Final month, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state hosted, or extra appropriately, orchestrated, a political con. Underneath the guise of civic engagement, chosen people had been invited to the Authorities Home and made to stage what official channels later framed as a “quest for justice.” On the middle of this fastidiously organized spectacle was Senator Danjuma Goje.
However, everybody who understands the politics of Gombe is aware of that this was not an natural outcry. It bore all of the hallmarks of a scripted efficiency the place actors had been fastidiously assembled, strains rehearsed, and a predetermined goal recognized. The target was clearly to fabricate a story that will justify an ongoing political marketing campaign in opposition to Goje, a person who, by all requirements, stays one of the influential figures within the political historical past of Gombe.
Certainly, Inuwa Yahaya was a political godson of Danjuma Goje, rising to prominence on the again of the latter’s formidable construction. It was Goje who offered the platform, the construction, and the political goodwill that propelled Yahaya into relevance. But, in what has now turn into a defining characteristic of his political trajectory, Yahaya has chosen to show in opposition to his benefactor, igniting a fierce rivalry that has refused to abate.
Previous makes an attempt to shutdown Goje by Yahaya are nicely documented. First, there have been calculated makes an attempt to expel Goje from the All Progressives Congress (APC), a transfer that failed, because the courts intervened to reinstate his membership. Then, some components believed to be working underneath the directive of individuals excessive within the authorities of Gombe state unleashed thugs to bar Goje from having access to Gombe city. In any case these, one would have anticipated that the authorized and ethical setback would encourage a rethink. As a substitute, it seems to have hardened Yahaya’s resolve to take away Goje from relevance, maybe with some urgency now that his second time period as governor is coming to an finish and, with it, the privileges of govt powers of state.
Current occasions are inclined to help this place as Yahaya now appears singularly extra pushed by an obsession to politically neutralise Goje. Evidently this obsession has step by step advanced right into a distraction from governance and get together cohesion.
First, a gathering involving some people from Yemaltu-Deba was staged, however occasions took an sudden flip. A a lot bigger and extra consultant group of little kids from the identical locality organised a counter-event, overtly declaring their continued help for Goje. The distinction was like gentle and day. The place the government-sponsored gathering appeared contrived, the solidarity occasion appeared fairly natural and carried the load of authenticity.
Whereas one would have anticipated this final result to function a actuality examine, it as a substitute triggered a recalibration. Having didn’t weaponise Yemaltu-Deba sentiment in opposition to Goje, Yahaya swiftly shifted his focus to Akko. In a well-recognized sample, one other group of so-called “leaders” was assembled and introduced to the general public as voices of cause. However their message was curious and unusual. The place the Deba bloc rightly demanded that the Gombe Central senatorial seat be zoned to them, Akko leaders wished it to be zoned out of Akko native authorities space, a transfer that will successfully sideline Goje from future competition.
The attention-grabbing factor concerning the so-called Akko leaders is that beneath the façade they projected lies a profound contradiction. Many of those people now paraded as advocates for “fairness” are themselves merchandise of Goje’s political mentorship. Their rise in politics, their entry to alternative, and in lots of circumstances, their present relevance will be traced on to the affect and benevolence of the very man they now search to displace.
Once you put the whole lot collectively, it turns into very troublesome to not view this as a theatre of betrayal, one orchestrated by a former protégé who seems decided to dismantle the very construction that nurtured him.
Extra puzzling, nevertheless, is the logic being superior. Is it not curious {that a} native authorities space, residence to a sitting senator extensively considered efficient in illustration, would instantly agitate to relinquish such a strategic benefit? What attainable incentive might justify such a requirement? What guarantees have been made behind closed doorways that outweigh the tangible advantages of retaining a performing senator?
If the senatorial seat is to be ceded, what’s the compensatory association? Is there a assure of larger political capital, or is that this merely a chance pushed by elite manipulation? These are questions that demand trustworthy solutions.
At this level, Yahaya’s fixation on Goje’s senatorial seat has reached a essential threshold, making it essential to interrogate the governor’s understanding of justice and equitable energy sharing. Is justice, in his estimation, restricted to the removing of Goje? Or is it a precept that must be utilized persistently throughout all ranges of political illustration? For context, allow us to take a short stroll down the latest political historical past of Gombe state.
Trying on the political historical past of Gombe, the North has dominated the governorship for almost all of the democratic period. The state’s first elected governor, the late Abubakar Habu Hashidu from Dukku native authorities space in Gombe North, served till 2003 earlier than shedding re-election.
He was succeeded by Senator Danjuma Goje from Gombe Central, who ruled the state for eight years. After Goje got here Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, additionally from the northern zone, who equally accomplished two phrases. At the moment, Governor Inuwa Yahaya himself additionally hails from the northern axis of the state. What this implies in sensible phrases is that, within the almost three many years since Nigeria returned to democratic governance, Gombe North has produced the vast majority of the state’s management.
In the meantime, the southern zone comprising Billiri, Balanga, Kaltungo, and Shongom, has by no means produced a governor. For many individuals within the Tangale-Waja axis of the state, this historic imbalance raises critical questions on equity and political inclusion. So, if the dialog right now actually revolves round justice, then it can’t cease at Yamaltu-Deba or Gombe Central. The difficulty should lengthen to the broader query of illustration throughout your complete state.
The Tangale-Waja folks have a protracted record of achieved people; directors, teachers, professionals, and political figures who’ve distinguished themselves nationally and internationally. But, regardless of these credentials, the area continues to stay outdoors the governorship equation. If this persistent exclusion doesn’t represent marginalisation, then many residents of the southern zone marvel what does.
Subsequently, if Governor Yahaya genuinely needs to exhibit his dedication to equity and fairness, he should lengthen the identical precept to different political questions throughout the state. For example, if justice calls for Akko relinquishes the Gombe Central senatorial ticket, then justice must also demand that the Tangale-Waja axis and even Akko be given a practical alternative to supply the following governor of the state.
The identical precept will be utilized inside Gombe North itself. Of the 5 native authorities areas within the northern senatorial district, two—Kwami and Funakaye—haven’t produced a senator since 1999.
However such issues don’t align with the present agenda. The uncomfortable fact is that that is much less about justice and extra a couple of focused political marketing campaign. For example, through the latest gatherings with the Akko stakeholders, Yahaya reportedly claimed that APC misplaced at Goje’s polling unit and ward within the final election. This assertion has extra to it than meets the attention.
Sure, data present that Goje not solely secured victory in his polling unit and ward but in addition received the senatorial election convincingly, even with out an aggressive marketing campaign, and one lone home of consultant member, Hon. Kumo rode on his again to be the one rep who secured victory in 2023. What additional transpired could possibly be on account of the discomfort the folks have with the APC and the way in which they handled Goje.
The identical can’t be stated of Yahaya. Because the chief of the get together within the state, chairman of the Northeast Governors’ Discussion board, and zonal coordinator for the presidential marketing campaign, expectations had been excessive, but, the outcome was utter failure. The APC didn’t win Yahaya’s polling unit and ward, with opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar of the PDP beating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC in all areas the place the governor was anticipated to dominate.
That failure is certainly indicative of deeper structural points throughout the get together on the state degree: the infighting, all orchestrated by a governor who just isn’t solely anticipated to be the chief of the get together, however somebody anticipated to unite the get together round a standard trigger.
For perspective, one wants solely to revisit 2019. On the time, Goje, because the de facto chief of the get together in Gombe, delivered each the governorship for Yahaya and the presidential vote for Muhammadu Buhari. The technique was simple: unity throughout the ranks, disciplined coordination, and a shared dedication to get together success. That system seems to have been deserted.
The inner fractures that characterised the 2023 elections can, largely, be traced to the extended battle between Yahaya and Goje. The try to sideline a serious stakeholder weakened the get together’s cohesion and in the end its electoral efficiency. Certainly, however for Goje’s particular person political energy, the APC may need confronted an much more devastating final result in Gombe. His victory stood out as a uncommon brilliant spot in an in any other case difficult electoral cycle for the get together within the state.
What’s troubling is that, fairly than recalibrate, the identical patterns are re-emerging. The early indicators of renewed inner battle recommend that classes from the latest previous stay unlearned. The identical playbook, marked by exclusion, confrontation, and political brinkmanship, is as soon as once more being deployed, with probably far-reaching penalties.
At a time when political events are anticipated to consolidate, rebuild belief, and put together strategically for future contests, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe is making an attempt to guide the ruling get together to float in direction of one other cycle of self-inflicted setbacks. This can be a harmful trajectory, and may fear the get together hierarchy.
Management, at its core, requires the power to rise above private grievances in pursuit of collective objectives. The continued concentrating on of Goje, significantly by strategies that seem contrived or divisive, dangers undermining not simply particular person relationships however the broader stability of the get together. It’s, subsequently, crucial that voices of cause throughout the get together, each on the state and nationwide ranges, intervene.
The stakes are too excessive for private vendetta to dictate political path. If the present course just isn’t corrected, the APC in Gombe might discover itself dealing with a much more formidable problem in 2027 than it anticipates and the president will likely be worse off for it. And when that second comes, the implications of right now’s selections will likely be unimaginable to disregard.
The politics of Gombe is at a crossroads. The APC underneath the present management of Yahaya is confronted with an existential threat of its personal making. The result, if nothing is finished, could possibly be catastrophic not only for the survival of get together candidates within the state, but in addition the president’s re-election bid. For this reason the get together management on the centre should intervene now earlier than it will get out of hand.