Mr. President to garner the required 25 per cent he needed from the state. In spite of this, it appeared the compensation the Gombe South electorate got was no more than lip-service appreciation. This is plain, unwarranted injustice.
Politics in Nigeria has become an investment where the investors are always looking to making a profit. In spite of their heavy investment in the presidential elections, the unfortunate South zone could not boast of any profit.
For instance, when it was time for ministerial appointment with which they had hoped to be compensated, the post went to Gombe Central zone, where the President performed woefully during the presidential elections.
Indeed, Gombe South remains the only zone yet to produce a minister from Gombe State since the return to civilian administration in 1999. Every election year, the South zone massively voted for PDP. Yet, the people there hardly received any compensation for that, in terms presidential and other Federal appointments. Despite this, they remain committed to the party.
This obviously means the PDP has been compensating the wrong people in the state; people who never really voted for PDP. By this, the party has continued to diminish democratic values in the eyes of Gombe South people.
Following the 2011 elections, the presidential reward that should have gone to the people of Gombe South was hijacked by the Central zone. The post went to a person who was appointed Minister of Transport, but who is yet to let the benefits of this trickle down to the South zone.
The minister, Senator Abdullahi Idris, hails from Yamaltu/Deba local government, which massively voted for the opposition CPC in the presidential election. PDP was trounced there. But that local government was compensated with the ministerial portfolio, as against Gombe South zone which gave the PDP almost 99 per cent of their votes.
Now 2015 is approaching. Can the minister promise that his local government would give PDP the same percentage of votes produced by Gombe South zone in 2011? If yes, that could be a welcome idea for the party. PDP should not continue the journey ahead blindly. The masses should check the antecedents of politicians showing interest in various offices in the build up to 2015 elections before voting them into power.
Inuwa Mohammed, K.C. 21, Kumbiya-Kumbiya, Gombe. Mobile: 08038036563. Email: [email protected]
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