Buhari: Getting ready for 2015

MUSTAPHA SALIHU writes on the recent visit to Kano by the  leader of the Congress for Progress Change, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and his preparations for the  2015 polls

Although, 2015; the year for Nigeria’s next general elections is ‘light-years’ away, some politicians have begun subterranean moves both in their actions and body language to clinch elective offices. The candidate for  the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 presidential election, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is one of such.

Two weeks ago, the ex-Head of State and the CPC national leader, visited Kano with his staunch supporters and party leaders including the national chairman, Prince Tony Momoh.

Their visit had all the trappings of a campaign rally, even though it was  said to be for the purpose of unveiling the party’s new state secretariat near KASCO, along Maiduguri Road in the metropolis.

Buhari also used the opportunity of being in his ‘home base’, Kano to lampoon the Peoples Democratic Party, which he alleged had breached the 1999 Constitution on several occasions.

Surprisingly or perhaps due to strategic reasons, the new party secretariat is just about a hundred metres away from the one to which a faction of the party-led by vitriolic politician and former Buhari die-hard supporter, Alhaji Ahmad Zago – had laid claim to.

As early as 7am, many residents, who were unaware of the planned visit, were caught napping, with some of them wondering if it was  the CPC campaign rally for the local government elections which many felt the Peoples Democratic Party state government had deliberately avoided organising.

The number of vehicles, particularly buses hired by party stalwarts, especially aspirants to elective positions in 2015; and those who won and lost in the April 2011 elections caused gridlock on major roads leading to the party secretariat.

From many of the vehicles wafted the heavy smell of Indian Hemp smoked by Yandabas, as they are known in Kano. The scion of the family of late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Mohammed, was one of the CPC chiefs that were missing from the entourage, but some of the buses bore his campaign posters. Another CPC stalwart,  Alhaji Ibrahim Babankowa, a retired police commissioner, was also missing, but the Buhari ‘train’ stopped at his country home along Kano-Hadejia Road to pay ‘homage’.

Buhari, who was billed to arrive Kano by 10am, however did not turn up until about midday and immediately headed for the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, to pay him homage. From there, he and his entourage in company with the caretaker committee of the party in Kano led by Dr. Muhammed Abubakar drove straight to Government House to pay the governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, a courtesy visit.

Part of his itinerary in Kano was to receive those who joined  other political parties with former chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party, Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Amin ‘Little,’ being the biggest new fish in the CPC pond.

‘Little’, a well rounded grass-roots politician loved by the youth and women had contested the gubernatorial primaries under the PDP in 2007 and lost.

Buhari’s ‘triumphant entry’ into the Kano State Government House was particularly instructive, not just because he used the occasion to lament the destruction of business and investments in the old pyramid state and the North due to the Boko Haram insurgence, but also because the governor paid glowing tribute to him as one who the nation’s politicians should see as a role model.

Kwankwaso said the plan to dismantle roadblocks in the state was due to improvements in the security situation in the state, stressing that the government was also unhappy with some of the checkpoints in the state. According to him, his administration is working with all security agencies in the state to ensure that all security checkpoints were dismantled.

He stated that the visit of the CPC leader was very important as it would help to enhance cordial relationship among politicians in the state. The Kano State governor also rated Buhari as a courageous leader, describing his political ‘masterstroke’ as what is expected of any quality politician in Nigeria.

The governor commended his leadership qualities, insinuating that some of them might consider defecting to the CPC because of the exceptional and sterling leadership by the former Head of State.

He opined that politicians should not engage in squabbles or physical combat because they belonged to different political parties.

“What Gen. Buhari did today, is what any reasonable politician is expected to do. Being in different political parties does not mean we should start fighting ourselves,” the governor said.

Earlier, Buhari informed Kwankwaso that he was in Kano to officially commission the CPC’s state party office, adding that the opening of the office would signify the end of internal crisis in the party in Kano State.

He also lamented the recent security challenges in the North, which he noted have made the region a lot poorer, and advised the government to intensify efforts to put an end to the crisis with a view to saving the region from total collapse.

“I am here to commiserate with them (the people of Kano) over the bombings that rocked the state, and for the extra security being provided, but is extremely affecting the people. It is sad and I hope we would get over it as soon as possible.”

Buhari observed that, “It is on record that over 200 articulated vehicles leave Kano every day for Maiduguri and there in Maiduguri, traders from Cameroun, Chad, Niger Republic would be waiting to receive their goods from Kano.

“Now, that situation has virtually gone because of the security threat rocking Kano and other Northern states of the country.”

He then asked rhetorically, “How many Nigerians, because of this dastardly act, are now forced and pushed into poverty, since it is no longer business as usual in Kano?”

At the CPC headquarters, Buhari was received by hordes of supporters. The atmosphere was charged and  the supporters were in carnival mood. However, The PUNCH observed that many of the faces were recycled persons doing the same jobs for political rival parties. Simply put, the crowd was hired, a strategy that seems to be convenient for politicians and political parties nationwide.

While delivering his address, Buhari urged party members and supporters to shun any factional leadership and join hands to move the party forward.

He then commended the caretaker committee of the party for a job well-done so far, enjoining them to reach out and mobilise  support for the party at grass-roots level to ensure it emerges victorious in future elections. He equally challenged party stalwarts and supporters to give the committee the support and cooperation it requires to move CPC to the next level.

A party stalwart, Alhaji Haruna Bashir, in a chat with The PUNCH, disclosed that since the new caretaker committee took over in May, this year, it has fostered reconciliatory moves with several meetings held at various times.

Bashir said, “The caretaker committee since its inauguration has met with aggrieved members with a view to ensuring unity and reconciliation of the party members. Those they have met include aspirants for various positions in the April 2011 election. This is with a view to moving the party forward.”

The CPC has had to contend with internal wrangling before and after the 2011 general polls. Presently, two main factions of the party exist in Kano and the erstwhile party headquarters has been sealed up through a court injunction by the Haruna Zago faction.

Kwankwaso’s encomium on Buhari did not come to many as a surprise. This is because most political watchers are of the view that he has one leg in and one leg out of the PDP and is probably preparing grounds for his formal movement to the CPC.

The ex-Minister of Defence is believed to be in the bad books of the presidency and the national headquarters of the PDP because of his Kwankwasiyya group, which he has promoted far and above the main party, the PDP. Most of the appointees from Kano at the federal level belong to the rival Garkuwa faction of the party under the control by the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman.

As for Buhari, a staunch promoter of the Danzago faction – who preferred anonymity – described him as a politician on a wild goose chase as far as 2015 presidential poll is concerned.

He regretted that, “the ex-General cannot study the political wave in the country and realise that he cannot be president. Besides, he has never pretended to be a good politician, because he has simply refused to drop his dictatorial garb. He is being given false hope for the presidential election by those who use his popularity in some parts of the North to win elections.

 “I know what is happening because I was a member of The Buhari Organisation before we formed the CPC. There are also that who masquerade as his campaign managers and holds him to ransom to benefit from his massive campaign fund donated by admirers from within and outside the country.”