Following the issuance of election notice by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on October 1, there has been anxiety in Nasarawa State as to who will emerge the gubernatorial aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Already, there seems to be no opposition for the Incumbent Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-makura in the All Progressive (APC), apparently giving him an automatic ticket to run for the 2015 General Elections.
Although, a lot of factors will come into play in determining who becomes the Governor of the state come 2015.
The Eggon nation feels that as the largest ethnic group in the state, it has not produced any governor since the inception of democracy in Nigeria, hence, “believes it is our time”.
Other nations, such as the Alago and the Miligili who are casualties from the ombatse crises are of the opinion that bringing in an Eggon candidate will make a fool of them after being at the receiving end in its marathon of crises that rocked the state in the last 3 years.
It is as a result of these nostalgic reactions that Prompt News present to you some of the major Gubernatorial aspirants in Nasarawa State and their antecedents.
SENATOR SOLOMON EWUGA:
A former Deputy Governor, and a former Minister during the first four years of Obasanjo’s regime. He is of Eggon ethnic Nationality. Senator Ewuga is a major political gladiator in the
state. He recently jumped ship from APC to PDP.
As an eggon man, he seems to have the home front as virtually every of his kinsmen are in
support of his bid. The major setback confronting the legal Practioner, is his indictment in the Alakio panel report. Although, he has taken the case to court and sought for an injunction to halt the process, an action the Governor Al-makura described as a setback to the full implementation of the white paper of the panel. Ewuga will however, be having another had nut to crack as his political son Labaran Maku is also eying the same position giving his influential status at the Presidency.
The both will however, be at the mercy of their kinsmen (Eggon people) to decide who emerge as the endorsed candidate of the Eggon.
LABARAN MAKU:
He was a former Commissioner during the second tenure of Governor Abdullahi Adamu. He also contested the governorship primaries of the PDP in 2007 but lost to former Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma. Maku, an astute politician, a seasoned unionist and a breaded PDP stalwart has the support of some the Youths from his tribe.
But, while some commend his ability to secure employment his kinsmen at the Federal level, some are of the opinion that he is tightfisted. Maku is the highest political office holder from his party in the state and more closer to the Presidency.
But, he seems to be far away from home even in state party activities. This prompted the people of Nasarawa State to describe is gubernatorial ambition as a figment of his own imagination. Also, he seems to be more philanthropic to his kinsmen than other tribes from his state especially in the area of issuing out federal appointments. Maku, in short while will be quitting the Federal Executive Council to pursue his ambition in the state but the people of the state would have to welcome him back with nostagia in view of the fact that only a few benefitted from sojourn at the level.
YUSULF AGABI:
He is a retired Director of finance and account with the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. His taste to deep his hands into the murky waters of politics have been on for a decade. But, in his previous aspirations he has not shown any seriousness.
He is more visible on posters and billboards than in physical. Indeed, if posters and billboards were yardstick for measuring popularity, Agabi would have beaten any candidate in the PDP primaries for the 2015 election.
However, there are insinuations from some quarters that he is only playing the mathematics of politics. It is been revealed that his aspirations his not actually for the seat of the governor but for the deputy, going by the fact that if the PDP rotational formula comes into play, the Nasarawa North Senatorial District would have to produce the candidate while the deputy would be zoned to the south.
But, Agabi has consistently denied this, perhaps, not to leak his political game plan.
SENATOR JOHN DAMBOYI:
He’s a Quantity Surveyor who has been described by his people as humble, calm accessible and detribalized. His four years in the Senate no doubt brought unprecedented revolution to the senatorial district(Nasarawa North). During his reign at the red-chambers, the quantity surveyor instituted the Senator John Danboyi Education Foundation which gave about 500 students of tertiary institution scholarship from his senatorial zone and across his state.
He is of Mada ethnic nationality and feels he is ripe to stir the ship of the state for the next 4 years. Since he left the National Assembly four years ago, he has continued to enjoy tremendous followership from people across the state as a mark of appreciation for his philanthropic gesture during his reign. Danboyi feels that should the Governorship seat be zoned to the north, he is the right candidate giving his neutrality in the crises that rocked the state.
DAMESHI LUKA BARAU:
He is the incumbent deputy governor of the state. Barau, recently cross carpeted from APC to PDP as a result of a feud he had with his boss, Al-makura. Al-makura it was gathered accused him of being too close to the president and holding meeting with major PDP stakeholders before his defection. Dameshi may become a product of circumstance as the structure of the PDP in the state his under his watch.
He is also of Mada ethnic nationality from Nasarawa North Senatorial district. His nationality and his current relationship with the presidency may earn him the ticket. But, the people of the state are fizzling at his ‘gentle spirit’. They feel he may not be able to stand the heat of politics judging from his absence from office since he broke up with his boss.
However, one unanswered question is whether Dameshi Luka have the support of his kinsmen. This is in view of the fact that, shortly after his defection to the PDP some Mada Elders paid a courtesy visit to the governor and described his (Dameshi) action as an act of ungratefulness. They also threw their weight behind the governor, assuring him of their unflinching support.
UMARU TANKO AL-MAKURA:
He is the incumbent Governor of Nasarawa State. Al-makura contested for the Position on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) which is now the All Progressive Congress (APC) after the merger of mega parties in the country. He seems to be standing alone after about 3 members of the National Assembly and the deputy governor cross-carpeted to the PDP.
One feat he has achieved that even a blind man in the street can attest to is his developmental strides. His ability to transform the state from rural to urban is a plus to him. Consequently, the recent impeachment move by member of the State House of Assembly endeared and garnered
lots of sympathy for him because, they feel the governor have refused to follow the usual ritual of sharing money for the elites and decided to work for the poor masses that is why they are pitching their tent against him. Unfortunately, his regime has been characterized with ethnic cum communal clashes which has led to the wanton loss of lives and properties.
Although, Al-makura has severally posited that the crises were inherited and he is just a victim of circumstance. However, some pundits postulated that the genesis of Al’makura’s problem as a governor is his tightfistedness. His major challenge will be picking a deputy which apparently would entail picking from the Eggon ethnic group. But, the Legal Adviser of the Ombatse group has sworn that the Eggon nation would not forgive any of its son or daughter who betrays them and accepts such offer.
