Yuguda, his critics and other curiousities
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- Category: Comments
- Written by Ghali Abdulazeez
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Much ink has been squandered on the epoch and decisive decision of charismatic and populist Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Isa Yuguda to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which he left for the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before the 2007 governorship election.
Some commentators on the issue have argued that the amiable governor bite the fingers that fed him by leaving the ANPP on whose platform he was elected for the PDP that denied him the ticket. On the other hand, others have argued that Governor Yuguda’s return to the Peoples Democratic Party fold was the home coming of a homeboy after a sojourn in ANPP. To members of this school of thought, Yuguda is flesh and blood PDP, he only decamped to the ANPP to actualize his ambition due to his misunderstanding with the then governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Muazu. Therefore his return to the PDP is natural for a man who have contributed immense quota to the development of the party at the grassroots and national level.
A careful analysis of arguments by the contending parties would uncover the fact that Yuguda played a prominent and crucial role in the formation, development and growth of the Peoples Democratic Party form its formative stage in 1998 to the present day. Though he left the party for the ANPP, many political commentators have argued that he was forced out of the party by forces that were against his governorship ambition. He therefore momentarily joined the ANPP to prove a point to his political detractors that he can win election in any political platform. This was a demonstration of his immense political clout and follower ship.
That he left the PDP for ANPP few months to the election and still scored a landslide victory underscored his grassroots appeal and political experience. We can find a parallel in Imo and Ondo state were Governors Ikedi Ohakim and Olusegun Mimiko decamped from PDP to Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the Labour Party and won landslide victory. Today, Ohakim has returned to the PDP. Mimiko is also alleged to be perfecting plans to do so.
Deducing from the above cases, it can be submitted that, the affected Governors were forced out of the Peoples Democratic Party by circumstances beyond their control. The Party primaries were not transparent, free and fair. The political godfathers did not allow party members to choose popular candidates of their choice to fly the party flag at the 2007 general election. Aggrieved supporters of these candidates mounted pressure on them to decamp to other political parties in order for them to seek the people’s mandate. This accounted for the decision of Governor Mimiko, Yuguda and Ikedi Ohakim to decamp to other parties where they eventually actualized their gubernatorial ambition. It was on account of his brilliant tract record of service to the people that the people of Bauchi state overwhelmingly mounted irresistible pressure on Alhaji Issa Yuguda to contest the 2007 governorship election in Bauchi state. As a man of the people, Yuguda bowed to the peoples wish and declared for the race. He mobilized his supporters in the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to work for the actualization of his mandate. It was when the powers that be at the party in the state, who were apparently intimidated by his towering credentials moved to frustrate him that prompted his movement to the ANPP where he contested and eventually won the election. That he won the governorship election under the ANPP platform in spite of intimidation by the then incumbent governor, Alhaji Ahmed Muazu attests much to the popularity and public acceptance of Yuguda.
His recent return to the Peoples Democratic Party fold should be seen as a patriotic move by a loyal party man who was forced to leave the party by his political enemies but still decided to come back to his first love, PDP. He is a true democrat who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the party from inception to the present. It is therefore natural for Alhaji Yuguda who believes in the philosophy of the Peoples Democratic Party to return to this party in order for him to contribute meaningfully to the process of nation building.
Furthermore, Bauchi state is a core northern state. For it to develop, it must belongs to the ruling party. Since Independence in 1960 to the present, Bauchi state has never been in the opposition. Hence, the decision of Yuguda to return it to the mainstream national politics.
Ghali Abdulazeez writes from Annex 1, National Assembly Complex, Abuja
Articles
Yuguda, his critics and other curiousities
Category: Comments Written by Ghali Abdulazeez Hits: 544
Much ink has been squandered on the epoch and decisive decision of charismatic and populist Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Isa Yuguda to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which he left for the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before the 2007 governorship election.
Some commentators on the issue have argued that the amiable governor bite the fingers that fed him by leaving the ANPP on whose platform he was elected for the PDP that denied him the ticket. On the other hand, others have argued that Governor Yuguda’s return to the Peoples Democratic Party fold was the home coming of a homeboy after a sojourn in ANPP. To members of this school of thought, Yuguda is flesh and blood PDP, he only decamped to the ANPP to actualize his ambition due to his misunderstanding with the then governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Muazu. Therefore his return to the PDP is natural for a man who have contributed immense quota to the development of the party at the grassroots and national level.
A careful analysis of arguments by the contending parties would uncover the fact that Yuguda played a prominent and crucial role in the formation, development and growth of the Peoples Democratic Party form its formative stage in 1998 to the present day. Though he left the party for the ANPP, many political commentators have argued that he was forced out of the party by forces that were against his governorship ambition. He therefore momentarily joined the ANPP to prove a point to his political detractors that he can win election in any political platform. This was a demonstration of his immense political clout and follower ship.
That he left the PDP for ANPP few months to the election and still scored a landslide victory underscored his grassroots appeal and political experience. We can find a parallel in Imo and Ondo state were Governors Ikedi Ohakim and Olusegun Mimiko decamped from PDP to Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the Labour Party and won landslide victory. Today, Ohakim has returned to the PDP. Mimiko is also alleged to be perfecting plans to do so.
Deducing from the above cases, it can be submitted that, the affected Governors were forced out of the Peoples Democratic Party by circumstances beyond their control. The Party primaries were not transparent, free and fair. The political godfathers did not allow party members to choose popular candidates of their choice to fly the party flag at the 2007 general election. Aggrieved supporters of these candidates mounted pressure on them to decamp to other political parties in order for them to seek the people’s mandate. This accounted for the decision of Governor Mimiko, Yuguda and Ikedi Ohakim to decamp to other parties where they eventually actualized their gubernatorial ambition. It was on account of his brilliant tract record of service to the people that the people of Bauchi state overwhelmingly mounted irresistible pressure on Alhaji Issa Yuguda to contest the 2007 governorship election in Bauchi state. As a man of the people, Yuguda bowed to the peoples wish and declared for the race. He mobilized his supporters in the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to work for the actualization of his mandate. It was when the powers that be at the party in the state, who were apparently intimidated by his towering credentials moved to frustrate him that prompted his movement to the ANPP where he contested and eventually won the election. That he won the governorship election under the ANPP platform in spite of intimidation by the then incumbent governor, Alhaji Ahmed Muazu attests much to the popularity and public acceptance of Yuguda.
His recent return to the Peoples Democratic Party fold should be seen as a patriotic move by a loyal party man who was forced to leave the party by his political enemies but still decided to come back to his first love, PDP. He is a true democrat who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the party from inception to the present. It is therefore natural for Alhaji Yuguda who believes in the philosophy of the Peoples Democratic Party to return to this party in order for him to contribute meaningfully to the process of nation building.
Furthermore, Bauchi state is a core northern state. For it to develop, it must belongs to the ruling party. Since Independence in 1960 to the present, Bauchi state has never been in the opposition. Hence, the decision of Yuguda to return it to the mainstream national politics.
Ghali Abdulazeez writes from Annex 1, National Assembly Complex, Abuja