Awe, Keana: The make or mar battle of a constituency

 The battle for the soul of Awe/Keana and Doma federal constituency of Nasarawa state have begun in earnest, with various gladiators from both the PDP and APC, having already declared their intention to slug it out with each other; and mapping out different strategies to realize their ambition in 2015. MUAZU ABARI takes a look at this make or mar battle ahead

The people of Keana, Awe and Doma Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State have always voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels since the restoration of democracy in 1999. A paradigm shift was first witnessed when, during the 2011 elections, the then CPC Tsunami hit the political landscape of Nasarawa like a thunderstorm and swept away the PDP-led administration of former Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma. This ushered in a brand new administration of incumbent Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura.
Even with this PDP summersault Awe, Keana and Doma Federal Constituency was the only one among all the five federal constituencies in the state that was able to contain this APC Tsaunami ; as PDP still won the constituency – going by the results of 2011 elections where APC won the gubernatorial seat in  to four Federal Constituencies – leaving PDP with this constituency and two senatorial seats at federal level. It is therefore not surprising that, the battle for the House of Representatives seat of this constituency since 1999 has always been of keen interest, tension and sharp division which, more often than, not always pitched the three local governments that constituted this constituency against themselves over the choice of their representatives for the green chamber of the National Assembly.
It is as a result of this challenge and the urgent need to address the problem and ensure equity and fairness among the three local governments that prompted various PDP stakeholders in this constituency to come out with a zoning arrangement where it was agreed that, the seat will be rotated among the three local governments.
This zoning arrangement had been strictly adhered to since 1999 when the seat was zoned to Keana ,where it only spent two years before it was moved to Doma and later to Awe; then back to Doma in 2011 instead of Keana. As the 2015 election is drawing nearer, the PDP is enmeshed in another crisis over this zoning arrangement which has since polarized the party into two antagonistic camps.
The battle line is drawn between those who believe that, it is the turn of their local government to produce the next House of Representatives member based on the zoning formular and those who, for selfish reasons, want to alter the zoning arrangement with the aim of self-perpetuation in power. Unlike in the past, when most analysts narrow down the battle to PDP; where it was believed that whoever emerged as PDP candidate will carry the day in the general election, the current battle will be a different ball game – with both PDP and APC standing equal chances of winning the election. This has prompted many gladiators from both parties to join the race. At the moment the battle will be a renewal of an old existing political rivalry and a fight to finish among these personalities, with possibility of more aspirants joining the race. The include  Hon. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, Alh. Abubakar Idris Gani, Hon. Adamu Aboki and Hon. Yahaya Adams.
Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo is the Incumbent member representing the constituency in the green chamber of the National Assembly, who rose through the political feather and goodwill of ex-governor Doma (then incumbent) who happened to be from the same town with him to clinch the position in 2011 against PDP zoning formula in the constituency. He was not a known political figure in his constituency and only came to political fame in the 2003 elections when he emerged from political oblivion to contest for the House of Assembly seat of Doma North Constituency under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and won. Fortunately for him his local government of Doma was favoured to produce the next speaker of the State House of Assembly during former governor Adamu’s second tenure, in line with PDP zoning arrangement, taking into consideration the fact that Keana local government takes the first shot, by producing the first speaker of the State Assembly in person of Hon. Musa Agyo in 1999-2003  – during Adamu’s first tenure – where he emerged as the speaker in 2003.
As an individual most people in his constituency see him as a man of integrity blessed with qualities of leadership and has what it takes to give his people effective representation and sense of belonging ; hence their decision to elect him to represent them in the State Assembly but his tenure as speaker left much to the desired.
Nasarawa assembly under his leadership as speaker can best be described as a toothless bulldog that could not even bark not to talk of biting; a mere extension and appendage of the executive,  even as they state was run with impunity.
Despite this poor leadership ability demonstrated when serving as speaker and ineffectiveness of the legislative arm of government in the state, the influences of his office, his unmitigated loyalty and intervention of former Governor Adamu (then incumbent) among other factors aided his re-election for second time in 2007.
This time around, as an ordinary floor member during the tenure of former Governor Doma, who came from the same town with him, was the influence he used to his advantage in 2011 to move from State Assembly to House of Representatives.
Since his election into the House in 2011 most people in his constituency even in his own native town have not felt the impact of his representation, even as he is not been seeing contributing to national issues and debates in the floor of the house. He also became inaccessible, with almost nothing on ground to showcase as achievements. Analysts believe that this will seriously count against his re-election.
Some people in the constituency are not happy with him for failing to raise a common motion of urgent important drawing attention to the plight of the victims of several communal clashes which continue to bedevilled his constituency not to take of coming to the aid of the victims.
His strength lies in the fact that, he is the most experienced among all the new members representing various constituencies in Nasarawa state having served as a two term member of the state House of Assembly and was even a speaker, during his first term before moving to the green chamber with legislative experiences than those contesting against him. However, his obstacles lies in the fact that, the PDP zoning formular is not in his favour and his impact have not been felt by the people of his constituency both in terms of development projects and effective presentation.
His so-called experiences in legislative business have not been demonstrated in the House of reps prompting some people from his native Doma to go into the race for his seat, in 2015 because they believed that, he has failed woefully to give them the needed representation and become a bench warmer in the green chamber.
Alhaji Abubakar Idris Gani has his own style. In politics there are always behind the scene actors who influence, control and support their causes or those of their political wards. This is understandable and allowed in any democratic setting. Politics is a game of who get what and in what proportion. In the process of realization of set goals, resources are mobilized and dispensed, strategies are perfected and executed. In this constituency, like in other places, there are movers and shakers behind the scene contributing words of wisdom and the necessary financial muscles to their political God sons. Alhaji Gani is one of those political puppeteers in the theatre of Nasarawa politics. He has been supporting his perceived candidates in his years of involvement in politics, where he became a strong force to reckon with, in determining the political fortunes of many people until now that he decided to go into the contest himself.
Gani can best be described as a man of many parts and jack of all trades, master of all. One of his associates described him, at a political event recently, thus: “a seasoned administrator, experienced civil servant, politician of repute or alpha of distinction. Call him anything, you will not be wrong because he has combined his civil service career with politics and distinguished himself in all; where he left an indelible mark and carved a niche for himself.” He was the immediate past auditor-general for local government in Nasarawa state ,who has just resigned his position to contest for the House of Representatives seat of Awe/Keana and Doma federal Constituency under the platform of the PDP – the position he would take on a platter of gold in 2011; but for the sudden intervention of his former boss, ex-governor Doma. It was Doma who pleaded and prevailed on him to jettison the contest in support of incumbent Ogoshi Onawo, which for loyalty sake he complied.
He came from Keana, the local government that is currently favoured to produce the next House of Reps member of the constituency in 2015 and he currently holds the traditional title of Dan Isan Keana, which was given to him by the late Osana of Keana Mallam Otaki Agbo the II, due to his numerous contributions to the development of his community and the state as a whole in most of his endeavours.
Dan Isan Keana was born into a humble, amiable and well respected family of Mallam Idris Gani on 1st October 1963 in the ancient salt city of Keana and attended various institutions of learning which prepared him for the challenges of life. Some of these institutions include Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi, Dolu School of Consultants Lagos, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Institute of cost and Management Accountants of Nigeria as well as Nigeria College of Accountancy- where he obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration as well as other professional qualifications.
As a politician, Gani is a known political figure in Nasarawa State and behind the scene strategist who has not only contributed immensely to the victory of (PDP) both in his constituency and the state as a whole but also has his hands in the emergence of various PDP-led administrations in Nasarawa since the restoration of democracy in 1999. This provided him with a lot of political influences and acceptability at the grassroots, especially in his constituency. This is believed to have endeared him to many PDP supporters. This, by extension, earned him the trust and confidence of various administrations since 1999 who see in him a quality of a trusted and dependable ally in the services of humanity, hence their decision to always carry him along during their administrations.
As a seasoned administrator with wealth of experiences spanning over 25 years. He served in various positions where he was believed to have rendered selfless  services to the poor. Having added value to the lives of the down-trodden who see him as a rallying point, as 2015 election beckons. He paraded intimidating CVs which placed him far above his fellow contestants both within and outside his party. One of his ardent supporters, Isa Mohamed said : “If credentials would be the yardstick of choosing the person to represent the constituency there would have been no need for the election.”
Some of these position held includes executive officer account plateau state tourism corporation where he rose to the position of internal auditor. He was variously zonal auditor in many local government councils in the then plateau state. He was also acting director of finance and supplies and later director of finance and supplies.
When Nasarawa state was created in 1996, he was deployed to Ministry of Health as Director of audit and later director of finance and supplies in the agency for mass education, he later became accountant state UNDP programme, director of finance Nasarawa state Ministry of Justice, Executive Secretary Nasarawa state pension board and subsequently director general Nasarawa state pension bureau and State Auditor General for Local Governments the position he recently relinquished to pursue his political ambition.
Pundits insist that his loyalty to his party, commitments to its ideals, contributions to the victory of the party and records of service to humanity are never in doubt and remained some of the factors he hopes to utilize to his advantage – in picking the PDP ticket of his constituency. But it remains to be seen either this dispositions and other ebullient qualities would see him through in the murky waters of Nigerian politics, which have consumed so many political icons and rendered them politically impotent despite their popularity.
Analysts say his obstacles lies in the fact that, he is not only contesting against the incumbent – who is not ready to honour the agreement they entered into in 2011 ,as well as PDP zoning formula in the constituency – but also have other contestants who come from the same town with him and also not ready to step down for him. This may likely split the votes of his local government.
In addition to this, unlike under the previous administrations especially during ex-governor Doma administration when he was a close confidant of the government, having played prominent roles in bringing the government into power, this time around the battle would be a different ball game because his party has lost the control of the executive arm of government to APC in the state and he is not that close to the present powers that be in the state
Hon. Yahaya Adams, popularly called (Yahaya Major) is contesting under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) where he is presently the zonal Vice Chairman South of the party. Some political observers described him as Abraham Lincolm of Nasarawa State who never gets tired of contesting any election whenever the opportunity to do so present itself since the restoration of democracy in 1999 but unlike Abraham Lincolm fortune is yet to smile on him. The only time he get closer to grapping the House of Representative seat was in 2007 when he won PDP primaries for the House of Representative of his constituency but unfortunately for him the ticket was snatched away from him and given to the then incumbent (Hon. Hashimu) who did not even contest for the position but went for senatorial primaries and lost.
He is a graduate of political science from University of Jos who since his graduation from the university never worked with Civil Service or any government agency but concerned himself with practicing politics which is his area of specialization.
The Keana-born youthful politician came into political limelight in the ill fated third republic when he contested and won the House of Assembly seat of Awe constituency under the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the old plateau state and later emerged as the majority leader of Plateau State House of Assembly.
With the restoration of democracy in 1999, he decided to pitch his tent with the ANPP and contested for the chairmanship seat of Keana Local Government and lost at the general election to PDP candidate Hon. Jibril Sabo Keana (JSK) He later decamp to PDP courtesy of former Governor Abdullahi Adamu who rewarded him with the position of personal assistant to the Governor and subsequently elevated to Director of Protocols the position he held until towards the end of Adamu’s tenure when he voluntary resigned to contest for the House of Representative seat of his constituency and emerged at the primary as PDP flag bearer but unfortunately for him he was short changed by the National headquarters of the party who snatch away the ticket from him and gave it to the then  (Hon. Hashimu) as a reward for supporting Obasanjo third term this term after losing the senatorial primaries of PDP which he contested at that time. In the build up to 2011 election, he again contested for the House of Rep. seat for Awe, Keana and Doma Federal Constituency under the platform of CPC now APC but lost out to PDP in the general election making his constituency the only constituency among all the five federal constituencies in the state to be won by the PDP in 2011 election although the remaining 4 APC Rep members have since move back to PDP as 2015 election is itching towards its crescendour.
Following his defeat and triumph of his party at the state level Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura again rewarded him with the position of special adviser from where he contested for the APC Zonal Vice Chairman South which he won and now want to re-contest for the House of rep seat of his constituency in 2015 under the platform of APC.
His strength lies in his ability to articulate political discourse, experiences in legislative businesses and his grassroots connection in addition to the fact that his party is now the ruling party in the state which is to his advantage considering the fact that he stand a better chance to beat any candidate from his party who may decided to challenge him at the primaries but his weakness lies in the fact that unlike in the 2007 when he has the needed financial muscles to prosecute his campaign and enjoyed the support of the then Governor (Adamu) this time around the situation have change completely.
Hon. Adamu Aboki, in almost every transition period rookies tend to emerged to either wrestle power from the incumbents or add colour to political contest. These are new entrants who saw the need to joined the race and flex their political muscles and get their names clearly and boldly written on the pages of history. He is not someone you can call a serious politician but his deep interest in politics of late has come to many people including political observers as a big surprise. He can best be described as a promising and determined young man who  has passion and love for his country motivated him to joined the state security service (SSS) where he demonstrated a lot of competency and commitments in the discharged of his responsibilities which endeared him to the hearts of his superior officers who saw the need to give him more responsibilities.
This prompted them to post him to served as chief detail to former Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba state who enjoyed a good working relationship with him and he later resigned from active services at the end of Nyame’s tenure and concentrated in his personnel businesses where he carve a niche for himself in the business world.
His romance with the former Taraba Governor and taste of power was believed by most people to have motivated him to picked interest in politics when unexpectedly in the build up to 2011 election he emerged from unknown destination to vie for the House of representative sect of his constituency under the platform of the PDP despite not contributing anything to the grow of the party even in his own local government, where he was defeated at the primaries since then he disappear from the political scene of the state and reappear again to rejoin the race for the green chamber of his constituency in 2015.
His strength lies in the fact that, he has the financial capability to prosecute his campaign and cajole the youths to his side who see him as one of their own but nobody know him in the politics of Nasarawa state including his constituency and he has no any political structure or support base that will lead him to victory. In addition to this, he has not contributed anything to the growth of the party. For now, the heat is on and it is obvious who will finally clinch the Awa/Keana, Doma ticket for 2015.