Gaidam right on successor comment — Jacob

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was right for declaring that he does not have a preferred candidate that will succeed him as governor, a chieftain of the APC in Yobe State, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed Jacob, said yesterday.

The governor had last week said he had submitted to God in prayers to choose the right person that would take over from him next year.

In a statement yesterday, Jacob said that Gaidam had “saved himself from sleepless nights and unnecessary trauma” by praying to God to choose the right person for Yobe ahead of his exit as governor.

Jacob said Gaidam also deserved commendation for creating a level playing field for various aspirants to test their popularity, saying history had shown that most governors who imposed successors on the people ended up having serious battles with them soon after leaving office.

Daily Trust reports that there was “suspicious political peace” in Yobe less than five months to the deadline given by INEC for parties to field candidates, with some alleging that Gaidam had “suppressed” the ambitions of those who had interest in vying for the governorship position.

Many names were being mentioned as likely gubernatorial candidates of the ruling APC in the state though none of them had openly started campaigning.

They include Gaidam’s deputy, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu; the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the National Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni; Yobe State Head of Service, Saleh Abubakar; and the Commissioner of Works in the state, Lawan Shettima.

A former director of Treasury in the FCT, Alhaji Ibrahim Bomai, has also joined the race for governorship.

Jacob, a philanthropist from Gashua, said Governor Gaidam had shown that he was a leader who respected the wishes and choice of his people, adding that they would also pray fervently for a worthy successor.

“The people of Yobe should give more support to APC and Governor Gaidam to ensure continuity. He is a leader who has achieved a lot and needs someone who believes in his style of leadership as successor,” he said.