Adamawa PDP crisis: Open letter to Mr. President -By Emmanuel Kwache

I am a stakeholder in the Adamawa Project. I was born and bred here. I care about what is happening politically, economically and socially. It seems Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is not taking what is happening in Adamawa State seriously. It happened in 2007 and Nyako was imposed. He saw what happened. The former Governor turned his back on him. It took the Grace of Adamawa State House of Assembly to remove the Admiral.

Now, as the general election is soon to take place in February 2015, same cabal that messed up the State and its people are using same method again – a kangaroo election in Abuja on the 8th of December 2014. I do not have anything against Nuhu Ribadu. We were classmates from 1978 to 1980 in defunct College of Preliminary Studies, Yola, and now Adamawa State Polytechnic. We read the same course, Arts. We went to Ahmadu Bello University together from 1980 to 1983. He was in Kongo campus of the University, while I was in the main campus, Samaru, Zaria. We graduated the same year, 1983. When he enrolled into the Police Force, after National Youth Service, I joined NTA as a caster, producer and reporter at large.

When he was the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, we once met in Government House, Yola in the office of former Governor Boni Haruna. He is a fine gentleman, straightforward. But what the larger society of Adamawa State are saying is, let the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and the National Working Committee follow due process, not thriving in illegality of choosing its Governorship candidate. What happened in Abuja on 8th December 2014 where money changed hands, a few people ‘chose’ Nuhu Ribadu and allegedly used a fake delegates list is a crime. It is forgery.

The constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party has not been followed, likewise, the electoral law of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Besides, all aspirants for the seat of the Governorship in Adamawa State have noted that the exercise was structured not to be in their interest. Already, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Modibbo and Hon. Aishatu Binani have jumped ship to People’s Democratic Movement, following the unpleasant exercise. Similarly Hon. Gibson Nathaniel, House of Representatives member representing Guyuk/Shelleng, may have shifted base from PDP to PDM also. Joel Dikanwa, a former Chairman Guyuk L.G.A, has joined the PDM too. Already the All Progressives Congress has started celebrating victory in the yet-to-be conducted general elections in February next year.

If you are here in Adamawa State, Mr. President, you would know that esteemed persons I have enumerated are representatives of the peoples, tribes and ethnic groups in the state. You wouldn’t know, but there are seventy other tribes and ethnic groups here. Let me enumerate some that I can remember for your benefit. If they say no, it is no. You heed it, unless you want PDP to fall like a pack of cards. The tribes and ethnic groups are: Matakam, Gra, Kagra, Sukur, Wagga, Margi, Higgi, Kamwe, Betso, Kapsiki, Gude, Nzanyi, Fali, Kilba, Bura, Babur, Mboi, Ga’anda, Yungur, Verre, Bata, Mbula, Lunguda, Bachama, Chamba, Yandang, Bille, Kpasham, Mumuye. These are the ones that I can remember at this moment. The representatives of these peoples make up the PDP in the State. They are the majority in the PDP at this moment. They are yearning for change in leadership style of the State where the Governor elected is chosen by the people.

The people in Ganye protested the other day that the candidate they chose was not the one that was announced. Gotel Television aired this on 16th December 2014. Some stakeholders interviewed on that news programme hurled insults on the National Chairman of PDP , Alhaji Adamu Muazu and the National Working Committee, including the Chairman, Adamawa Electoral Committee for the House of Assembly elections, Ambassador Tim Ihemadu. Mr. President, you have to listen to the voice of the majority and the opinions of the people, which is the voice of God. The persons who have caged you in Abuja are not the true representatives of the people of Adamawa State. In fact what they are doing to you is a disservice.

This is not an issue of Christian or Muslim either. Alhaji Yayaji Audu Gombi is a stakeholder of the PDP in Adamawa State. He is a loud voice. He is confident and a big time politician. In his comments in Blueprint Newspaper, Thursday, December 4, 2014, page 5, Alhaji Yayaji Audu Gombi said of Adamawa PDP Primaries: Ambassador Tim Ihemadu’s committee lied. Your press secretary can lift that from this paper and you go through it properly. Like I said, it is not an issue of religion, but a battle against injustice.

Alhaji Musa Kamale is a Muslim. He appeared on Channels Television, on Monday 15th December 2014 where he bared his mind on a few who have not contributed in kind or cash to the building of the PDP in Adamawa State, but want to foist unpopular candidates on the people. Hajjiya Altine Inuwa is the Women Leader in the State. She is a retired captain of the Nigerian Army. She will be bold to express herself before you your Excellency. She has been with the PDP from the beginning. She is displeased with what is happening.

You will be surprised the day you order for the cancellation of the Kangaroo Adamawa Governorship primaries held in Abuja, there will be jubilation in Yola and across the 21 local governments. Take note, I repeat your excellency, there will be joy across the state. Let there be protocol. Let the constitution of the PDP be upheld. Let the primaries be held in Yola. The Internally Displaced Persons have started returning to Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha. What insecurity is someone talking about? Mubi town is not Yola. All the promises to give us ministerial posts do not pay. Let the primaries be free and fair on a level playing ground in Yola. Justice delayed is justice denied. Let us listen to the voice of reason, unless you want Adamawa State to go to APC in the February 2015 elections. A stitch in times saves nine. The open truth is, let that illegal list be withdrawn and the genuine list published.

If the Presidency does not listen and Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, the National Chairman is not brought to order and the National Working Committee is not restrained from these ugly actions, there could be problems. The people of the state have been aggrieved for a long time. They are not satisfied with imposition. Stop the cabal before things fall apart.