BY RAYYANU BALA

The governorship election in Osun state held Saturday and declared
inconclusive Sunday by Independent National Election Commission (INEC)
supposed to be an eye opener to APC gladiators in Nasarawa state. The
performance of PDP in the governorship election in Osun state did not
take all keen observers of political events in Nigeria by surprise
considering the inability of the governor, Rauf Aregbesola to manage
the fall out of APC governorship primary in his state. As a leader of
the APC, Rauf Aregbesola is responsible for this shameful APC outing
in Osun state, for lack of capacity in deploying diplomacy and tact in
handling uproar in the party after the primary. Rauf Aregbesola did
not only throw cautions away but he exhibited outright contempt to all
those who contested along with his preferred candidate; an action
which made virtually all of them to abandoned him and APC for other
political parties.
In Nasarawa state however, there is a growing fear that what happened
in Osun state may likely happens in Nasarawa state if care is not
adequately taken, especially with the wrangle now in APC in the state
and the brawl between Governor Al-makura and Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
At this auspicious time, these two political gladiators are supposed
to be thinking of how to manage a fall out that may likely arise from
the next week primaries; they were however in a brawl themselves.
Indeed, relationship between Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura and
Senator Abdullahi Adamu supposed not to be in soar mood by what ever
circumstance given the fact that the relationship has been a long one.
For the benefit of hindsight, both Governor Al-makura and Senator
Adamu have come a long way in their relationship starting right from
second republic when they both happened to be in National Party of
Nigeria (NPN).
Senator Abdullahi Adamu first served as Plateau state Secretary later
Chairman of the NPN after expiration of the tenure of late Alhaji Sale
Hassan, while governor Al-makura then got elected as state youth
leader. They both served on the State Executive Council (SEC) and
National Executive Council (NEC) of the NPN. The relationship between
the duo blossom and further consolidated as time progresses in their
respective life. It was on record that both Govornor Al-makura and
Senator Adamu have never share contrary political viewpoints. Even
after the demise of second republic and after governor Al-makura quit
partisan politics to concentrate on his personal business, the
relationship between them remains cordial.
Even though, governor Al-makura had his mind and body off partisan
politics immediately after collapse of second republic, however his
soul was still in the game as he never shown any tendency that is
apolitical, he is always on the same page with Senator Abdullahi Adamu
when it comes to playing politics. Governor Al-makura never belonged
to a political party or shares any political affiliation different
from that of Senator Abdullahi Adamu. When Senator Adamu was in the
National Republican Convention (NRC) during ill-fated third republic
of General Ibrahim Babangida, Governor Al-makura’s soul was also in
the NRC. Equally during the transition programme of late Genaral Sani
Abacha, Senator Abdullahi Adamu was in UNCP Governor Al-makura had his
soul also in UNCP. When General Abdul-salam Abubakar rolled out his
transition programme and with the emergence of Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) Senator Abdullahi Adamu happened to be in the PDP and
Governor Al-makura also sided with the PDP.
When Senator Abdullahi Adamu contested for governorship seat of
Nasarawa state in 1999, Governor Al-makura supported him one hundred
per-cents. The second term ambition of Senator Adamu again received
one hundred per-cents support from Governor Al-makura. In the same
vain, when Governor Al-makura contested for governorship position
under Congress for Progressives change (CPC) in 2011, Senator
Abdullahi Adamu even though he was in the PDP yet he supported
Governor Al-makura one hundred par-cents against the candidate of his
party. Since ascension of Al-makura to the throne of governor of
Nasarawa state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Governor Al-makura were
like Siamese twin.
The level of respect and cordiality which exist between Governor
Al-makura and Senator Abdullahi Adamu can only be imagined than
described when considering how they relates with each other right from
their NPN days to CPC and now to APC. However even in 2015 when
Governor Al-makura was seeking for re-election, it was he (Senator
Adamu) who Al-makura appointed to serve as chairman of Al-makura
campaign council and he gave all his best to ensure Al-makura’s
victory.
I have taken this time to examining the relationship between Governor
Al-makura and Senator Adamu just to show how awesome this relationship
is until last two weeks when the existing mutuality crashed
culminating to unwholesome vituperations in social media and in
mainstream media between themselves and between their supporters and
aficionado.
The setting up of panel by Governor Al-makura headed by Nasarawa state
Commissioner for Finance to investigate Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s
administration between 1999 to 2007 with specific reference to failure
of Farin Ruwa Independent Hydropower plant project, Zimbabwean farmers
project as well as concessioning agreements of state owned hotels and
other related facilities, were clear manifestations of how this four
decades of mutual respect and cordiality between Governor Al-makura
and Senator Adamu got mutilated over night, over simple matter that
can be settled without flexing any muscle.
Of course, the issues that brought about this seemingly deep
resentment between Governor Al-makura and Senator Abdullahi Adamu are
issues that can be settled in a closed door meeting, without allowing anybody
know about it. But like I pointed out in my piece preceding this one
with regards to Governor Al-makura and Senator Abdullahi Adamu
imbroglio which I titled: ‘Governor Al-makura, Senator Adamu victims
of blabbermouth?’ which appeared in Nasarawa Eye online publication
and treading in some social media in the better part of last two
weeks, I stressed that both Governor Al-makura and Senator Abdullahi
Adamu allowed themselves to be manipulated by some agents of disunity
who drive mundane benefits and sometimes passion in creating crisis
and confusion in the polity, believing that it is only through
creating such a situations that their relevance and dominance can be
safeguarded.
Further to this, I also highlighted that “The brawl between Governor
Al-makura and Senator Abdullahi Adamu are nothing but an offshoot of
envy, gossiping and backbiting which has indeed, become our new trade
in Nasarawa state”
The escalation of tension between Governor Al-makura and Senator
Abdullahi Adamu especially with the setting up of panel to investigate
Senator Adamu and his (Senator Adamu) quick response to the setting up
of the panel were all pointer to intensification of this rivalry which
at best can said to be of more harm than good to well-being of the APC
in the state.
Be that as it may, the concern of the people here is unity of the APC
in Nasarawa state most especially against the background the outcome
of Osun governorship election. What the people fear is fragmentation
the APC in the state. If this conflict between the two gladiators is
allowed to persist then the case of Osun would be a child’s play
because of the kind of ethnic and religious diversity and the
intrigues we have in Nasarawa state. APC National headquarters and
President Muhammdu Buhari have to intervene to save APC in Nasarawa
state. A word is enough for the wise.