Ganduje, Gawuna and the quest for the right successor

By solacebase.com On Aug 23, 2021

(R-L) Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and his deputy, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna

By Hisham Habib Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will soon exhaust his second term as the governor of the most populous state, and will surely have to step aside for a successor either from his party or the opposition.

His wife Hafsat Ganduje recently showered praises on the valorous Murtala Sule Garo, the commissioner for local government which led to speculative wrangles especially in the polity on what people had eagerly perceived; a possible endorsement of a guber candidate within the government.

Although the first lady had mixed succession issues with loyalty matters, the debate continued as to who the governor ought to put weight behind in the All Progressive Congress, as the leader in the state at present, and future of the party itself against the forces waiting in earnest to wriggle power from it.

The succession issue which has for long been hushed up in government circles has been in high tempo within the citizens, considering the importance attached to it with the future of the state and its citizens.

It is glaring that amongst the contenders for the number one seat the state deputy governor Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna stands in a good position to seek the bigger job. The likes of Senator Barau, Inuwa Waya, and the underdog in the chief of staff Ali Makoda have come a way but have not acted in that capacity which the deputy has.

Coming from a grassroots background with some experience to match the challenge, the scientist turned administrator, would pacify the bitterness around the tussle inside the ruling party and even extend to camps within the opposition.

It is obvious that Gawuna can consolidate the party with his position and the backing of governor Ganduje and be able to imbibe continuity as desired by many within the administration.

But then as his principal did sometimes before 2015 the timidity played by the second in command must be replaced by zeal and voracity similar to what Ganduje employed in seeking for nomination.

The lacklustre strategy will only prove to those who wish to sideline him as one eligible candidate that he cannot endure the fight.

Nigerian governors have cultivated the culture of sidelining their deputies which in turn made political pundits assume that It will always end in a feud, while it does not necessarily have to.

As one who has worked with the big trio of Kwankwaso, Shekarau and Ganduje, without a rift or dent on his side he should be able to wriggle all external and internal overtaking.

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any –Alice Walker”

Habib, a journalist writes from Kano