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Battle for soul of ANPP: The Bafarawa factor
NDIDI OKAFOR
HE
is a tall man with a tall dream. He is widely reported as eyeing the highest
political seat in the land in 2007.
His perceived domineering political clout
and determination to take over the party machinery is said to be the major
reason for the recent crises in the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).
Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State
is seen in many quarters as a very influential member of the party and one of
its financiers.
But his much touted presidential ambition
has thrown the ANPP into what some observers have described as avoidable crises
both at the state and national levels.
It was also gathered that the remaining
six ANPP governors are not comfortable with the growing or unchecked influence
wielded by Governor Bafarawa.
In fact, some say that Bafarawa initiated
his political strategy geared towards capturing the party machinery when he
served it as the chairman of the caretaker committee in 2002 after the exit of
Alhaji Yusuf Ali as the National Chairman of the ANPP.
It was the Bafarawa caretaker committee that ushered in
the leadership of Chief Don Etiebet, the party’s current chairman. Thus, some
pundits have prsited that the said strategy to pocket the party’s machinery in
order to actualise his political ambition in 2007 was hatached while he scrved
as the chairman of the caretaker committee.
For those in this school of thought, the
Bafarawa factor is indeed a very strong and critical force in the ANPP, having
worked with party leaders across the country. But how serious is the said
presidential ambition and how bright or bleak is Bafarawa’s chances?
Opinions are divided on the issue. There
are those who say that the governor is seriously working to achieve the said
presidential ambition on the platform of the party in 2007.
Thus, they insist that his primary desire
will be to capture and pocket the party machinery to facilitate his emergence as
the party’s presidential flag bearer. So, it was reported that Governor Bafarawa
has allegedly mobilised party state chairmen to facilitate the removal of Chief
Etiebet as the National Chairman, at the botched meeting of the National
Executive Committee (NEC).
However, there are some analysts who have
argued that there is a hidden hand pushing Bafarawa to checkmate Major Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari, the ANPP presidential candidate in last year’s general
election.
They insist that the political music which
Bafarawa is currently dancing to, has been composed by outside forces to
destabilise the party.
Specifically, accusing fingers have been
pointed at former military ruler, Gen. Badamasi Babangida as being the one
Bafarawa is fronting for in order to checkmate Buhari.
To this end, they say that he is not
serious but simply one of the "IBB boys" seeking to help their master gain power
at the highest level again.
Besides, another unseen hand said to be
using the governor against the party is the People’s Democratic Party which is
said to be the platform on which Babangida may contest the presidential election
in 2007.
According to those in this school of
thought, the PDP is bent on whittling down opposition to its government and its
bid to retain the presidency in 2007. Thus, the quicker it destabilises the ANPP,
the better for its political future, the analysts contend.
But whatever arguments there are, there
appears to be a consensus that the reported presidential ambition of Bafarawa is
responsible for the recent spate of crises in the ANPP.
Therefore his said bid to remove Etiebet
from office led to his suspension, last Wednesday, by the National Working
Committee (NWC) of the party on the heels of a petition written by the National
Deputy Welfare Officer, Alhaji Mohammed Murtala.
Earlier in August, 2004, the National
Secretary, Mallam Sani El-Katuzu said to be loyal to Bafarawa was also suspended
by the Etiebet leadership and a panel set up to investigate allegation of
misappropriation of funds against him.
For the Etiebet’s leadership, it was a
case of striking while the iron was hot or destroying his enemy before he gets
at him.
He struck first and six out of the seven
ANPP governors stood by him given their said discomfort over Bafarawa’s bid to
hijack the party and its structure at both state and national levels.
But a faction loyal to Bafarawa led by
Gen. Jerry Useni (rtd) fought back, addressed a press conference at Rock View
Hotel, Abuja where they announced the suspension of Chief Etiebet endorsing Gen.
Useni as "Acting chairman" on Thursday, September 9, 2004.
The Bafarawa loyalists stormed the party
secretariat chanting "up chair, up chair" as they led Gen. Useni to the office
of the National Chairman, forced him to sit down and smashed Etiebet’s
photographs on the wall.
They alleged that Etiebet was in fact the
hired agent sent to destabilise the party and shouted "no Bafarawa, no ANPP, no
El Katuzu, no ANPP". Later, they left for Sokoto to pay a solidarity visit on
Governor Bafarawa.
This development, forced the Etiebet group
to hold its press conference at the Yobe State Government House amidst tight
security instead of the national secretariat, the usual venue for such events.
The meeting of the National Executive
Committee (NEC) fixed for that day was also postponed.
May be that explains why the governor of
Yobe, Alhaji Abukar Abba Ibrahim described the crisis thus: "Satan came into the
party and we have driven him away."
But has the "satan" really been driven
away as Governor Ibrahim claimed?
For the ANPP Senate leader, Senator Usman
Albishir, "disagreement is normal in politics," so there was nothing strange
about the crisis rocking the party.
According to him, the party can settle its
differences amicably and that was why the National caucus lifted the suspension
on Bafarawa and El-Katuzu and reiterated its faith and confidence in the
national leadership under Chief Don Etiebet.
However, Senator Sule Yari Ghandi (ANPP,
Sokoto) identified "Etiebet’s high handedness" as the reason for the crises in
the party.
"We don’t want a dictator," Senator Ghandi
declared at the party secretariat while speaking on why the Bafarawa faction
"suspended Etiebet" and installed Useni as "acting Chairman."
Apparently angry, Useni and Ghandi said
that "Bafarawa is not an ordinary member of the party."
Indeed, Bafarawa is no "ordinary member."
He is said to be one of those that pay the bills of the party and, indeed, calls
the shots from Sokoto.
But Etiebet and his group appear to be
tired of taking dictations from Bafarawa and would therefore do anything,
politically possible to clip his wings as it were.
As it stands, Etiebet appears to be
enjoying the unflinching support of six out of the seven governors of the ANPP
and that of its prominent members.
The governors of Yobe, Kano, Borno, Kebbi,
Zamfara and Jigawa were present at the press conference he addressed on
Thursday, September 9, 2004 to announce the decision of the national caucus to
lift the suspension on Bafarawa and El-Katuzu.
Etiebet and the governors appear bent on
cutting Bafarawa to size. But will they succeed? In fact, Bafarawa at the
weekend sponsored the Northern Senators Forum activities which held in Sokoto.
Senator Abba Aji (Borno) said the governor
"offered to host us, that is why the meeting held in Sokoto."
The northern Senators Forum chaired by
Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta (Niger) with Senator Mohammed Saidu Dansadau as
secretary, brought together the 58 senators from the north and other prominent
politicians from the north to brainstorm on issues affecting the political
fortunes of the area.
Some analysts have argued that by hosting
and sponsoring the meeting, ‘Bafarawa has added another feather to his political
cap.
They insist that his political profile is
not just rising but is being systematically and deliberately garnished ahead of
2007.
They also contend that the Bafarawa
Factor’ in the ANPP cannot be swept under the carpet or simply, wished away.
Thus, there are two major factions now in
the ANPP, the Bafarawa faction and the Etiebet faction.
Consequently, the ANPP is a house divided
against itself and the pertinent question then would be whether it can stand.
Can it weather the brewing storm?
Can it survive the said intimidating Bafarawa factor?
Indeed, time holds the answers.
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