The recent political tour of Adamawa state by former Governor Murtala Nyako, where he urged electorates to vote for credible candidates in the forthcoming polls is considered as a move to prepare ground for his son Senator Abdulazeez Nyako, the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), to have a smooth ride to win governorship seat with.
Nyako, who toured the 21 LGAs of the state, explained that the mission of his visit, was to thank the people for their unflinching support during his administration.
He decried unemployment rate, political thuggery and drug abuse among youths, attributing them to lack of government empowerment programmes in the state.
“The rowdy reception accorded me, is a clear indication of my acceptability to the people of the state. It is obvious, for us to vote into power, credible people that would bring people empowerment and job creation. We must also vote for a government that would provide quality education for our children in the state”, he said.
Some of the loyalists of the governor, who spoke at the occasion assured that the state and its people, would tap from the wealth of experience of the former governor, to channel a better future for the state.
Meanwhile, Senator Abdul-Azeez Nyako, representing Adamawa Central Senatorial District and governorship candidates of African Democratic Congress (ADC), is riding on the back of his father’s legacy as he began with town hall meeting, where he promised not to dethrone Lamido of Adamawa if elected as governor in 2019, as being speculated by his opponents.
Nyako said his problem with the Lamido which led to his removal as the Youth Leader (Sarkin Matasa) of Adamawa emirate by the Lamido was a foregone issue and was not among his reasons to contest for the governorship of the state.
Nyako said he has respect for traditional institution and he appreciated the opportunity given him to serve as Sarkin Matasa which according to him further deepened his respect for the institution which he said has deep connection with the grassroots and needed to be further enhance.
“I am not that vindictive. My interest is not to retaliate; we have enormous problems in Adamawa and my desire is to contribute in solving them.
“What transpired between Lamido and I, for me, that matter is over. In any case I wish him well”, he said.
The senator, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ADC cited injustice during the last APC congresses as his reason for leaving the party with his supporters, may have upper hand in guber poll going the legacies of his father as a former governor.
Some people in the state view his defection as an act of desperation but some of his supporters defected along with him to ADC.
His defecting to ADC is entirely a new struggle for the Sen. Nyako. This was amplified by some card carrying members of his new party, against the senator’s wish of getting automatic ticket in his new party, arguing that he is new comer to the party.
They argued that Sen. Nyako was unable to sustain APC party structure, put in place by his father as former governor despite the fact that he (Sen Nyako) was an influential and key official during his father’s administration.
The fear of Sen. Nyako displaying his political wisdom as he demonstrated in his former party APC has been given supporters of ADC in the state sleepless night.
Senator Nyako, who defected along with Alhaji Rufai Umar members representing Gombi constituency in the House of Assembly, said they were compelled to leave APC with their supporters due to what he described as injustice meted to him and his supporters during the recent congresses of APC in the state.
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With this development, it is not yet known whether former Gov. Murtala Nyako, would follow his son to the his new political party or not, in view of the fact, Sen. Nyako resigned as naval officer to support his father who was then the state governor.
Many observed that the former governor may decide to stay in the ruling APC party having worked hard to sustain the party and first among the former PDP governors to join the APC.
The ruling APC, while flagging off its campaign received eleven governorship candidates from various political parties, who withdrew their ambitions for the incumbent Governor, Muhammadu Bindow.
The candidates led by the governorship candidates of Alliance National Party (ANP), Alhaji Umar Jada, who spoke at the ceremony held at Ribadu square said, their decision to defect to APC was based on the stewardship of the APC-led government.
Abdullahi Usman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Bappari Umaru of KOWA Party, Elizabeth Isah of Change Advocacy Party (CAP) and Lami Musa of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) were among the eleven welcomed into the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole.
Others included Badau Isaac Sa’adu of the Justice Must Prevail Party (JMPP), Bulame Naame of Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), Frank Usman Koshihula of MEGA Party, Sa’ad Maiyaki of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Achubi Umar Jada of Alliance for National Party (ANP).
Jada said their decision was based on development brought by the ruling APC administration, among the diverse people of the state.
He said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), has been signed by the candidates, to assure of their total support to the APC in the 2019 elections.
Receiving the candidates, Oshiomhole attributed the defection of the new members to the transformation of the state by the Bindow-led government in the last three years.
The former Edo State governor however, thanked the new members for the confidence reposed in the leadership of APC, and assured them that the party would continue with the tradition of good governance.
Rotimi Amaechi, Director General Buhari presidential campaigns organisation, while speaking noted that the past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) -led government subjected Nigerians to poverty, and urged the electorate not to vote for her in the next elections.
Amaechi also assured that the opposition PDP cannot withstanding President Muhamnadu Buhari’s good leadership qualities and urged the people to use their votes and recover what is good for the country.
“If you allow PDP to come back, all the struggles of Buhari for Nigerians would be destroyed in four years.
Meanwhile, Mrs Na’ama Bulama, the governorship candidate of Progressives People Alliance (PPA) and Mrs Lami Musa of People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), have said that they are still in the race, contrary to the news making the rounds in the state.
“I did not step down for anyone, I am still much in the race and was not even in town talk less of attending the event,” Bulama said.
She urged her supporters to remain calm and focus on working for the party’s victory.
Also reacting, Lami Musa of PPN said the party chairman earlier contacted her on the development but she rejected it.
“I am not a party to it and I still remain in the race,” Musa said.
She also urged her supporters to ignore the development.
Alhaji Bappari Umar, the candidate of KOWA party whose name and party were also mentioned said he was still in the race.
“There is a mix up in what happened. As you know we have a forum of gubernatorial candidates working towards a peaceful general election.
“Part of arrangements by the forum is to attend each other’s flag-off which some of us did yesterday.
“Some of us were at Governor Bindow’s flag-off in that respect but were erroneously included among those that stepped down for him,” Umar said.
