President Muhammdu Buhari, APC National Chairman Adams Oshimhole and all relevant institutions need to pay attention to what is going on in Yobe State. All we are asking for is the freedom to choose our leaders, the freedom to support whoever we wish to and the freedom from the tendency of using the State apparatus to manipulate the will of the people for personal and selfish ends.
Governors are always elected to serve the people. They are custodians of public funds on behalf of the people. They have immunity not because impunity is encouraged but because they need protection to give all their best to the service of the people, without distraction. But like every other thing in life, a governor’s term is power has limits. After two terms of four years each, a governor has to vacate the government house for another governor elected by the people to come in – and life goes on, and on.
It was by the will of Allah, following the death of Senator Mamman Ali in 2009, that destiny put Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam in the position of governor of Yobe State. Destiny had it that a gap in the Constitution enabled him to stay in the position beyond eight years. Now, at the end of his term, people expected him to show gratitude to them, and to Allah for lifting him from obscurity to that exalted office. No one expected him to wake up one day and impose on Yobe APC his choice, Alhaji Mai Malah Buni. Beyond that the governor also endorsed other aspirants, which is another way of saying that those aspirants would also be imposed on the people using State’s scarce resources for this. This unprecedented abuse of office shows disdain for the people of Yobe.
But what exactly does Governor Ibrahim Geidam want? Why is he keen to impose his choice on two million people? Does power come from him or from Allah and the people? Having been in power for 10 years, what more does he want? Does he want to plant his puppet so that his ‘reign’ can continue indirectly? Why is he afraid of the free and fair choice of the people, as expressed in a direct APC gubernatorial primary contest? Who is he to decide for Yobe people? Does a dacade in power make him start to feel like he is the paramount ruler of Yobe; lording it over an impoverished empire?
People of Yobe State asked for a direct primary election, but the state government used its means to abort this wish. Many find the indirect primary election unacceptable because it is susceptible to manipulation and abuse. But even with the imposition of indirect primary elections, the state government is now using threats and intimidation to narrow the choices of the delegates. Delegates are threatened with the severance of their means of livelihood if they vote for aspirants other than those anointed by the governor. Right now account numbers of delegates are being collected to facilitate their inducement. Verbal warnings are equally being handed down to delegates, of the consequences of voting for aspirants other than Geidam’s choice. Even then, why is the Yobe State government suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the ‘indirect primary’ election that it worked hard to get? Another plan is to hold the APC gubernatorial primary election in Wawa Hall of Government House Damaturu. The plan is to ensure that the government takes full control of the election. Bearing in mind that the governor has anointed the aspirant, Alhaji Mai Malah Buni, how then can the Yobe State Government House be a neutral ground for the primary election. Governor Geidam is well known for his regular banning of people from entering the Government House, at the slightest disagreement with them. How can those he is opposed to get justice or feel comfortable with a primary election being held within Government House, Damaturu? How is that possible? Is there no other neutral ground for such election to hold in the whole of Yobe State? This unacceptable scheme will not stand. This plan to violate the people’s right must not be allowed to happen.
Why does Governor Ibrahim Geidam feel that there is no one qualified to govern Yobe State from either Zone B or Zone C? Are the people of Zones B and C second class indigenes of the State? Is the governorship of Yobe State the sole entitlement of the people of Yobe Zone A? Many of us are angry because even from Zone A, the aspirant that the governor supports is not the best one.
It is strongly alleged that the Yobe State government used public funds in buying nomination forms for aspirants endorsed by the governor; which sub-head of the 2018 budget captured this violation of the commonwealth?
Since the day Governor Ibrahim Geidam announced his aspirant for governorship, the people of Yobe have been in shock. Their shock was because the aspirant the governor picked is from the same zone as the governor is from, as well as that of the former governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim. The two of them have cummulatively ruled Yobe State for over 21 years. Why does Governor Ibrahim Geidam feel that there is no one qualified to govern Yobe State from either Zone B or Zone C? Are the people of Zones B and C second class indigenes of the State? Is the governorship of Yobe State the sole entitlement of the people of Yobe Zone A? Many of us are angry because even from Zone A, the aspirant that the governor supports is not the best one. People have been asking: What is the qualification and record of experience of Alhaji Mai Malah Buni? Or could there be something Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam wants to cover up by seeking an imposition of Alhaji Mai Malah Buni on the people of Yobe State?
The people of Yobe seek a break from what many consider as the incompetence of Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam in the past ten years. They want a clean break from this; And they feel that the imposition of Alhaji Mai Malah Buni on them will be like jumping from the frying pan into fire.
All that the people of Yobe State are asking for is a level political playing field. The Yobe State government should rather use the funds at its disposal to provide good roads and schools for the people, instead of deploying these scare resource to violate them further by restricting the space for political participation. President Muhammdu Buhari, APC National Chairman Adams Oshimhole and all relevant institutions need to pay attention to what is going on in Yobe State. All we are asking for is the freedom to choose our leaders, the freedom to support whoever we wish to and the freedom from the tendency of using the State apparatus to manipulate the will of the people for personal and selfish ends.
Ahmed Bulama Gulani writes from Buni Yadi, Yobe State. Email: gulani_a@protonmail.com
