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On Wednesday, October 15, seven ministers resigned their appointments from the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan to pursue their political and personal ambition to become governors of their respective states, but some of them are actually going to end up chasing the shadow

|  By Olu Ojewale  |  Oct. 27, 2014 @ 01:00 GMT  |

AS a media personality, Labaran Maku, outgoing information minister, knows how to use information to his own advantage. So, it was not surprising that he turned a thanksgiving service in his honour at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, on Sunday, October 12, to put the nation on notice about his ambition to vie for the governorship seat of his Nasarawa State in the 2015 general elections. While making the announcement, Maku said he and other ministers with similar ambition were going to respect the nation’s constitution by turning in their resignation letters latest by Monday, October 20. On Wednesday, Maku and six other serving ministers formally informed President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the federal executive council, FEC, of their resignation and desire to pursue their political ambition to be governors of their respective states. President Jonathan graciously acknowledged their desire to serve at a different level and bid them farewell.

Apart from Maku, others who bid the Jonathan cabinet goodbye on Wednesday, were Nyesom Wike, minister of state for Education, who wants to be governors of Rivers State; Onyebuchi Chukwu, health minister, (Ebonyi); Musiliu Obanikoro, minister of state for Defence, (Lagos); Darius Ishaku, minister of state for Niger Delta, (Taraba), Samuel Ortom, minister of state for Trade and Investment, (Benue) and Emeka Wogu, minister of Labour and Productivity, (Abia). By Monday October 20, the outgoing ministers would be expected to have submitted their resignation letters to Pius Anyim, secretary to the federal government.

There is no doubt that the seven ministers are taking a big gamble that may or enhance their political future. Speaking about his ambition, Maku had declared at the thanksgiving service: “I have always made my interest known. By next week by the Grace of God I will sacrifice the comfort of the office of the minister. I am not tired of my office but I have to make this sacrifice. I will sacrifice my high office in order to come back to the wilderness with my people, the people of Nassarawa State to fight for peace and justice.” Besides, Maku said his interest to be governor of Nasarawa State was not to make money or name for himself but to serve his people, fight corruption and help to end poverty in the state.

“There is too much destruction going on in this state. The time has come for us to ask God to bring this era to an end. I will step out, voluntarily and go into the wilderness. God will do it like he did for Moses in the Bible, cut the Red Sea and give us manna from heaven. Being governor will not really add anything to my name I think I have made all the name I need in Nigeria. This sacrifice is because of the difficulties we are facing today, that is why I am making this decision,” he said

Maku must have been encouraged by the support he has been receiving from various interest groups to contest for the governorship seat. Just last month, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Nasarawa State chapter, endorsed Maku, as the state gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state. The group made its position known in a 14-point communiqué issued and signed by Usman Abdulhakim, state president of the group, in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa, after a town hall meeting held at Savanna Hotel along Jos Road, on Thursday.

The council said the minister was head and shoulder above other aspirants vying for the PDP governorship ticket. “We have observed that the majority of political opinions across Nasarawa State have leaned towards Mr. Maku because of his pedigree, antecedent, clear vision, mission, political stability, humility and performance in all the office he held”, the group said.

The communiqué, which was read by Abdulhakim, added that Maku had during his days as student union leader, championed the rights of students to address their plight. “The current honourable minister of information is the most broadly accepted choice for governorship of Nasarawa state for the 2015 gubernatorial election among all contenders. Maku has remained one of the most stable and loyal members and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) in the state”, the communiqué said.

Thus, the group promised to deploy all its resources to mobilise support for Maku. “We hereby resolve to deploy all available resources to embark on relentless mobilisation devoid of political, ethnic and religious inclinations in Nasarawa to support the election of Labaran Maku as governor of Nasarawa State,” it said.

As a serving minister and a motivational speaker, Maku is regarded as having all it takes to be the next governor of Nasarawa State. But his major huddle is the emergence of Ombatse, meaning now is our time, an Eggon militia group, which has a political undertone and has been responsible for the killing of more than 5000 people as well displaced various communities. The group is opposed to Maku because he did not support their course.

Maku also is expected to taste the bitter piles of politics of Nasarawa State which has is already polarised by ethnicity and religion. There are many communities in the state that will not vote for an Eggon person, the tribe which Maku belongs. On the religious front, the minister is a Christian which may deny him support from the Muslim-based group in the state.

Even within his community, the minister has Solomon Ewuga, a serving senator to contend the ticket with. Ewuga is currently representing Nasarawa south under the All Progressives Congress, APC, before his recent defection to the PDP. The recent Ombatse crisis is said to have completely crippled his chances of vying for governorship seat, because he was among the five prominent sons of Eggon indicted by the judicial commission of inquiry into Alakyo killings. Another thing working against him is that of ill health. Ewuga, known as the father of Eggon politics is not as strong in health as he would like to be and this is said to be a major hurdle for him.

In any case, early in the month, the Eggon people in Nasarawa State endorsed Ewuga, as the person of their choice as governorship candidacy under the PDP, in the state. Dogara Amgbo captured the minds of some Eggon elders/stakeholders for the actualisation of Eggon candidate and the youth’s solidarity forum in Lafia, the state capital, October 6, when told journalists that the Eggon elder’s forum which ‘’represents the people’s voice in the political harmonisation of Eggon adopted Solomon Ewuga against his opponent Labaran Maku to run as governorship candidate under the PDP ticket.’’

Despite this, there are other challengers who are equally interested in the same ticket. There is Yusuf Mohammed Agabi, a retired federal civil servant, who has campaign billboards dotting various parts of major roads of Nasarawa State. But a lot of people don’t regard him as a serious candidate because of his preference to stay in Abuja and away from home. Besides, he is from the same zone of Nasarawa South as Tanko Al-Makura, governor of the state.

The other aspirants, who are considered to be pretenders and have no better chance to clinch the ticket, include Adamu Sule from Gudi, Akwanga Local Government. Sule’s chances is said to be slim because of his apathy to party activities. There is also Onje Gye-wado, a former deputy governor and a professor who works at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru. Gye-wado contested under the auspices of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, after which he pitched his political tent with the APC, which he later dumped for the PDP.
Immediate former Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma, who was defeated in a bid for a second term is believed to be interested for another shot at power. But observers say age is no longer on his side to run the affairs of the state. Besides, he may not be the candidate that the PDP needs because his tenure as governor was marred by incessant strikes by workers, which was responsible for his defeat.

All said, the race for the PDP ticket in the state, it appears, is now going to be a contest of popularity between Maku and Ewuga. So far, the minister is riding high on his popularity as a federal cabinet minister where he has been adjudged to have done well as state representative and his record of performance as a former deputy governor under Adamu.

Similarly forsaking the comfort of Abuja as a federal minister and dabbling into the heat of state politics is Onyebuchi Chukwu, a professor of medicine and outgoing minister of Health.  If everything goes as planned, Chukwu is as good as the PDP governorship candidate for Ebonyi State. Already, he has the backing of some powerful stakeholders in the state, including Governor Martins Elechi.

According to stakeholders of the old Abakaliki bloc of Ebonyi North senatorial zone, there would not be any other candidate except Chukwu. Also supporting the adoption, youths drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state under the aegis of Ebonyi Youths Assembly recently, assured that they were solidly behind Ekumeyi, which comprises of Ebonyi Central and North zones, on the choice of Chukwu.

Stakeholders of Ebonyi North, in a communiqué issued to newsmen on Tuesday, October 7, in Abakaliki, and signed by the representatives of each of the four local government areas, hailed the unanimous agreement that Ebonyi South senatorial zone, where Chukwu comes from, should be allowed to produce the next governor of the state. The communiqué read by Sylvester Ogbaga, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Abakaliki/ Izzi Federal Constituency, noted that Chukwu’s adoption would go a long way in eliminating bitter rivalry, rancour and bad blood amongst the contestants, and as well reduce the heavy costs of bickering associated with electioneering campaigns.

The stakeholders further stated that the choice of the outgoing minister was a gift to Ebonyi people and Nigeria in general and a rare privilege to offer him the opportunity to serve the young and dynamic state,  in order to consolidate on the historic foundation that had already been laid by Elechi.

In the same vein, Elechi on Tuesday, October 14, said the people of the state preferred Chukwu to be his successor in 2015. The governor noted that it appeared that Chukwu had no ambition to become governor or hold any other political office, but the people of Ebonyi State assessed him and found him as a good material to do the job. Elechi who was speaking with the State House correspondents, said: “We are appealing to him (Chukwu); he is not canvassing, but we want to conscript him to answer the call of his people. I have known him for many years as chief medical director in our teaching hospital back home, he is a serious-minded person and as minister of health. He is focused and determined to do things right and I think we need people like that; people who do things right. We have not endorsed, we are saying he should show interest, it is still the state congress that will choose whomsoever it wants; it is not against the dictates of the NWC. There is no conscription in our own case. When you appeal to somebody to show interest, you know many people are shy and they don’t want to come out but the people who are to be served, are the people who determines their own destiny.”

With his notice of resignation from the FEC, it is now obvious that Chukwu has succumbed to the pressure from home to represent his people as governor of Ebonyi State. But some interested persons in the state are not willing to make it a walkover for Chukwu. Hence, the state PDP is currently divided over adoption as the consensus candidate. Addressing journalists a week ago, a PDP group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Ebonyi State, said imposing Chukwu on the people would tear the party apart and create disharmony among the people.  Jerry Uhuo, chairman of the group, said: “Chukwu does not have any political structure of his own or supporters for this course. He has no knowledge of party organisation. He has never belonged to any party before. He does not appreciate the basics and rudiments for party politics. Indeed, he is a novice in party politics. His imposition will divide the PDP in Ebonyi State and create disharmony among party loyalists.

“The fact that Chukwu is a minister does not qualify him to step in as a gubernatorial candidate in a carefully orchestrated imposition exercise. He is not a party stakeholder, or a leader and he does not qualify to pick the governorship ticket just to certify an unpopular public plunderers. It will demoralise the generality of party faithful in Ebonyi State. It is a humiliation of our teaming members across the state. It will tear the party into shreds and create disharmony among the people of Ebonyi people.”

Uhuo called on various governors to protect the right of party members to choose their candidates, leaders or successors. “Governors ought to respect the right of party members as unbiased umpires and not trample upon it. The development in Ebonyi State is especially shocking and unacceptable, as the so-called consensus candidate is believed to be unknown to be a PDP card-carrying member,” he said.

Although Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State appears to be keeping his support for any aspirant to succeed him under wraps, some people are suspecting that he may be backing Emeka Wogu, outgoing minister of Labour, for the plum job. Instead of coming clean with support for any of the interested candidates, Orji has been campaigning that the PDP should give the party ticket to Ukwa/Ngwa people who dominate the Abia South senatorial zone in the state.

“No section will be marginalised in Abia. Ukwa/Ngwa have never been governor, what is wrong in allowing them produce a governor? A lot of people from other zones have come to me to say, I want to be governor and I will tell them straight away this is my stand…. What we know is Ukwa/Ngwa. It is open for you; go and contest. Any person who emerges as the guber candidate of our party from this zone, we are going to support that person. People should not be afraid because this is something that involves contest; you have to put in your best, your finances and everything you have. We have made a statement and it is in the best interest of the state,” Orji was quoted as having said.

In response, several aspirants have emerged from Abia South in pursuit of the PDP ticket. Among the frontline aspirants to have declared are Enyinninya Abaribe, a serving senator and former deputy governor.

Abaribe, a trained economist and a two-term senator, once spearheaded the ‘Otu-Onu’ or one term, slogan, which was the great struggle to stop Governor Orji Uzor Kalu from having a second term in 2003. He is credited with the political consciousness of Ngwa people and was at one time seen as the undisputed leader of the Ngwa people. And because of his long political battles in the state, Abaribe is believed to have built one of the strongest political structures in the state. But his relationship with Governor Orji is believed to be tepid and that the governor could not trust him with the affairs of the state. However, Abaribe is said to be counting on his relationship with President Jonathan to provide a level playing field with which he could achieve his goal.

But he would find a formidable opponent in Wogu, who is believed to be Governor Orji’s preferred person for the governorship seat. Until his resignation Wogu was, perhaps, the only one among several possible contestants who had not formally declared. That notwithstanding, he is believed to be one of the most formidable on ground with a network and structure that only compares favourably with that of Abaribe.

Apart from that, Wogu is very close to the governor and has his confidence and that of his family. Besides, the outgoing minister once worked under Orji when he was chief of staff to Governor Kalu while he, Wogu was political adviser to the then governor. In any case, Wogu is said to have been focusing much of his attention and expectation from political stakeholders who also regard him as a bridge between the expectations of the people of Abia South and the reassurance of other zones given that his maternal ancestry could be traced to Abia North. This, perhaps, explained why the people of Isikwuato recently conferred on him a chieftaincy title which has been said to put a mark of identity on him.

Another aspirant is Friday Nwosu, a lawyer by training, who has of recent become a household name in the politics of Abia State. A former police officer, Nwosu has transformed into a grassroots politician and human rights activist and is described as a man with strong principles. From Mgboko Umuoria in Obingwa Council Area, he is said to have fiercely battled former Governor Kalu during the ‘Otu-Onu’ struggle when he proudly stood with Abaribe in the battle against the former governor. His stance at that time has endeared him to his people and he is regarded as one of the forthright people that cannot be compromised. He is also said to be very accessible to the people and he has been reaching out to the political stakeholders with a number of high contacts in Abuja which may work in his favour.

There is Ambassador Okey Emuchay, an ambassador from Ukwa East. An accomplished diplomat, Emuchay recently retired as the Consul General in South Africa, to join in the race. The fact that he abandoned a promising diplomatic career to join the governorship race has engendered speculations that he has a high level backing.

Similarly, there is Okezie Ikpeazu, deputy general manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, who is in charge of cleaning up Aba and its environs. Ikpeazu’s name recently came into the governorship race unexpectedly thereby arousing insinuations that he was the anointed. But shortly after, the government denied him and there are now fears that the initial blitz of attention may work against him.

Perhaps, in same boat is Acho Nwakanma, a biochemist from Umuorji Ohanze in Obingwa Local Government Area, a member of the state House of Assembly who rose up to the position of deputy speaker before serving as deputy to former governor Kalu. He also served as deputy governor to the present governor when he fell out with Chris Akomas, his former deputy, in 2010. A very close friend to Governor Orji, he is always seen around major government functions. He is currently chairman of the Board of National Neuro Psychiatry Hospital, Enugu, on the recommendation of the governor. It is, however, unclear how much support he can get muster to realise his ambition.

Besides, the major aspirants from Abia South, a number of aspirants from other senatorial zones are also interested in clinching the PDP governorship ticket. These include Nkechi Nwaogu, a senator representing Abia Central, who has over time raised her political profile and is pushing her ambition through the prism of the Abia Charter of Equity with the claim that she is from the other part of Abia that has yet to govern the state.

There is also Alex Oti, managing director of Diamond Bank, who is claiming dual ancestry in Ngwa land and Arochukwu and Uche Ogah, the managing director of Masters Energy. The two men are from Abia South who can also pull serious weight in the contest given their financial prowess. But whether the political atmosphere is going to treat them kindly is another thing. But some observers actually say the real contest would be between Abaribe and Wogu.

As for Musilu Obanikoro, outgoing minister of state for defence, his previous experiences would be required if he is to get the PDP ticket. Obanikoro was the party candidate in 2007 after leaving the Alliance for Democracy, AD, to join the PDP. Popularly referred to as ‘Koro,’ he once served as a local government chairman; he was former commissioner in Lagos; a former senator and former Nigerian ambassador to Ghana. He is expected to put all these experiences and his political structure and network to be able defeat some other political heavyweights who are also interested in the PDP ticket.

One of his opponents for the ticket is Owolabi Salis, a lawyer and accountant, who practised in the country for a while before relocating to the United States in the mid-nineties. Following the advent of civil rule, Salis returned and showed interest in the 2007 and contested on the platform of the Lateef Jakande-led Action Party of Nigeria, APN, but lost.

In the run-up to the 2011 elections, Salis returned to the country and again contested the primaries on the platform of the PDP, and again lost to Ade Dosunmu, the party’s eventual flag bearer. Dosunmu, a former director general/chief executive officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, who is generally famed as a godson of Olabode George, former national deputy chairman of the PDP in the South West, is frantically making efforts to again, get the party’s ticket.

But the list is not limited to them. There is Jimi Agbaje who was a household name during the 2007 governorship electioneering campaigns. His campaign slogan ‘JayKay is Ok’ endeared people to him and his campaign jingles were outstanding.

Agbaje, a pharmacist by training and managing director of the JayKay Pharmacy Limited, Lagos, contested the 2007 gubernatorial elections on the platform of the Democratic People’s Alliance, DPA, but lost to Babatunde Fashola, incumbent governor of Lagos Sate. He has since moved to the PDP on which platform he intends to actualise his political ambition.

Another strong contender in the race is Adedeji Doherty. Doherty once acted as the South west PDP chairman. In 2003 and 2007, he tried to contest for the gubernatorial race, but lost. Currently, he is the organising secretary of South-West PDP, and has since declared interest for the plum job. With his connection and political structure, he is regarded as one of the formidable aspirants in the state.

But there are also less known personalities who may spring surprises. One of them is Dominic Adegbola. In 2011, Adegbola was the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, but has since crossed over to the PDP after his defeat. A medical doctor cum politician, he is no doubt optimistic that he would realise his ambition on the platform of the PDP in Lagos State.

Even with the array of bigwig politicians vying for the PDP ticket in Lagos State, analysts say Obanikoro has a bright chance of picking the ticket but not without some bruises because none of the other contestants would like to go quietly unless they are able to reach a sort of consensus.

Besides, the main issue for the PDP in the state has consistently been the division in its ranks which had almost always seen party members sabotaging the chosen candidate. Even with the recent assertions of unity, many people remain skeptical that the PDP stakeholders can completely unite behind a candidate.

Olatunji Shelle, chairman of the PDP in Lagos State, in a recent interaction with journalists, said the party was seriously strategising to get a formidable candidate to shock the APC in the 2015 elections. Shelle said: “We are looking for somebody who has integrity and depth; somebody who is consistent and sensitive to the yearnings of the people. We shall ensure that our candidate is focused, has pedigree and integrity; that he has a good background that can sustain the economy of the state without mortgaging the interest of the common people.” Will that candidate be the erstwhile minister, time will tell.

The party is similarly expected to have a major headache in picking its candidate for the gubernatorial election in Rivers State in 2015. The reason is that Rivers State is regarded as ‘mini Nigeria’ because Nigerians from all parts live in the state and it is the epicentre and bedrock of oil and gas operations in the country. The second reason why the choice of the PDP candidate is going to be tough is because any mistake in this critical exercise can be catastrophic, given the fact that the state is currently under the rule of the APC with all the advantages that go with incumbency.

It is, therefore, imperative that the candidate to fly the party’s flag must be someone acceptable to the majority of the electorate at the general election. To make the race very competitive, there are no fewer than 14 persons at the last count who are interested in governing the state from 2015.

Although all the aspirants are qualified in their own rights, observers in the state said the race would be eventually narrowed down to two prominent aspirants. They aspirants are Gabriel Pidomson and Nyesom Wike. Some of the cardinal points that will determine who bears the flag of the party may include the zoning arrangement between upland and riverine sections of the state, external influences, party loyalty, among others.

Wike is believed to have a lot of experience in politics having being a politician since he was in the university. He was chairman of his Obio/Akpo Local Government Area of the state, and from there became the chief of staff to Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State. Based on his performance Amaechi nominated him to become a minister under President Jonathan and had been a minister since 2011. Since becoming a minister, Wike has used his proximity to the seat of power to befriend the president and his family. Little wonder that a story appeared in the press sometimes ago in which Patience Jonathan, Nigeria’s first lady was said to have preferred him as the next governor of the state. This, some observers say must have been in appreciation of what is erroneously regarded to as ‘fighting her fight’ with Governor Amaechi.

Another important portion of Wike’s credentials is that he has successfully wrestled and snatched the PDP structure in the state from Amaechi, when an Abuja High Court ruled last year, that Felix Obuah, Wike’s crony, was the rightful state chairman of the party. By this development, Wike has been using the party structure in the state to his own advantage and forced Amaechi to abandon the PDP and move to the APC. Wike is expected to use the party structure in his possession to get the ticket.

What may count against Wike, it is believed, is the issue of zoning. Several leaders of the PDP in the state are vehemently opposed to a situation where Wike, who is from Ikwerre nationality group as Amaechi, will succeed him as soon as he leaves office in 2015. There is no other Ikwerre person who has shown interest in the race for Rivers governorship in 2015, and perhaps, it has shown that Ikwerre people also do not share in Wike’s ambition.

Recently, Anabs Sara Igbe, a former special adviser to former Governor Peter Odili on security matters, was quoted as being opposed Wike’s candidature. He said: “It will be an injustice of the highest dimension for an Ikwerre man from the Rivers East Senatorial District to succeed his kinsman from the same district.” Igbe said he would prefer either an Ogoni candidate from the South East Senatorial District or a Kalabari candidate along the line of upland/riverine dichotomy. Many prominent personalities in the state are believed to share the sentiments of Igbe on the issue. Cyril Okey Nwakanwo, an entrepreneur, who is based in Port Harcourt, said: “If PDP makes the mistake of giving Wike the governorship ticket, the party would reap inestimable protest votes from greater part of the state including the Ikwerres where Wike comes from. In fact, Governor Amaechi has vowed not to allow any Ikwerre son or daughter to succeed him. I believe we will not take the position of a greater number of Ikwerre people that Wike’s ambition is not an Ikwerre agenda for granted.”

Wike’s loss is expected to be a great gain for Gabriel Pidomson, a former secretary to Rivers State Government and a former lawmaker elected into the State House of Assembly, 1999 to 2003. Pidomson, who holds two masters’ degrees, is currently a doctoral student of the Walden University, United States, where he is concluding his programme for a PHD in Management Information System.

Dum Barile Nwibani, a labour leader, said Pidomson was preferred over other aspirants not only because of his academic prowess but: “It is because Hon Pidomson is a bridge between the old and the young, and therefore properly positioned to deliver the state to the PDP in the general election. He is young and dynamic. He is experienced just as he is ready to learn. He is respectful to elders and at home with the women and youths of the state. It is all these qualities that make him the choice of the electorate in the state.”

Besides, the zoning arrangement appears to favour him because he is from the Rivers South East Senatorial District, an Ogoni enclave, which has never produced governor, since the state was created in 1967. Besides, it is also on record that no Ogoni person has ever been made deputy governor or speaker of the House of Assembly or chief judge of the state since the creation of the state and the return of the present democratic dispensation in 1999. Pidomson’s advantageous position, which his close rival lacks, it is believed, has created upset for those who believe they have party structure that guarantees for them the PDP ticket.

In addition to the desire of the PDP to adhere to the zoning formula in selecting who bears its flag in 2015, Pidomson has promised his teeming supporters that he would operate “a transparent and accountable public service that will respect and strictly adhere to all budgetary provisions, which I honestly believe constitute the beacon of good governance.”

With the strong zoning arrangement being canvassed, it looks as if Wike is swimming against a strong tide. This may make his resignation from the federal cabinet a misstep, even with the supposedly backing of the Presidency. Even if he gets the ticket, the strong sympathy for the Ogoni may swing the vote against him in the proper election.

As the political scene is getting busier, it is expected that a lot of candidates vying for one position or the other will emerge. From the look of things not all the ministers who resigned their appointments from the federal cabinet in order to fulfil their ambition of becoming governors are going to make it. But by the time they find out their ambition cannot be fulfilled, it would not be possible for any of them to return to the cabinet. Even then, one or two lessons would have been learnt to make them better prepared next time.

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Tags: Darius Ishaku Emeka Wogu Enyinninya Abaribe Labaran Maku Martins Elechi Musiliu Obanikoro Nyesom Wike Onyebuchi Chukwu Pius Anyim President Goodluck Jonathan Samuel Ortom Theodore Orji