The imperative of respecting voters’ choice
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- Written by Aminu Kasimu Rimi
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The recent election of Mohammed Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was easily one of the most peaceful elections ever conducted in Kano State. In fact, the large-scale voter turn-out was also a reflection of the popularity of the CPC and Mohammed Abacha. When the Kwankwaso group of the PDP in Kano State realised the extent of Mohammed Abacha’s popularity, which cuts across all age groups, it deliberately frustrated him out of the party because the former governor perceived him as a formidable rival for power. With a formidable following of his own, Mohammed, along with thousands of his supporters, defected en masse to the CPC and rapidly expanded its support base. Widely supported by the youths and the ordinary people, Mohammed became an instant asset to the CPC. Any politician without popular support is like a general without troops.
Thousands of people joined the Congress for Progressive Change from the PDP because of their love for Mohammed. His philanthropic activities and economic empowerment programmes for many distressed social groups and his well-thought-out concrete agenda for transforming the lives of the people are some of the factors that account for his enviable popularity. He enjoys tremendous support from the ordinary people and, therefore, his emergence as the gubernatorial candidate of the CPC didn’t come as a surprise to any keen political observers. As an energetic young politician imbued with the passion to identify with the hardships of the ordinary people, Mohammed was able to galvanise massive support for the CPC. If anyone ever doubted the extent of Mohammed’s popularity, the gubernatorial primaries of the CPC in Kano State must have opened his/her eyes. During the election, Mohammed won 170,000 votes, followed by colonel Lawal Ja’afaru Isa (rtd) with 70,000 votes and Dr. Awwalu Anwar followed behind. The exercise was conducted peacefully and the results declared openly without complaints. It is always difficult to complain against an election conducted freely, fairly and openly.Mohammed’s popularity has never been in doubt. In fact, the former CPC national chairman, Senator Sani Hanga did everything to frustrate Mohammed’s supporters by denying them registration or membership cards. He perceived Mohammed’s popularity as a threat to his own gubernatorial ambition and used the former Kano State chairman of the CPC chapter, Alhaji Haruna Dan Zago to frustrate late Gen. Abacha’s son. What they didn’t realise, however, is that it is hard to pull down a politician who is in the hearts of the people. Security agencies and INEC representatives that witnessed the CPC gubernatorial primaries, which saw the election of Mohammed as the candidate of the party, were themselves impressed by the peaceful conduct of the election. Surprisingly, some enemies of democracy are now working to halt the progress of the CPC by attempting to challenge voter sovereignty. One of the characters working to challenge Mohammed’s victory is Alhaji Ibrahim Babankowa. A former Policy Officer with a failed political career, Alhaji Babankowa, who could not have won any election anywhere, is now desperately wanting to have Mohammed’s election cancelled for its own sake or out of sheer personal animosity towards the winner. He has already launched a campaign to dismantle Mohammed’s mandate.
To those familiar with the antecedents of Bakankowa, however, his antics didn’t come as a surprise. He is a notorious political mercenary who can stop at nothing to cause disaffection, bitterness, acrimony and disunity among people and leaders. In fact, he was widely blamed for allegedly causing the friction between General Muhammedu Buhari and Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, which eventually led the two leaders to eventually part ways. He is naturally envious of the success of others and is ever ready to bring them down.
Despite the fact that Mohammed’s election was widely acknowledged as peaceful, free and fair, Babankowa is still bent on instigating tension in the CPC. His heart is seared with bitterness over why Mohammed has become such a formidably popular politician. The massive support of the people is testimony of Mohammed’s popularity. It is clear that Babankowa is on a mission to destroy the unity and cohesion of the CPC in order to weaken it to the advantage of the PDP or ANPP. The new national chairman of the CPC, Chief Tony Mommoh should be very careful about the presence of infiltrators and moles like Babankowa. There is no sensible basis fighting an election that was peaceful and remarkably transparent.
God chooses leaders as he pleases and it is therefore, pointless for Babankowa to be fighting the will of the people. If he is so politically influential, he should have put his popularity to the test by running for election rather than ridiculously fighting the will of the people that massively voted for Mohammed Abacha. Since his election as the CPC gubernatorial candidate in Kano State, the people have been jubilating because popular will carried the day. Unfortunately, Babankowa’s antics are intended to destroy this joy. By all accounts, the election of Mohammed Abacha has been described as peaceful and fair. Why should any true supporter of the CPC now start another mischief to throw the party into needless acrimony that could weaken it at a critical stage when the April elections are fast approaching? It is doubtful if Babankowa has the interest of the CPC at heart.
Rimi wrote from 39, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, Anguwar Sarki This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Aminiya
The imperative of respecting voters’ choice
Category: Comments Written by Aminu Kasimu Rimi Hits: 2964
The recent election of Mohammed Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was easily one of the most peaceful elections ever conducted in Kano State. In fact, the large-scale voter turn-out was also a reflection of the popularity of the CPC and Mohammed Abacha. When the Kwankwaso group of the PDP in Kano State realised the extent of Mohammed Abacha’s popularity, which cuts across all age groups, it deliberately frustrated him out of the party because the former governor perceived him as a formidable rival for power. With a formidable following of his own, Mohammed, along with thousands of his supporters, defected en masse to the CPC and rapidly expanded its support base. Widely supported by the youths and the ordinary people, Mohammed became an instant asset to the CPC. Any politician without popular support is like a general without troops.
Thousands of people joined the Congress for Progressive Change from the PDP because of their love for Mohammed. His philanthropic activities and economic empowerment programmes for many distressed social groups and his well-thought-out concrete agenda for transforming the lives of the people are some of the factors that account for his enviable popularity. He enjoys tremendous support from the ordinary people and, therefore, his emergence as the gubernatorial candidate of the CPC didn’t come as a surprise to any keen political observers. As an energetic young politician imbued with the passion to identify with the hardships of the ordinary people, Mohammed was able to galvanise massive support for the CPC. If anyone ever doubted the extent of Mohammed’s popularity, the gubernatorial primaries of the CPC in Kano State must have opened his/her eyes. During the election, Mohammed won 170,000 votes, followed by colonel Lawal Ja’afaru Isa (rtd) with 70,000 votes and Dr. Awwalu Anwar followed behind. The exercise was conducted peacefully and the results declared openly without complaints. It is always difficult to complain against an election conducted freely, fairly and openly.Mohammed’s popularity has never been in doubt. In fact, the former CPC national chairman, Senator Sani Hanga did everything to frustrate Mohammed’s supporters by denying them registration or membership cards. He perceived Mohammed’s popularity as a threat to his own gubernatorial ambition and used the former Kano State chairman of the CPC chapter, Alhaji Haruna Dan Zago to frustrate late Gen. Abacha’s son. What they didn’t realise, however, is that it is hard to pull down a politician who is in the hearts of the people. Security agencies and INEC representatives that witnessed the CPC gubernatorial primaries, which saw the election of Mohammed as the candidate of the party, were themselves impressed by the peaceful conduct of the election. Surprisingly, some enemies of democracy are now working to halt the progress of the CPC by attempting to challenge voter sovereignty. One of the characters working to challenge Mohammed’s victory is Alhaji Ibrahim Babankowa. A former Policy Officer with a failed political career, Alhaji Babankowa, who could not have won any election anywhere, is now desperately wanting to have Mohammed’s election cancelled for its own sake or out of sheer personal animosity towards the winner. He has already launched a campaign to dismantle Mohammed’s mandate.
To those familiar with the antecedents of Bakankowa, however, his antics didn’t come as a surprise. He is a notorious political mercenary who can stop at nothing to cause disaffection, bitterness, acrimony and disunity among people and leaders. In fact, he was widely blamed for allegedly causing the friction between General Muhammedu Buhari and Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, which eventually led the two leaders to eventually part ways. He is naturally envious of the success of others and is ever ready to bring them down.
Despite the fact that Mohammed’s election was widely acknowledged as peaceful, free and fair, Babankowa is still bent on instigating tension in the CPC. His heart is seared with bitterness over why Mohammed has become such a formidably popular politician. The massive support of the people is testimony of Mohammed’s popularity. It is clear that Babankowa is on a mission to destroy the unity and cohesion of the CPC in order to weaken it to the advantage of the PDP or ANPP. The new national chairman of the CPC, Chief Tony Mommoh should be very careful about the presence of infiltrators and moles like Babankowa. There is no sensible basis fighting an election that was peaceful and remarkably transparent.
God chooses leaders as he pleases and it is therefore, pointless for Babankowa to be fighting the will of the people. If he is so politically influential, he should have put his popularity to the test by running for election rather than ridiculously fighting the will of the people that massively voted for Mohammed Abacha. Since his election as the CPC gubernatorial candidate in Kano State, the people have been jubilating because popular will carried the day. Unfortunately, Babankowa’s antics are intended to destroy this joy. By all accounts, the election of Mohammed Abacha has been described as peaceful and fair. Why should any true supporter of the CPC now start another mischief to throw the party into needless acrimony that could weaken it at a critical stage when the April elections are fast approaching? It is doubtful if Babankowa has the interest of the CPC at heart.
Rimi wrote from 39, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, Anguwar Sarki This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.