PDP woos Al-Mustapha to win Yobe, Borno
Strong indications emerged
yesterday that the Peoples Democratic Party is trying to woo the
recently-released Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security
Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to win Yobe and
Borno states from the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP).
The President and his strategists have also launched a fresh plot to win more states in the North-West in 2015.
It was learnt that the permutations of
the presidency is that the control of some states in the North-West and
North- East could leave the North divided in 2015.
The presidency was said to be trying to
adopt the strategy of ex-President Shehu Shagari who in 1982 granted
state pardon to the late Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu.
The pardon had enabled the defunct
ruling National Party of Nigeria(NPN) to make inroads into the
South-East which was then controlled by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe-led Nigerian
Peoples Party(NPP).
Investigation also indicated that PDP is
trying to use Al-Mustapha leverage to checkmate its rebellious
governors like Rabiu Kwankwaso(Kano), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto); Sule
Lamido (Jigawa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
A reliable source said: “The plot is a
two-dimension type. The PDP wants to bank on Al-Mustapha’s image to
capture Yobe, Borno and Zamfara being controlled by ANPP.
“The renewed political romance between
President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Governor Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara
State seems to be pointing to this desperate bid by the President and
his strategists to make inroads into the North-East and North-West.
“Yerima had taken some marabouts to the President some weeks ago to “pray” for Jonathan’s good health and 2015 agenda.
“Besides, you will recall that a few
months ago, Yerima and ex-Governor Modu Ali Sheriff met with the
National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in Abuja. So, the
plot was conceived a few months back, but Al-Mustapha might be used to
crystallize it.
“The larger picture is to change the
political tempo in the North by bringing Al-Mustapha into the PDP to
reduce the influence of some out-of-presidency favoured Northern
governors like Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wammako ( Sokoto); Sule
Lamido (Jigawa); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).”
The source, however, said the prime targets of Al-Mustapha’s deal are Yobe and Borno states.
Investigation by our correspondent
revealed that some PDP chieftains have already made a proposal that the
way to end the domination of the ANPP in Yobe and Borno states is to
make Al-Mustapha the arrowhead of the party’s plot.
Findings showed that the Minister of
State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima, had allegedly met with Al-Mustapha and
hosted a dinner in honour of the ex-CSO.
Checks indicated that the PDP had
initiated secret talks with Al-Mustapha on why he should team up with
the party to improve the lot of his people in Yobe.
Although it was unclear as at press time
on Al-Mustapha’s disposition, it was gathered that some PDP bigwigs
have already penciled down the ex-CSO for the governorship slot as its
automatic candidate.
The leakage of the plot has created a cold war between Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State and the Minister of Finance.
It was learnt that the minister was
allegedly shunned by the governor on Tuesday when he brought some
presidential relief materials to Damaturu (Yobe State capital) for
victims of Boko Haram.
The cold shoulder rubbished plans by the
minister and the presidential delegation to make a political gain from
the relief materials.
A highly-placed source said: “ The PDP
is determined to control Borno and Yobe states. This is why
Al-Mustapha’s option is on its card at present.
“But Al-Mustapha has not made any commitment to join partisan politics or not.
“The Governor of Yobe State is, however,
not taking the plot lightly leading to a cold war between him and the
Minister of State for Finance.
“I think other Northern political leaders and governors are still studying the situation.”
