INSIDEPOLITICS Governor Abubakar ends horsetrading, picks Chief of Staff as deputy
After a series consultations with political stakeholders, Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has nominated Audu Sule Katagum, an architect, as his new deputy. His name would be forwarded to the state House of Assembly for confirmation as required by law.
Soon after the former governor, Nuhu Gidado resigned, names of some close political allies of Governor Abubakar started appearing as possible successors. Of particular interest were the chief of staff to the governor, Audu Sule Katagum and former minority leader in the state House of Assembly, Baba Suleman Katagum.
Most of the people speculated as replacement to Gidado are from the Katagum Emirate, where it is widely believed that Governor Abubakar is paying more attention as the 2019 general elections approach.
The resignation of Gidado, therefore, provided a chance for Katagum to ýproduce the next deputy governor.
Katagum zone is seen as a major power block that would give Governor Abubakar an edge in the election if he gave them the deputy governor’s seat, which was hitherto occupied by Jama’are Emirate.
It was learnt that stakeholders in the emirate worked round the clock to ensure that the new deputy governor came from the area. The appointment of Katagum is seen by many as a bargaining chip for the emirate to give its support to Governor Abubakar in 2019. Katagum is a very close ally of Governor Mohammed Abubakar.
The resignation of former Bauchi State deputy governor, Engineer Nuhu Gidado elicited a lot of interests in the state’s political circle.
The former deputy governor, Gidado, notified his boss of his resignation in a letter dated May16, 2018. Subsequently, the governor, in a statement signed by his special adviser on media and strategy, Ali. M. Ali, accepted the resignation and wished him well in his future endeavours.
“We received the resignation of our deputy governor, Nuhu Gidado. On behalf of the people of Bauchi State, I want to thank him for his meritorious service while in office.
“He remains vital to our administration and party. I wish him well in his future endeavours. And he can count on me for support. I am also optimistic that he will avail the state his service when called upon in the future,” of he said.
However, speculations have continued to trail the reason behind the resignation of Gidado. It is widely believed that the former deputy governor was subtly frustrated out of office. It was alleged that despite his visibility in public functions, he was denied many privileges of the office he occupied.
But people close to the governor, such as his special adviser on education and public enlightenment, Comrade Sabo Mohammed, debunked the allegation.
Comrade Mohammed said Governor Abubakar always handed over the governance of the state to his deputy whenever he was out of town. He also made him the commissioner overseeing the Ministry of Education.
“In his letter, he acknowledged the harmonious working relationship he had with his boss. That alone is very important in future political relationship,” he said.
He said the former deputy governor was one of the very important and critical stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his letter of resignation ýwas clear about his relationship with Governor Abubakar and the party.
“I am happy that in his letter, the former deputy governor acknowledged all these. He is respected within ýthe corridors of power in our state and great party, the APC,’’ he added.
Governor Abubakar also debunked the statement credited to Gidado’s spokesman that his boss was unfairly treated.
“I think he is wrong. Go to the House of Assembly and check. I went on official leave twice since I took over, and each time I transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly making him the acting governor of the state.
“Moreover, I gave him the most important ministry, the Ministry of Education, where I have been allocating the largest share of the budget of Bauchi State since 2008. That should answer your question,” Governor Abubakar said.
Political observers believe that Gidado’s resignation would have a negative effect on Governor Abubakar and him. They said the action of the former deputy governor would be a political blow to the governor and the APC. They opined that the resignation of Gidado signified a growing dissent in the administration, which it failed to address, coupled with internal wrangling within the party, which led to the intense in-fighting and rivalry between Governor Abubakar, his supporters and the APC leadership on one hand, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and lawmakers. They also believe that Gidado’s resignation is a big disappointment to the people of Jama’are Emirate as they have been deprived of a very important political position.
A source close to Governor Abubakar told our correspondent that before his eventual nomination, Katagum was already picked for the position. “He was the person he picked for his 2019 second term project. There is an intense political rivalry between Katagum and Jama’are.
“That was why the zone had not been giving the government the needed support. The people said they were marginalised.
“With this development, all he needs to do is to confirm ýthe chief of staff as his deputy and pacify Jama’are zone by appointing someone from a neighbouring local government, near Jama’are, probably Itas/Gadau, or any other place other than Jama’are and make him the chief of staff.
“Since he voluntarily ýresigned, he has relinquished a very important position belonging to the Jama’are zone. So, it will be better for the governor to give the position to another zone and win new supporters.
“However, tactically, it will not be the best for the ýgovernor to do that because the former deputy governor has supporters who will move with him. If he appoints someone from Jama’are, he will have a 50-50 chance because some will support the former deputy while others will support the newly appointed one from the same place.
“It will be better if he appoints ýsomeone who is not from Jama’are, where the people will be more enthusiastic about the appointment and will support him during elections,” he said.
The appointment of the chief of staff as Governor Abubakar’s deputy, the source added, would give him an almost 100 per cent chance because Katagum zone has a large voter population to win an election.
In an earlier statement by his press secretary, Abubakar El-Sadique, Governor Abubakar stated that he consulted major stakeholders in the northern senatorial district over the appointment of his new deputy.
The press secretary revealed that a delegation from Jama’are had visited the governor, insisting that the deputy governorship slot should not be taken away from the zone. The delegation was led by the chairman of the APC in Jama’are Local Government, Alhaji Yusuf Kawu Gana. He was accompanied by the local government caretaker chairman, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Wabi, and the member representing Jama’are Local Government at the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Magaji Isa.
Responding, Governor Abubakar thanked the delegation for the visit and the support he had been receiving from the people of Jama’are.
It was learnt that stakeholders in the emirate worked round the clock to ensure that the new deputy governor came from the area