With the next general elections less than one year away and due to the fact that Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema who is serving his second term will not be coming back, several persons within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) are said to be weighing the possibility of contesting for the position.
Already mobilizing supporters and engaging in never ending closed door meetings with political associates, these aspirants, most of whom are well known faces on the political scene, are getting warmed up for the 2015 elections.
Katsina has had three democratically elected governors since creation, out of which two were elected on the platform of the PDP.
Incumbent governor, Shema succeeded Umaru Musa Yar’adua, who ruled the state for eight years before he contested and won the 2007 presidential election.
Like his predecessor, Shema is serving out his second term in office.
Among those said to be interested in contesting the seat are, Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Suleiman Dikko Kuki, Abdullahi Garba, Mahmud Kanti Bello, Musa Sada and many others.
Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Audu Soja)
He was a lieutenant colonel in the Nigerian Army before he retired and joined partisan politics in Katsina. He became the running mate to Senator Yakubu Lado, a gubernatorial candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections before their candidacy was challenged in court.
Yar’adua, who has always said he lacks confidence in the current leadership of the state, has not publicly declared intentions to contest in 2015, but his supporters say he is bound to throw his hat into the ring as soon as the whistle is blown.
He is a younger brother to late President Umaru Yar’adua.
Sulieman Dikko Kuki
Kuki is the current Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and a former chairman of Katsina State Basic Education Board. A relative and associate of Shema, Dikko is speculated to be the governor’s ‘anointed’ candidate. He is from Katsina Central zone and is likely to vie for the seat on the PDP platform. His position as SUBEB chairman in Katsina has made him popular in the state and he stands a good chance if he declares.
Abdullahi Garba
An academic is the current deputy governor and is seen by many as a major political figure from the Funtua senatorial zone. He is likely to pull the crowd if he joins the race. He is seen as likely to run due to his understanding of government by virtue of his position as deputy to Shema, but many say he is not among those favoured by the incumbent to succeed him.
Mahmud Kanti Bello
An outspoken former senator who has at different times been a member of different political parties had tried to take a shot in the past but failed, many say he is likely to contest this time around due to the fact that there won’t be the power of incumbency to contend with since the current governor would be leaving office.
He is believed to have joined the defunct CPC purposely to pursue his gubernatorial ambition. With his huge home support, Bello is said to be considering the possibility of vying for the senatorial seat in the event of a failed gubernatorial quest.
Musa Adamu Funtua
He is currently Commissioner for Agriculture and one of the longest serving commissioners in the state. He is seen as the one being favoured by governor Shema to succeed him since he has had the privilege of working with the governor in the past eight years. He hails from a senatorial zone which is yet to produce a governor. Recent calls for a shift of power to the zone is seen as a window of opportunity for Funtua.
But even with his closeness to the governor, critics say he has not been able to sell himself to the populace which will count against him when he eventually declares.
Abdullahi Tsauri
Tsauri is one of the two persons to have publicly declared interest in contesting for the gubernatorial seat. He came under verbal and physical attacks at one of his rallies, where he made the declaration. A serving public servnat, he is seen as having the blessing of the PDP leadership in Abuja to checkmate Shema if the governor does not soft pedal on his purported ambition to replace the current vice president, Namadi Sambo as running mate to Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election.
He has stepped up his campaign recently by lashing out at the PDP led government in Katsina ,leaving no one in doubt that he has a different idea of how the state should be run. This has incurred for him the wrath of the government in the state and may try to put obstacles on his path. But many say he cannot be cowed as he has the resources and the goodwill to clinch the PDP ticket.
Musa Sada
Another person perceived to be Shema’s ‘anointed’one. Sada is the current Minister for Mines and Steel and former Works and Housing Commissioner in the state. An architect by profession, he has played a role in the construction of some of the most significant infrastructure in Katsina.
While several people pass him off as inexperienced on the political field and as one who is yet to have a grip on home base support, his close relationship with Vice President Namadi Sambo might be of great advantage in his gubernatorial quest as well as disadvantage considering that the governor would want somebody loyal to him to succeed him.
Mustapha Inuwa
A former commissioner for Education and Secretary to the State Government under Yar’adua like Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Inuwa has not declared intentions to contest for the gubernatorial slot, but his team of supporters are said to be pushing hard. His closeness to Masari, who is speculated to be nursing the same ambition, and other APC stalwarts could give him an edge over other candidates. But with several other top shots considering the possibility of being the next governor however, it might be a tough battle for him.
Aminu Bello Masari
Masari is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives who contested for governorship on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
He is deputy national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is said to be a major contender for the gubernatorial seat. He has great home support base.
Usman Bugaje
The former House of Representatives member and academic had contested and lost the gubernatorial elections.
His intellect and supposed backing of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) structures might work to his advantage.
Ibrahim Ida
Ida who was in the Senate between 2007 and 2011 is one of those who have come out to saythey are vying for the governorship seat in Katsina. Currently a delegate at the national conference, Ida became popular during his stint as a senator. Though Ida has a considerably large number of supporters, sources within his party (PDP) say that he won,t have an easy ride (even within PDP), as several graffitis of him have continued to be vandalized.
Abu Ibrahim
Ibrahim, the senator representing Funtua senatorial zone was unsuccessful when he contested for the gubernatorial seat in the past.
Though his major supporters come mostly from his zone, he has the support of ACN big wigs. This might help him at the other two senatorial zones.
Other names that have continued to feature prominently are Dikko Inde, Nura Khalil and Abba Sayyadi Ruma.
Inde
Inde is the current Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service. Though he is inexperienced on the politics field and is yet to register as a member of any political party, Inde has indicated interest to join the gubernatorial race.
Khalil
Khalil contested against the late Yar’adua for the governorship position on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). His move from CPC to PDP has been described by many as suicidal. Though he has not been active on the political scene lately, some of his supporters still believe he will contest in 2015.
Abba Sayyadi Ruma
Ruma was a Minister for Agriculture under President Yar’adua’s administration and chairman of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. He is seen as a possible contender. With his resources and acceptability, Ruma is likely to have an edge over several aspiring hopefuls. But it is not clear on what platform he may want to pursue his ambition as he is not known to be romancing with any of the political parties.
