By Bala Ajiya
AFTER the landslide victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11 governorship elections in Yobe State, a rat race for appointments has ensued among leaders of the party.
A host of politicians including those who lost their seats to the opposition in the National Assembly are now lobbying Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who has been re-elected, and his close associates for appointment into his next cabinet.
Traditionally, appointments into the executive cabinet, since the advent of democracy in 1999, are based on a sharing formula which cut across the 17 local councils of the state. Each council nominates a person that will represent it at the centre.
Now, the sharing formula appears headed for the rocks as appointments into political offices henceforth will not be hinged on nomination from the 17 councils. They will be based on integrity, loyalty and most importantly, level of contribution to the success of the APC in the just concluded general elections in the state.
Financial assistance
Speaking on the new benchmark, one of the party’s big shots alluded to the body language of Governor Gaidam and the statement he made when some traditional rulers paid him a congratulatory visit at the Government House Damaturu. The governor said he was re-elected by the electorate stressing that his re-election was through the influence or financial assistance of any politician in the state.
According to the governor, the election revealed a lot, ‘’the enemies of the government are now known, those who worked against the party have been identified and appropriate actions will be taken against them.’’
Another APC chieftain said the governor’s statement may not be unconnected with the treacherous tendencies of some of his close associates who collected huge sums of money but could not ‘deliver’ their units let alone their local governments at the polls.
He said the governor was bitter with some people who engaged in anti-party activities that led to the APC losing Zone B senatorial seat, one House of Representatives and two House of Assembly seats to the PDP.
A reliable source also confirmed that most of the commissioners may not return to the cabinet because of their poor performance and perceived disloyalty to the governor. A host of them are now scheming and lobbying those who have the governor’s ear to influence the appointments in their favour.
As the intrigues and power play continues and given the new appointment benchmark, it is to be seen what Gaidam’s new cabinet will look like after the May 29 hand over.
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