by Nuruddeen M. Abdallah
Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu
A
document prepared by people working for President Goodluck Jonathan’s
re-election in 2015 listed 151 top northerners to be “consulted.” Weekly
Trust exclusively obtained the document and spoke to some of the people
whose names appeared on it.
In an effort to get the North to support
the reelection bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, the
president’s men drew up a list of 151 prominent personalities, including
staunch critics, from the region’s 19 states who are to be ‘consulted’
for their support.
The document, now in possession of Weekly Trust,
was said to have been compiled and prepared by a leading political
operator from Bauchi State, who is in the forefront of the president’s
reelection campaign.
Also according to the document, the shortlisted
personalities were to be “consulted” by the president’s “contact group”
headed by a well known electronic media mogul from the southern part of
the country. The contact group is to reach out to those on the list,
which contains the names of prominent traditional rulers, elder
statesmen, members of the intelligentsia, politicians, retired public
servants, former military and security chiefs, famous businessmen, among
others, to get their support.
Setting the ball rolling
Chairman
of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Niger
State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, was the first to publicly raise an
alarm over the list.
Speaking during the 25 anniversary of the Emir
of Minna, Alhaji Umaru Bahago recently, Aliyu alleged that the names of
400 prominent northerners have been shortlisted by the presidency to
support Jonathan’s candidacy in 2015.
Shortly after the disclosure by
the Niger State governor, the chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum
(ACF), Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, whose named also appeared on the list,
confirmed obtaining the document.
In a statement he personally
signed, the ACF chairman said “those seeking or advising the president
to offer inducements in exchange for support are clearly taking the
matter of the President’s re-election away from performance in office to
something else. If that is the case, they will be well advised to leave
Northern leaders out of it, because the so called list which we have
seen, indeed contain names of some of the most respected people in
Northern Nigeria.”
Mohammed went further to say that “we have however
made enquiries within the government and have spoken with many of the
people whose names are on the list and they confirmed to us that they
know nothing whatsoever about it. No one has met them nor are they
interested in meeting any one on the issue.”
Though the Niger State
governor alleged that about 400 northerners were shortlisted, the
document obtained by Weekly Trust listed only 151 personalities. Our
sources who said they have seen the list also confirmed that it
contained 151 individuals.
A list and its inaccuracies
The
list, titled “Northern Elders to be contacted by the … contact group,”
is not signed, which puts doubts to its authenticity. There were also a
number of inaccuracies, which include listing names of people who are
deceased like the Second Republic politician and Minister of Labour
under Abacha, Senator Uba Ahmed, who died last year.
The late Ahmed, who hailed from Kaltungo in Gombe State, appeared on the list under Bauchi State.
The
inaccuracies on the list suggest that those behind it may actually be
in a hurry to curry favour from the presidency. It also shows that the
list might have been drafted long ago, when some of the listed
personalities were alive.
Further analysis of the document shows that
63 personalities were shortlisted from the North-West, 49 from the
North-Central and 39 from the North-East.
A state-by-state breakdown
shows that 15 people were shortlisted from Adamawa State alone, followed
by Katsina (14), Kano (11), Jigawa (10), Borno (10), Kebbi (9), Plateau
(9), Benue (9), Bauchi (8) and Kaduna (7).
Kogi, Kwara, Taraba,
Sokoto and Zamfara states had six people each from; while Yobe, Gombe
and Niger States had five people each. Only four were listed for
Nasarawa State.
Also, the Emir of Katagum and Emir of Azare, which is one and the same emirate, appeared on the list as two individuals.
Similarly,
the name of the former People’s Democratic Party national Chairman,
Chief Solomon Lar, who died recently, also appeared on the list.
Also,
the list shows that of the four living former heads of state from the
northern part of the country, only former President Shehu Shagari was
mentioned in the list.
Former vice chancellor and Chief Imam of Kano
is the only religious leader in the entire list analysed by Weekly
Trust. Aside him, there are no other Muslim or Christian clerics on the
list.
On the other hand, the document shows that 45 traditional
rulers, comprising first class emirs and chiefs were short-listed for
the consultation.
Also, 16 of the short-listed personalities are
retired military generals, four are retired police chiefs and two are
retired national security advisers.
Out of the 151 names on the list,
only two – Naja’atu Muhammed and Helen Gomwalk from Kano and Plateau
states respectively – are women.
Prominent critics of President Jonathan such as Dr. Junaidu Muhammed and Prof. Ango Abdullahi also appeared on the list.
The
list also contained key figures from the academia such as Prof. Nura
Alkali, who served as a member of the Boko Haram dialogue committee and
Prof. Dandatti Abdulkadir, a former vice chancellor of Bayero University
Kano (BUK).
The shortlisted personalities
The 15
personalities to be consulted in Adamawa are former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar, former ambassador Alhaji Hassan Adamu, former Minister
of Trade and Industry during General Muhammadu Buhari’s regime Dr Mahmud
Tukur, former Minister of Education and Petroleum Prof. Jubril Aminu,
Chief Joel Madaki, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Senator Paul Wampana, Air
Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), former Inspector General of Police Alhaji
Gambo Jimeta, former Minister of Agriculture Alhaji Adamu Bello, former
presidential aspirant Alhaji Dauda Birma, Lamido of Adamawa, Emir of
Mubi, Chief of Bachama, and Emir of Ganye.
In Bauchi, the eight
people shortlisted are: elder statesman Alhaji Bello Kirfi, ACF chairman
Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, former Secretary to the Government of the
Federation Alhaji Aminu Saleh, Second Republic politician Senator Uba
Ahmed (late), and emirs of Azare, Katagum (Azare and Katagum is one and
the same emirate), Dass and Bauchi.
The nine people from Benue are
deputy chairman of the Northern Elders’ Forum Mr Paul Unongo, Chief
Isaac Shaanu, former House of Representatives Speaker Benjamin Chaha,
Senator Ameh Ebute, General GeofferyEjiga (rtd), former Senate President
IyorchiaAyu, General Lawrence Onoja (rtd), the Tor Tiv and the Ochi
Idoma.
In Borno, the 10 people are elderstatesman Shettima Ali
Munguno, former Governor Alhaji Muhammed Goni, former Governor Alhaji
Asheikh Jarma, former ACF chairman retired General IBM Haruna, Prof.
Nura Alkali, former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, Senator Maina Ma’aji
Lawan, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Imam, the Shehu of Dikwa and Shehu of Borno.
The five people in Gombe are: Emirs of Gombe, Dukku and Akko, Senator Adamu Waziri and Alhaji Sa’idu Kumo.
In
Jigawa, the 10 people are former Governor SaminuTuraki, AVM Mukhtar
Mohammed, former Minister of Power during Abacha’s regime Alhaji Bashir
Dalhatu, Alhaji Ibrahim Babankowa, Alhaji Saleh Hassan Hadejia, former
Minister Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf, emirs of Dutse, Hadejia, Ringim
and Gwaram.
From Kano, 11 people were shortlisted. They are Second
Republic politician Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, Dr Junaidu Muhammed, chairman
of Northern Elders’ Forum Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, son of the late
Head of State Sani Abacha Alhaji Muhammed Abacha, business mogul Alhaji
Aminu Dantata, former House of Representatives speaker Ghali Umar
Na’abba, Galadiman Kano Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, Prof. Dandatti
Abdulkadir, Chief Imam of Kano Prof. Sani Zaharaddeen, former National
Security Adviser to Abacha Alhaji Sama’ila Gwarzo and frontline
politician Hajiya Naja’atu Bala Muhammed.
The 14 personalities from
Katsina are elderstateman Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, former Inspectors General
of Police Alhaji M.D. Yusuf and Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, Second
Republic politicians Alhaji Lawal Kaita and Alhaji Musa Musawa, former
presidential aspirant Alhaji Lema Jibrilu, business mogul Alhaji
Isma’ila Isa Funtua, Dr Usman Bugaje, former Minister Alhaji Sani Zangon
Daura, former Governor Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi, Senator M.A. Danmusa,
business mogul Alhaji Umaru Mutallab and Emirs of Katsina and Daura.
The
14 names from Kebbi are: former Governor Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, former
Minister of Water Resources under President Obasanjo Muhammed Bello
Khaliel, former Emir of Gwandu Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo, former
Comptroller General of Customs Alhaji Abubakar Musa, former Chief of
Army Staff Ishaya Bamaiyi, Senator Mohammed Magoro, Emirs of Argungu,
Yauri and Zuru.
In Kaduna, the seven shortlisted names are retired
General Zamani Lekwot, spokesperson of Northern Elders’ Forum Prof. Ango
Abdullah, Nigerian High Commissioner in London Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida,
former Minister of Petroleum Alhaji Rilwanu Lukman, former Secretary to
the Government of the Federation Alhaji Gidado Idris, Second Republic
Minister Alhaji Umaru Dikko and Emir of Zazzau.
The seven people from
Kogi are Alhaji Sule Yaji, former governorship candidate Alhaji Jubril
Isah Echocho, Air Commodore I. Alfa (rtd), Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim,
SAN, the Attah Igala and Attah of Igbira.
Six people were shortlisted
from Kwara. They are former Governor Cornelius Adebayo, Alhaji Shuaibu
Lafiagi, former Inspector General of Police Chief Sunday Adewusi, former
Nigerian permanent representative in the United Nations Prof. Ibrahim
Gambari, Emir of Ilorin and Etsu of Pategi.
The four people from Nasarawa are Second Republic politician Alhaji Isiyaku Ibrahim, Emirs of Lafia, Keffi and Nasarawa.
In
Niger, five names were shortlisted. They are retired General Inuwa
Wushishi, retired Col. Sani Bello, Emir of Suleja, Etsu Nupe and Emir of
Lapai.
The nine people from Plateau are Senator John Wash Pam, wife
of the late military administrator of Plateau State Mrs Helen Gomwalk,
Chief Solomon Lar (who died recently), former ambassador Alhaji Yahaya
Kwande, frontline politician Alhaji Saleh Hassan, former FCT minister
retired General Jerry Useni, retired Air Commodore Bernard Banfa, former
defence chief retired General Domkat Bali and former Nigerian Customs
Service chief and Gbong Gwong Jos Chief Jacob Gyang Buba.
The six
people from Sokoto are former President Shehu Shagari, former Finance
Minister Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, former Sultan of Sokoto Ibrahim Dasuki,
Alhaji Mohammed Arzika, Alhaji Yusuf Yabo and former Governor Attahiru
Dalhatu Bafarawa.
The six names from Taraba are former Defence
Minister T.Y. Danjuma, former Governor Jolly Nyame, Emir of Muri, Aku
Uka of Wukari, former Minister Idris Waziri and Mr Baba Adi.
In Yobe, the five names are Alhaji Adamu Fika, elderstateman Adamu Ciroma, Emirs of Fika, Potiskum and Damaturu.
The
six names shortlisted from Zamfara are: former National Security
Adviser Umaru Shinkafi, former Governor Yahaya Abdulkarim, Emirs of
Anka, Gusau, Tsafe and Kauran Namoda.
Their reactions
Atiku,
who spoke through his spokesperson Malam Garba Shehu, said “we are
aware about the list even though we don’t have it.” He said that “nobody
contacted him yet. In fact, this is laughable. They are just wasting
their time.”
Alhaji Isyaku Ibrahim said “I knew of this list but I wasn’t contacted. But I am still waiting.”
He
said that he learned that the contact group is going round disbursing
$50,000 to each of the shortlisted people. “They haven’t contacted me
yet because they know my relationship with General Buhari. I can’t be
part of that mess. But I am still waiting for them,” he said.
Chief
Benjamin Chaha told Weekly Trust on telephone that “I don’t know whether
my name is on any list. The group has not contacted me yet.”
When contacted, Alhaji Adamu Bello said that “I have not been contacted. I was not aware that my name is on that list.”
He added that “I won’t be surprised if the president feels that I should be contacted because we have worked together before.”
Abubakar
Dangiwa Umar said that “believed me nobody has contacted me,” adding
that “I don’t see anything wrong in the president’s men reaching out to
people.”
“Once INEC lifts campaign ban, all presidential aspirants would start reaching out to people for support,” Umar said.
He
added that “People like Obasanjo are making great error, trying to stop
Jonathan from seeking re-election as guaranteed in the constitution. He
should be allowed to contest, only the electorates have the right to
either reject him or vote for him. But he should be allowed to contest.”
Dr
Paul Unongo told Weekly Trust on telephone that “I can confirm to you
that I am not aware that my name is on that list. I can confirm to you
also that I have not been contacted by the group.”
Dr Usman Bugaje said that “Yes, I have a copy of the list. But I have not been contacted by the group. I hope that they don’t.”
General J.T. Useni said that “I have not seen the list yet and I have not been contacted.”
Dr
Junaidu Muhammad told Weekly Trust on telephone that “I know nothing
about the list and the contact group. I don’t know whether such contact
group exists.”
But he admitted meeting High Chief Raymond Dokpesi,
the Chairman of AIT and Ray Power. He said that Dokpesi texted him after
he came to Kano and met some northern leaders.
“After he went back
to Abuja, he texted me saying that he wanted to meet with me. He
explained to me that a particular northern elder blocked me from meeting
him when he came to Kano.
“So, he came back to Kano again and we
met. Our discussion centered on the state of the nation and how Jonathan
administration has failed to address the crucial issues affecting the
country,” Junaidu said.
When Weekly Trust asked him whether the issue
of money in exchange for supporting Jonathan’s reelection in 2015, he
said that “nothing like that took place. No issue of money or supporting
Jonathan’s reelection bid was raised during the meeting.
“My loyalty
to the north can’t be compromised with money. I am far above that even
though I know dozens of northern elders presently under the payroll of
the presidency. I can’t be bought over,” Junaidu said.
‘The whole thing is blackmail’
When
Weekly Trust contacted Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, he said that “I have not
been contacted.” He said that “the whole thing is blackmail. I can’t be
blackmailed into supporting any candidate I don’t like.”
He said that
“is it not (Governor Mu’azu) Babangida Aliyu that started the whole
talk. Where is he today? Is he not in PDP? I am not partisan.”
“I can
decide to support Jonathan today and I don’t fear anybody. I can tell
you that nobody can win election in the north without our support. Our
support is very vital to any candidate seeking election in this part of
the country. So, nobody can blackmail me,” Yakasai said.
Several
attempts to get the presidency speak on the matter were not successful.
When our reporter sought reactions the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, the head of media relations
in that office Mr Bamidele Salam, referred Weekly Trust to the
Political Adviser to the President Ahmed Gulak. Attempts to speak to
Gulak were not successful as he neither picked calls put through his
mobile phone nor replied message sent to it.
But shortly after the
allegations by Babangida Aliyu, Gulak dismissed it, saying “What I can
simply say is that Mr. President is not used to bribing people.”
WeeklyTrust
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An ideological group, Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO), which propagates the values of the former Head of State and one of the leading opposition figures in the country, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) will be launched in January.