The declaration by Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State recently that he has no preferred successor has continued to generate reactions, especially among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
At a “secret” meeting with coordinators of the Masari Campaign Organisation from the 34 local government areas of the state, the Chief of Staff (COS), Government House, Muntari Lawal, declared that the governor had not picked any successor.
The meeting convened by the COS came days after the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ya’u Umar Gwajo Gwajo, held a similar one with all the Directors of Administration/Heads of Local Government Administration in the state. At the meeting, which was equally kept secret, Gwajo Gwajo was said to have lambasted the directors for taking sides with some politicians. He said some of them were being used by “some powerful politicians to undermine the governor’s stand.”
According to 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE findings, Gwajo Gwajo warned them to stay away from conducting underground campaigns, noting that “after all, you people are civil servants working for the state government.”
Mending fences
The decision by Governor Masari to take the stand is seen as a desperate attempt to mend fences, as well as a way of showing his neutrality on who becomes his successor.
A government house source told this reporter that, “With a rumour all over the place that the governor has settled for the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, he has no option than to take that stand, because if anything, it will help in dousing the growing tension in the party, especially now that some bigwigs think they have more influence on other party members.”
The source further said after the APC stakeholders meeting some months ago, the governor found out that the party was tilting towards the SSG, which prompted him to act accordingly.
The source added that, “Remember the suspension of Alhaji Sabo Musa – a Special Assistant (SA) to the governor – by the party? Some elders had to intervene and talk to the governor. I believe Sabo Musa was accused of working against the stand of the governor in campaigning for who the party’s top hierarchy has anointed.”
A source in the COS’ office told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that the meeting was long overdue.
He said, “Baba (Muntari Lawal) is a very straight forward person; he says what he thinks is right, and even those considered untouchable are afraid of crossing his line. What the governor can’t say to some of his appointees, he lets Baba say it.”
Asked why the meeting, the source who was present at the meeting, said, “Masari is trying to carry everyone along, and I’m of the view that the meeting was not to fight anyone as being rumoured.”
Senator Kaita connection
Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina North) has been one of the fiercest critics of the governor lately. Twice he accused the governor of not being fair to some party members; alleging that he has taken side with a section of the party, while others, especially the Abuja-based party chieftains, are being sidelined.
In an interview with journalists in February, Kaita called Masari a liar, saying, “The post intended to tell Katsina indigenes that what the governor said at the stakeholders meeting were pure lies because, under his watch, we have the party chairman rooting for a candidate; which is well known. Under his nose, we have members of his cabinet rooting for the deputy governor; we have other aides rooting for a specific gubernatorial candidate. He is promoting some candidates over others.”
A political observer in the state, Suraj Aliyu Malumfashi, said, “Masari has taken the right decision by distancing himself from those contesting, and I’m of the view that the constant attacks from Sen Kaita could be the reason why the two meetings were convened. People like Kaita think Masari is the one pushing for the Mustapha Inuwa candidacy, but the declaration will go a long way in settling the dust.”
Appeasing the deputy governor
While some political analysts believe the declaration was intended to appease the deputy governor, Mannir Yakubu, others believe it is a mere political statement.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE findings revealed that Yakubu, alongside Inuwa, have the highest number of supporters in the party.
A top official of the party who craved anonymity said Yakubu had the chance to clinch the tickets of the two factions.
He said, “We’ve been with him from APP to ANPP and CPC. He is one of Buhari’s most notable loyalists in the state. Secondly, he has been supportive of the governor. I can assure you that the governor has no problem with Yakubu because the deputy has been all obedient from day one.”
Asked whether the declaration was made to appease the deputy governor, the source said, “I don’t know his (Masari) mind, but I know he respects his deputy. This statement has now validated our stand that the party belongs to all of us and not a few.”
Yakubu, like Inuwa, has not declared, but there have been underground campaigns for both powerful politicians; with stickers and posters already being seen.
Another source at the government house said the governor might be angry with the ongoing campaign by some people believed to be supporting the duo.
Two weeks ago, some youths inaugurated a party office with Inuwa’s posters and sing post. The SGS did not attend, neither did he send a representative to the opening of the office, and his Press Secretary, Abdullahi Aliyu Yar’adua distanced his principal from the youth organisation.
A political analyst, Baba Bala Katsina, said the governor’s statement was a mere political statement, stressing that, “It doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a favourite among them. I think it’s just a mere way of making sure that all those likely to contest continue to respect him.
“I think attention should be focused on who controls party structure and maintain good grassroots connection, because Masari isn’t as politically powerful in Katsina as some people assume.”
Media aides react
Responding to 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE on why the meeting was convened, SA (Public Enlightenment) to Governor Masari, Abdulaziz Mai Turaka, confirmed that the meeting was not convened to appease or fight anybody.
Turaka said, “Contrary to what you (journalists) are saying, the meeting was to reiterate the governor’s stand that he has no preferred successor. He didn’t say people shouldn’t campaign or support their candidates, but he asked them to stop using his name as the person who anointed any candidate. This is a straightforward issue. Nobody is trying to appease or fight anybody, APC in Katsina is united and the governor has always been fair to every member of the party.”
On his part, the Press Secretary to the SSG, Abdullahi Aliyu Yar’adua, said his principal had not declared intention and that the meeting was not against him.
Yar’adua said, “For the record, the SGS has not declared his intention to contest any position in 2023; people are only expressing their views on the goodness and capacity of the man. They have the right to support whoever they think is capable, but he has not declared his intention.”
On the recent meeting, Yar’adu’a said, “It was not new because the governor had said it during the state APC stakeholders meeting. This is not new and we know it. The meeting had nothing to do with him.”
Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Ibrahim Musa Kalla, simply said his principal had good rapport with every member of APC and all the political appointees in the state.
When this reporter called the state’s APC spokesperson, he claimed he was in a noisy environment with a promise to call back, but had not responded at the time of filing this report.
