SWORN IN:Wammako – For the third time a lucky ‘bride’

Nigerian politics loving the underdog, perceived persecution from Bafarawa made Wamakko extremely popular in Sokoto, even with the ANPP which granted him the ticket to contest the election against Bafarawa’s handpicked successor, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, who moved to Bafarawa’s newly created party, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) meanwhile had seen the handwriting on the wall and shamelessly began courting Wamakko who then was locked in a tight romance with the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

But the politician that he is, Wamakko realized if he is ever going to wrest power in the state from the hands of his former associate-turned-arch-rival, he will need the deep pockets and connections of the PDP, which has most of federal power in its kitty as the ruling party. The rest as they say is history as Wamakko coasted home to victory alongside Mukhtari Shagari as his deputy, amidst cry of fraud from the other contestants. The election was later canceled by the tribunals and a re-run election held. Wammako still won in the fresh election until the Supreme Court ruled recently that his tenure had ended in May and a new election be held, which he again won.

Like most beautiful brides, Wamakko had green eyes of jealousy cast on him by some veteran housewives in the PDP in Sokoto who still see him as an outsider who was brought in from nowhere to usurp power from them. This led to the factionalisation of the party into the New PDP represented by Wamakko and his supporters within the party and the Old PDP represented by the old guards that used to hold fort in the past. As he embarks on his final tenure in office will the bride continue to sustain this lustrous charm? President Jonathan is still winking from Abuja.