Tahir Ibrahim Tahir
The APC in Bauchi State has held its party elections including ward congresses and elections into local government official positions as well as the state offices. With the topsy-turvy and the usual attendant petitions and protests, the party’s elections came through and the winners were all accepted by all, as the new faces of the party’s leadership.
There were factions and groups and other interests that had at the beginning, made it look impossible for the party elections to hold. In fact, it is safe to say that it was a miracle that today, Bauchi has an elected APC state chairman. The Dr Almajiri led committee of wise men had magnanimously and wisely harnessed the differences between the different interest groups and struck a balance.
The APC caretaker secretariat had swept the ward congresses, they were menacingly victorious, they swept the polls already and so they did the local government chairmen seats. The stage was set for the defunct CPC to officially take charge and take over as the new APC. Truth be told, the ANPP and ACN let alone the DPP had basically lost relevance and popular following. CPC was the darling party, courtesy Gen. Buhari, its founder and leader.
What is to later follow in the state chairmanship elections left everyone with dropped jaws. Uba Nana was more than an underdog. He wasn’t even penciled as one of the first three contenders. He was far in the ladder, much left behind in the scheme of things. It was like a marathon and the likes of Sanin Mallam were leading the long haul.
It was fun filled, dramatic and of course certain that Sanin Mallam was emerging as the state chairman. Ali Saidu threw himself into the contest at the last hour and obviously, CPC faithful were going to abandon Sanin Mallam and vote Saidu.
That was the blessing in disguise for Uba, and that was the event that guided the stars of victory to Uba’s camp. Amidst regular protests which will always prevail, Uba won fair and square. As far as we can see, he beat the other contestants and today, he is the new party chairman for the Bauchi chapter of the APC.
This new unprecedented scenario of having a totally unexpected chairman has turned Bauchi APC on its head and its toes are spread wide in the air, each toe seeking its own direction. Uba Nana is closely allied to Dr Yakubu Lame, a fierce gubernatorial candidate. Many other groups and contestants including myself are of the opinion and fear that ‘Docta’ is now set to be the De facto chairman and will be at the control tower.
Another factor that could work against the Uba Nana leadership is his history as one to have served under the Muazu administration; he might not be trusted by real and actual opposition stalwarts (APC loyalists). We might lose faith and we may not be so committed, had it been under a different leadership.
However, Uba Nana is the new party chairman and his courses of action will define him as the first leader of the APC, and master of opposition politics in Bauchi. He must not be in doubt of the fact that many of us might join the decamped bandwagon and move to the PDM or PDP or UPN or any other party.
Depending on how he acts, he could restore confidence and muster unity in the party, or decide to patronize the pressure groups that supported him and aided his ascension. If I could write him, I would, or perhaps pay him a visit and bare my novice propositions for him.
For now, I am at cross roads regarding politics, the new APC leadership and what not. Actions and events to follow will describe which path we are to follow. There is a firm belief that what happened to the oldPDP when it lost 5 governors is likely to happen to the Bauchi APC; due to internal wrangling, it will lose many supporters like me.
Verily, current developments suggest that Bauchi APC supporters have a rethink and perhaps a review of their focus and thrust in the scheme of events, building up to 2015. Once again, I heartily congratulate the new chairman and I sincerely wish him all the best of God’s guidance. Congrats Yaya Uba.
