By Abdullahi Idris Zuru
To those following the political development and the related unfolding events in Kebbi State, the massive decamping of the members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State to the All Progressive Congress (APC) is no longer news.
Decamping of individual and sizeable number of the PDP members to the APC started shortly after Comrade Governor Nasir Idris celebrated his one year in office anniversary, with appreciation and commendation from the stakeholders and benefiting communities for the successes achieved so far achieved.
But the continuous decamping of the PDP members, including local government councils leader being witnessed in recent weeks, was massive and unprecedented.
As it’s generally and strongly believed in Kebbi State today, majority of the remnants of the PDP in the state including prominent stakeholders are concluding preparations to massively abandoned their hitherto political enclave to join the All Progressive Congress (APC) under the able leadership of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris.
Expectedly, the development has caused an unimaginable confusion in the PDP, which unavoidably resulted in it being in disarray.
Similarly, the membership of the ruling party has also been grieved by the fear of domination, dictatorship, and possible hijack of the party by some of the decampees with a record of such antecedent
Their fears can be justified by the political crisis witnessed a few years back that characterised the general elections resulting from defections of major stakeholders, which eventually caused defections and ill-will among the people of the state.
However, it is pertinent to re- echoed the position of the state chapter of the party, that if anybody is decamping to APC with sincerity of purpose and based on their conviction that Comrade Governor Nasir Idris has demonstrated his commitment to peace and development of Kebbi State, considering what he had achieved in infrastructural development so far, then there is no cause for alarm.
They should however be conscious of the fact that the APC under the leadership of comrade Nasir Idris enjoys overwhelming genuine support from the generality of the people of Kebbi because of his humility, selflessness, generosity and commitment to service delivery. He has also earned the trust, loyalty and confidence of the true democrats and major stakeholders in the politics of the state who have, beyond reasonable doubt demonstrated their support for his political maturity, high regards for elders, religious and traditional leaders as well as commitment to changing the narrative of the socio-economic development of the state.
Let it be remembered that Comrade Governor Nasir Idris was a unionist who eventually became the Deputy National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress. He used the opportunity to cultivate harmonious relationships with trade unions, farmers and business communities, human rights activists, and politicians of different ideologies in Kebbi State. When he ventured into partisan politics, the Comrade exhibited unique leadership qualities, political maturity,honesty, and sincerity in his relationship with people regardless of political affiliation.
With humility, care and generosity, he built bridges across the political divide in the state, unite the different political blocks under the leadership of the former Governors and prominent stakeholders who are now publicly and actively involved in his administration and promotion of his political ambition.
There is no gain saying that former Governors Sa’idu Dakingari, Senator Atiku Bagudu, their Deputies and commissioners, Senator Muhammad Magoro, Senator Bala ibn Na’Allah and the Managing Director of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority Alhaji Abubakar Mallam are solidly behind Comrade Governor Nasir Idris right from the electioneering campaign to date.
Therefore, anybody joining the APC in Kebbi State with ideas and intentions contrary to the noble course of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris’ formidable and patriotic team of elder statesmen should have a rethink.
To the bornafide APC members that have made unmeasurable sacrifice for the election and success of the Comrade Governor’ administration and now expressing fear of domination, let them be assured that Comrade Kauran Gwandu has no record of betrayal or used and dumped.
It is equally worthy of note that Comrade Nasir kauran Gwandu has never forgotten his childhood friends, schoolmates, and fellow comrades in unionism as he carries everybody along at any given opportunity as long as one is not found wanting or discovered to have divided loyalty.
With the almost general acknowledgement of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris’s results oriented approach to implementation of viable socio-economic development programmes and policies, all-inclusive style of governance, generosity and selflessness by all segments of the society in the state, it can comfortably be said that there is a consensus that there is no alternative to Comrade Governor Nasir Idris in the next political dispensation in Kebbi State.
Zuru, versatile journalist is the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the Governor of Kebbi State.
