Borno guber: 18 aspirants seeking Shettima’s job

With the submission of expression of interest and nomination forms currently ongoing the situation in Borno is not different as governorship aspirants are falling over themselves to win the favour of the delegates.
Sadiq Abubakar writes.

One seat many aspirants In Borno state, the story seems to be different with the high political parties roaring and horse trading and manipulations within and outside the state especially in the ruling APC continues to scout for a credible suitor to succeed Governor Kashim Shettima, whose eight years stewardship comes to an end in 2019.
The incumbent governor has been credited with the execution of some programmes and projects even as they some many of these projects ongoing or still in the process of implementation.
Political observers and analysts in Borno state both within and outside the state are of the view that if care is not taken, the political environment of the state may be polluted with the external driving forces from Abuja politicians who are hell bent on getting the endorsement of the presidency to present to Borno people a new breed politician.
Specifically they want a younger and intelligent politician who perhaps should be a business mogul, is ICT guru as gubernatorial candidate for the 2019 governorship election.
Meanwhile, political observers are of the opinion that the incumbent governor seems determined to install his successor either from the state executive council or someone from the National Assembly, possibly a member or a senator.
However, the polity has been heated up as more than 17 gubernatorial aspirants have already collected their forms and these are from the political, business and civil service circles.
The governor’s insistence on his preferred candidate expectedly has not gone down well members of the academy and business men and women and especially women politicians who were out in large numbers to start campaigns and even pick nomination forms for various political positions at the state and national levels.
15 battle for senate seats When he expressed the desire to impose an aspirant on the people, there are over 15 senatorial aspirants from the ruling APC agitating for the senate while more than 25 aspirants have indicated interest to vie for the House of Representatives as evident by their posters, bill boards and the purchase of the forms as required by law.
Similarly, the state House of Assembly membership of 28 seats or constituencies today have over 60 aspirants seeking for the state assembly election from a particular political party which is the ruling APC in the state.
Most of these aspirants had hoped that the governor would provide some sort of political cushion for them, but following his stance, panic became the second name of most of them some of who felt betrayed by Governor Shettima.
Kyari Bukar and Garbai The question remains unanswered as to who the governorship cap fits or will succeed Kashim Shettima on May 29, 2019 between Alhaji Abba Kyari Bukar, a business mogul and ICT consultant based in Abuja who is a very influential indigene of Borno state.
His presence in all ways has been felt since he joined politics and particularly governorship race.
The serving senators representing Borno Central and Borno North, Senator Bakaka Bashir Garbai and Senator Abu Kyari, are also in the race and had before now given indication that Governor Kashim Shettima is behind their aspiration.
They have served the state under his administration in addition to the personal relationships that exist between them.
Recall that Garbai was State Commissioner Local Government and Chieftaincy There are over 15 senatorial aspirants from the ruling APC agitating for the senate while more than 25 aspirants have indicated interest to vie for the House of Representatives as evident by their posters, bill boards and the purchase of the forms as required by law.
Affairs, while Kyari was also state Commissioner Water Resources and Chief of Staff to the Governor before they got elected to the senate.
A seasoned administrator and retired civil servant, who has repeatedly told the people that he is not tired as he is ready to step into Shettima’s shoes is Alhaji Abba Jato Mohammed just as a one- time senator and retired civil servant and administrator, Senator Mohammed Abba Abba Aji, the former Managing Director and longest serving MD NISTF has joined the race on a serious clean slate.
Also top on the list is a trained accountant, Idris Mamman Dukwa from Southern Senatorial District.
He is a top director in the federal civil service, coming with vast experience.
Can APC mange the fallout? Also, in the race under the same APC political platform for the governorship is a business man, Alhaji Umar Alkali and Engineer Kabiru Wanori a onetime House of Representatives aspirant under the AD, Alhaji Attom Muhammad Magira, a young and new breed politician and businessman.
A former commissioner under late Maka Kachallah’s adminstration and former State Chairman, AD Borno state, a Quantity Surveyor and consultant, Alhaji Mohammed Makinta has lately joined the race.
The serving State Commissioners of Works & Transport, Justice and Overseeing Commissioner of Environment, Alhaji Adamu Lawan Zau Fanjumba and Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan are among the young talented and favoured right hand men of Governor Shettima, by virtue of the fact they serving in his cabinet.
Though not the kitchen cabinet but they believed to be very close associates and might not be hard to get the ears of the governor.
Adamu is a seasoned banker now a politician while Kaka Shehu is a legal practitioner and solicitor vow a full time politician.
Another contender still on the platform of the APC ruling party include Honourable Mohammed Wanda Matches, serving member, House of Representatives representing Kaga, Magumeri and Gubio Federal Constituency, who has tactically shown interest in the race and is working assiduously underground to defeat his opponents whether the direct or indirect method is adopted in the conduct of the primary.
Also in the race is the serving Minister of State for Works, Power and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehuri, a one-time Executive Chairman Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), former member representing MMC LGC Constituency at the Borno State House of Assembly, a former member House of Representatives representing MMC federal constituency y at the national assembly and one time CPC Governorship Candidate Borno state.
Similarly, a serving State Commissioner of reconstruction, Rehabilitation & Resettlement, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, a university Don and former Rector, Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri has indicated interest too much recently with his posters and bill boards at strategic places along major highways and roads of Maiduguri city.
He is also believed to be among the right hand man of the commissioners in the Governor Shettima cabinet and close associates or friends of those currently serving in other capacity, especially those trusted and have the confidence of the man that will call shot.
Serving State Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mustapha Fannarambe under the administration of Governor Kashim Shettima has also indicated interest to run for the contextual Borno state governorship APC primaries to taste his popularity and acceptability like others.
Apart from the two gubernatorial aspirants under the platform of the main opposition party, the PDP in the persons of Comrade Grema Terab, an activist and former Borno SEMA Executive Chairman and Hon.
Mohammed Imam, one-time ANPP State Chairman Borno state, Executive Chairman MMC 2011 ANPP House of Representatives Candidate representing MMC Federal Constituency, the field is dominated by APC aspirants.
While the Labour Party, LP has Alhaji Ibrahim Gadabur, retired military officer and businessman as its only governorship aspirant for now bringing the total gubernatorial aspirants for Borno state governorship election to 17 aspirants meanwhile.

 

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