Kano APC Crises and Lessons from History, By Musa Sa’adu
POLITICS DIGEST- Political parties remain the only vehicles or platforms used by candidates/politicians to aspire for political offices. This however leads to the emergence of various interest groups within a party. The groups work harmoniously to pursue their common goals. The success or otherwise of a political party depends largely on how the stakeholders manage these interest groups in the distribution of party positions, party tickets, appointments and the traditional largesse etc. Mismanaging the above delicate factors can indeed spell doom for any party in Nigeria.
Kano APC is at the moment bedeviled by internal wranglings that are threatening the party’s 2023 chances. Internal party crisis is the major cause of poor performance at the general election. Previous Governorship elections in Kano that brought surprises were born out of internal party wranglings.
The 1983 election that produced Senator Sabo Bakinzuwo against a performing Governor, Abubakar Rimi, was a result of party crises. The PRP crises that metamorphosed into Santsi’ lead by Malam Aminu Kano and Rimi respectively had forced Rimi as sitting Governor to dump PRP for NPP to seek reelection. This however was one of the cardinal reasons behind his loss despite his performance in office throughout the old Kano state.
The botched third republic also saw the popular and well accepted SDP losing the gubernatorial election to NRC due to the internal crises in SDP which was an offshoot of Santsi and Tabo from second republic.
After about three series of primary elections that produced an independent candidate against Aminu Inuwa of Santsi faction and Ahmad Rufa’i of Tabo faction. The wrong choice of Ahmad Rufa’i as running mate to Magaji Abdullahi led to Santsi group to revolt and enter an agreement with the NRC candidate Kabiru Gaya. This development changed the outcome of the election in favor of the NRC candidate.
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Kwankwaso, Shekarau and of course Ganduje are no doubt the principal actors of the fourth republic in Kano politics and all them have benefited and suffered the consequences of internal party crises. Our memories are still intact on how the political and internal party wranglings ruined the reelection bid of Governor Kwankwaso during 2003 Governorship election. The defection of Danhassan, crises between Kwankwaso and some members of the National Assembly notably the then speaker of the House Of Representatives Hon. Ghali Na Abba and perhaps Buhari factor were among the contributing factors that led Kwankwaso/ Ganduje downfall and emergence of Malam Shekarau.
Likewise Shekarau has suffered the repercussions of internal party crises, his anointed candidate Salisu Sagir Takai was defeated by Kwankwaso/Ganduje in 2011. The crises between Shekarau and his Deputy Abdullahi Gwarzo popularly known as Ruwa Baba, the over fifty thousand votes garned by him had smoothly leveraged the second coming of Kwankwaso and Ganduje in the 2011 election.
The current turmoil that is rocking the Kano APC is a cause of concern to many committed party members. The internal crises that paved way for two parallel convention that produced Abdullahi Abbas and Haruna Zago representing Ganduje and Shekarau led faction respectively will create a hole that may gradually sink the Kano APC ship and neither the Ganduje nor Shekarau will survive the mishaps including their supporters.
In politics number matters; everyone is important! Don’t tell me someone who’s Governor for 8 years and a serving senator doesn’t have political influence and these G-7 as they fondly called themselves are blessed with dodge fighters and resources to bankroll political movement that can mar or make an election.
With the Tuesday court verdict that favor the Shekarau faction and considering the nature of Nigerian litigation processes I’m afraid that whichever faction the pendulum swings and even if they won the general polls the replica of Zamfara 2019 is imminent.
Both Ganduje and Shekarau should thread cautiously, their is still time. They shouldn’t listen to the sycophants instigating the crises. Let them sit, discuss and iron out the grey and thorny areas and found out political solution otherwise Kwankwaso will send them to political oblivion.
