By Luka Binniyat
KADUNA—THE perceived political difficulties of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have given currency to the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It as such no surprise that the APC is now the focus of much attention in the state.
The contenders for Kaduna State governorship ticket of the APC include: Alhaji Lukman Mohammed, a nephew of late oil bureaucrat, Dr Rilwan Lukman. Mohammed, a businessman hails from Zaria City and is very faithful to the leader of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd).
The next is Alhaji Samsudeen Ango Abdullahi, son of former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, and mouthpiece of Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi. He is seen as a dark horse and is popular among the young, educated delegates of the APC. He is from Giwa LGA.
Nasir-el-Rufai
Another aspirant is Mallam Haruna Sa’eed an Hausa man born in Zangon Kataf, in Southern Kaduna who gave the late Governor Patrick Yakowa a run for his money in 2011 when he flew the flag of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. A man of little words he was once the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Industry Extractive Initiative, NIETI. He is a close ally of Buhari and wielded much clout during the CPC era. But that has been much watered down with the emergence of the APC.
Another is Hon. Isa Ashiru who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation. Ashiru is a second timer in the House and is said to be immensely rich. He is beleived to be backed by Senator Ahmed Makarfi (PDP, Kaduna North) and his political network in the State. Ashiru has created a web of links in the state’s APC which he joined in July this year.
But he is estranged from the State leadership of the party. Again, he is said to have problems with Buhari.
However, he remains one of the most formidable persons eyeing the ticket. Ashiru is the one expected to give the leading candidate Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the greatest challenge.
El-Rufai is said to have come close to a deal with Mohammed and Sa’eed, Mohammed and Abdulahi in which the two men would step down for him. It was said to be on the prompting of Buhari. Buhari drew the ire of Ashiru camp when he appeared at a rally of El Ruffai and raised his arms in apparent endorsement of his candidature.
It is also believed that El Ruffai single handily arranged the elections of the present Exco of Kaduna state APC, and is in control of 17 of the 23 LGAs of the state.
Out of the 4,200 delegates expected to chose its Guber flag bearer, the El Ruffai camp is claiming control of 70% of the lot.
But, there are mounting campaigns against him, both in and out of the party. He is loved and hated for the same reasons: A brash little man with unveil contempt for powerful people, and man with a heart to wreck pains on society if he is convinced it was for good. Not withstanding his education, exposure and connection, El Ruffai would surely not secure an easy victory next Thursday.
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