As the build up to 2023 general election gathers momentum, the ruling All progressive Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s democratic Party (PDP), have continue to reposition to retain or takeover power in Kaduna State.
While the ruling APC has already marked down five notable politicians as successors of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai in 2023, the opposition PDP has equally realigned, with four political Stalwats to wrestle power from APC.
One thing that’s obvious and realistic however, is the fact that, all the nine Governorship hopeful so far identified came from a particular Senatorial Zone of Kaduna state except for one aspirant.
While the faith of Uba Sani, the current APC popular Senator representing Kaduna Central remains unpredictable and hanging in the air because of the odds against him in APC, his alleged planned cross carpeting is already counting against him as a difficult task to accomplished.
It is widely believed that Senator Uba Sani’s name has reportedly been removed from APC In Kaduna State, insider sources also alleged that all his men have also been expunged from the party exco by Governor El-Rufai and Speaker Yusuf Zailani of the state house of Assembly.
Recalled that, It has been the practice of the APC party’s leadership to give liberty to a strong member to write all the executive members when It’s time to remove a high profile member unjustly.
In 2019, Governor El-Rufai leadership of the party reportedly gave Uba Sani the liberty, pen and paper, to write all the exco of the party when they wanted to removed Senator Shehu Sani from the exco.
The scenario played out recently, when Yusuf lbrahim Zailani, the state assembly Speaker and Governor El-Rufai sat down and wrote that any member who associated with Uba Sani should be removed from the party.
Clarifying the allegations, Senator Shehu Sani confirmed that “because in 2019 when the Governor wanted to remove me from Party, he gave Uba Sani the liberty, pen and paper, to write all the exco of the party.Trouble started when Uba Sani and Speaker, both openly demonstrated vested interest in becoming Governor of Kaduna state come 2023, but the Governor wanted the chief of staff, Sani Datijo to be his successor.
Uba, it was reliably gathered is currently being denied even the Senate sit because he don’t have loyalists in the party anymore.
“Uba, is even at the verge of even being denied the Senate sit currently because he don’t have anybody in APC anymore”, an ardent supporter of Uba who confided in our reporter.
“They’ve remove everybody associated with Uba Sani from APC, making Sani Datijo the number one Governorship hopeful in APC”, the source added. A peep into the profiles of other governorship hopeful of APC clearly shows that people like Bashir Jamo DG NIMASA, Bashir Saidu finance Commissioner are however among those in the list of the 2023 party’s top contenders.
Indeed, Sani Shaaban the former Guber aspirant and ex State House of Assembly member from Zaria, are also in race. Shaaban who’s son is married to Buhari’s daughter, is also eying the number one seat of the State in anticipation of villa support.
On the side of Kaduna PDP guber hopeful, there are basically three main intending contenders for 2023. The main contenders warming up to vie for the hottest positions in the state include Senator Shehu Sani who is reportedly moving to the party any moment from now.
The other persons seriously in the race on the platform of PDP are the 2019 governorship candidate of the party, Hon. Isah Ashiru Kudan, his 2015 senior colleague and former Governor of the State, Ramaran Yero, respectively.
As usual, it’s impossible to rule-out politicians like Senator Suleiman U. Hunkuyi from the race as a staunch member of PDP with structures all over the State.
As earlier observed, findings revealed that of all the intending contestants, only Senator Shehu Sani originally comes from Kaduna Central.
The eight other aspirants of both APC and PDP are from Kaduna north Senatorial Zone in Zaria and environment, with the exception of Senator Shehu Sani, who was born in Kaduna central.
Even though the question about who was born in Kaduna central or was not may not be the issue, but whether there’s any special advantage attached to it and how that add value to someone in the race to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
On whether Sen. Shehu Sani, is the only bonafide son of Kaduna Central Zone by birth, and whether that has given him an edge over other aspirants, is a matter of conjesture.
Senator Shehu Sani who however confirmed the allegations to our reporter when contacted, further explained that “I’m the only Kaduna boy, originally born in Kaduna Central, the rest are impostor”.
Based on the forgoing, the chances of Shehu Sani could be seen as more brighter especially with a zoning arrangement on one hand, and on the other hand, were familiarity and closeness to the people of Southern Kaduna could translate into votes.
Be that as it may, the Southern Kaduna factor, with regards to determining Shehu Sani’s victory is key when compared to all contestants irrespective of party affiliation in terms of support based.
Notwithstanding their positions, Senator Shehu Sani has more advantage over his opponents because of his closeness and support to southern Kaduna people compare to Ramaran Yero, Suleiman Hunkuyi as well as Hon. lsa Ashiru respectively.
This relationship could only be add value in area of primary elections of the opposition PDP if Shehu could garner same support from both central and little from the northern part of the state as well. It may also not be in doubt that the 10 Southern Kaduna local government, with two in Kaduna central, could not only add more advantageous and of good value to Shehu Sani as someone who has a long standing relationship with people, but could influence their voting.
Coming down to APC, the El-Rufai factor, may not only apply, the incumbency factor would undoubtedly favor the like of chief of staff, Sani Datijo, who’s most favorite candidate of El-Rufai during APC primary, even though the like of finance commissioner, Bashir Saidu has been justing for top sit.
Also in general elections, the factor of 10 Southern Kaduna Christian local governments could come into play with two of it in Kaduna Central, including Chikun and kajuru LGs.
While it’ll be extremely difficult for Southern Kaduna delegates to vote any other aspirants outside Shehu in primary elections of PDP Indeed, It could also be a dream pipe for them to also vote any other candidates if Shehu Sani emerged PDP candidate in the general elections, especially with what they’re passing through under APC led Nasir El-Rufai administration in terms insecurity, a Southern kaduna frontline PDP supporter Mr. Maigari Ango Mathew, stated.
However, popular observers could strongly argued that Bashir Jamo, who’s son is married to Buhari’s daughter, may be the choice of the APC cabal from that point of view.
Other schools of thought could hold on to their opinions on the chances of Isa Ashiru of PDP as one that has contested for Governor in 2019, and therefore could be given sympathy votes by electorates.
For Ramadan Yero, even though the factor of been the former Governor of the state still remains fresh in memories, he may no longer have the financial muscles to stand the rigour of money bags politicians enshrined in the nation’s polity.
On alleged moves to cross carpet to PDP, even though all efforts to get him to speak failed, Senator Uba Sani is remored to have been taken money to the former two times Governor of kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, and even gotten his son a job in CBN. “The problem Uba is still going to face is that PDP people are going to view him as agent of El-Rufai or a mole coming to destroyed their party. Another problem Uba is going to have is the fact that El-Rufai is going to fight him dirty; because for four years, he has been benefiting in contracts from kaduna state government as special advisal on political matters to the Governor. He has also gotten alot of houses and estate. “So the day Uba decided to transmit from APC to PDP, war is going to break out of him. Uba is afraid to fight El-Rufai because all his secrets are in the hands of El-Rufai. That’s why he cannot reply despite that Nasir has been blasting Uba in APC meetings in which non of kaduna journalsts have interest or access to the meetings of APC in kaduna, to publish. Non .. nobody report it because they don’t even know.
“The only relationship they’ve with APC is when they’re invited to come and cover press conference. And the only press conference which APC has been doing was the one which I was in office and to tell them I’ve been suspended.
“APC has never hold any general press conference in kaduna. The dilemma of Uba Sani now is that if he attempt to move from APC, El-Rufai is going to expose and demolish him. Uba Sani has lost out in APC in kaduna by loyalist of speaker. Uba Sani too is from Zaria not kaduna Central. I’m the only one born in kaduna. “El-Rufai is aware Uba Sani has been taken money to Makarfi and waiting for the day Uba will declare decamping. If Uba move from APC to PDP or any party it has rubbish El-Rufai presidential ambition because it’ll be that APC has only one Senator in kaduna state.
“So any attempted for Uba to leave APC will spell doom for him. Uba got makarfi son job in CBC and El-Rufai new about it”, he said.”What Uba want some journalsts to know now is that in all Sallah period he try to snap with El-Rufai to commoflage that he’s still with El-Rufai. So people will not know. “El-Rufai went out of his way to remove Shehu Sani for Uba even when Buhari wanted Shehu to be there in ,2019.
“Uba has been going about insulting El-Rufai since he became senator. Each time Uba boys want to raise their voice against El-Rufai, he’ll tell them to stop and not to cause problem for him. El-Rufai has cut him short. El-Rufai is ready to do everything to bring the chief of staff as his successor. Kaduna central has never produce a Governor in kaduna State”, APC source revealed.
