Rabiu Omaku
The Nasarawa State , Umaru Tanko Al-Makura , after years of consultations and deliberations, is set to make known to the chieftains of the APC in the state the person he wants to succeed him as the governor come 2019.
Competent sources in the state government said the governor had after due consultation with mainly his close political allies and associates within and out of government and state, decided to back the person hitherto ranked as an outsider in the governorship race.
“The next governor will come from the Northern Senatorial District, Feelers, in Lafia Government House said, adding: “He is a technocrat, exposed and decent fellow who has good business background needed to transform our state.”
However, as the governor and his supporters are busy celebrating their choice aspirant who has aspired for the position in the past, other aspirants from Keffi and Akwanga LGAs in the West and South Senatorial districts and emirs and chiefs in the state , who wield enormous political influences in Nasarawa State, have shown their disapproval with Al-Makura’s preferred man.
In an interview, some of the aspirants from vowed to vehemently resist any attempt by Al-Makura to unduly favour any aspirant.
One of them from Akwanga said: “We know that the governor supports an unpopular person for the governorship primary election and he attempts to force the guy on us, we’ll defect from the APC to another party.”
Another aspirant from Keffi warned they (aspirants) have invested time and resources to reach their current position in the political scheme of things, adding that they must not be rubbished by anyone.
He added: “We hear, reliably, that the governor wants to employ foul means to force hus preferred aspirant on us , we will resist, we cannot accept that, it shouldn’t happen. But if that happens, we have got an answer to that possible development ready.”
He why the governor wouldn’t allow free, fair and transparent exercise to select candidate for the APC. Meanwhile, checks revealed that the preferred choice if the governor is an associate of a very successful businessman in Africa who has made gigantic investments in Nigeria. However, checks also disclosed that the aspirant, from Akwanga LGA, is not well known in the state and not, certainly, not the most popular among the aspirants. Speaking on the issue, an emir who also did not wish to be recognized, said the fact that the governor’s choice belongs to the business class and he could attract investments, that “does not mean we should surrender our state to persons who do not understand our socio-economic reality and cultural make-up mainly because he comes to the state only when he wants to contest for elective office.”
Investigations have also revealed that ither than prominent chiefs and emirs in the state, who have enormous influence over politicians and Locals, civil servants are equally unhappy with the governor’s choice of aspirant. A worker in the ministry of information, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, lamented situation that the situation could lead to crisis in the APC and cause defection of members to other parties.
In a related development, rumors were making the rounds in Lafia, the state capital, that the patron of the governor’s preferred aspirant has purchased houses in Abuja and cars for some very close allies of the governor, one of who is a prominent politician in Kari LAG and a top government official.
