as
Institute of Democracy and Good Governance was said to have arrived at a
conclusion that the North would not support Jonathan, if he would use Sambo as
his running mate in the election.
In the second group, however, are governors who see themselves as potential
presidential contenders from the North.
In this group are Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa State) and Babangida Aliyu
(Niger State).
to have engaged in sponsoring surveys to portray Sambo as a featherweight
politician in the North.
One of the surveys allegedly conducted under the aegis of a group known as
Institute of Democracy and Good Governance was said to have arrived at a
conclusion that the North would not support Jonathan, if he would use Sambo as
his running mate in the election.
In the second group, however, are governors who see themselves as potential
presidential contenders from the North.
In this group are Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa State) and Babangida Aliyu
(Niger State).
The calculation of this group also is that in the event that
their presidential aspirations fail, they will still command huge status in the
North for the running mate slot.
their presidential aspirations fail, they will still command huge status in the
North for the running mate slot.
The third group, according to THISDAY findings, comprises
prominent politicians from the North who believe that equity demands that
Jonathan should not seek another term and who do not reckon with the VP.
prominent politicians from the North who believe that equity demands that
Jonathan should not seek another term and who do not reckon with the VP.
However, what this group holds against Sambo, according to a
politician close to the VP, is that he refused to bow to the pressure to allow
the PDP present a Muslim candidate, rather than the late Patrick Yakowa (a
Christian), for the 2011 gubernatorial election in Kaduna State.
politician close to the VP, is that he refused to bow to the pressure to allow
the PDP present a Muslim candidate, rather than the late Patrick Yakowa (a
Christian), for the 2011 gubernatorial election in Kaduna State.
According to a PDP topnotch from the North, it is the third
group “that has started a malicious campaign which runs against evidence,” that
Sambo does not have sufficient clout to represent the North.
group “that has started a malicious campaign which runs against evidence,” that
Sambo does not have sufficient clout to represent the North.
“What they are saying is that Namadi doesn’t command the kind of
status that Vice President Atiku Abubakar had under President Olusegun Obasanjo
but the question they have failed to answer is where did Atiku end up?”
status that Vice President Atiku Abubakar had under President Olusegun Obasanjo
but the question they have failed to answer is where did Atiku end up?”
The politician claimed Sambo
had done far more for the North than any of politicians in the current
dispensation.
According to him, “President Goodluck Jonathan has done much more for the North
than any president but, unfortunately, because of politics, he is not being
given due credit and it’s not fair. The fact of the matter is that there are
more developmental projects in the North today than at any time in the last 14
years of our democracy and it’s all because the VP has been working quietly on
some of the issues with the president”.
had done far more for the North than any of politicians in the current
dispensation.
According to him, “President Goodluck Jonathan has done much more for the North
than any president but, unfortunately, because of politics, he is not being
given due credit and it’s not fair. The fact of the matter is that there are
more developmental projects in the North today than at any time in the last 14
years of our democracy and it’s all because the VP has been working quietly on
some of the issues with the president”.
He mentioned the multi-billion dollars Mambilla and Zungeru
hydro projects as well as the several irrigation schemes that are targeted at
boosting agriculture in the North; the recently initiated Green Wall project to
combat desertification; the reactivation of the Chad basin and the current
railway projects, which have reconnected the North with the South, aside
revitalising the transport sector.
hydro projects as well as the several irrigation schemes that are targeted at
boosting agriculture in the North; the recently initiated Green Wall project to
combat desertification; the reactivation of the Chad basin and the current
railway projects, which have reconnected the North with the South, aside
revitalising the transport sector.
“I bet that these people who are talking about the influence of
the VP know all these things but they would rather prefer Namadi to be at
loggerheads with his principal just to be seen as a political force even when
such attitude may contribute nothing to the development of his geo-political
zone”.
the VP know all these things but they would rather prefer Namadi to be at
loggerheads with his principal just to be seen as a political force even when
such attitude may contribute nothing to the development of his geo-political
zone”.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Arewa Youth Forum,
Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, apparently reacting to moves by some of the governors to
replace Sambo as veepee, said the youths were aware of the subterranean moves
by some well-placed politicians to ridicule Sambo, and warned that they would
not allow any individual or group to disgrace him.
Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, apparently reacting to moves by some of the governors to
replace Sambo as veepee, said the youths were aware of the subterranean moves
by some well-placed politicians to ridicule Sambo, and warned that they would
not allow any individual or group to disgrace him.
Gujungu pointed out that although the youths were not
politicians, they would, want politicians to respect the office of the VP and
accord him the due respect and support.
politicians, they would, want politicians to respect the office of the VP and
accord him the due respect and support.
The AYF leader said: “Sambo is the Northern political
leader for now and we expect all Nigerians to respect him and his office as
such.”
leader for now and we expect all Nigerians to respect him and his office as
such.”
Source: Thisday
