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By Abdulwaheed Olayinka Adubi, Kaduna
It is no longer news that men of esteemed-pedigree have declared interest to become the next governor of Kaduna state both from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) come 2023, but what is of interest to the people of Kaduna state is who takes over from Governor Nasir El-rufai?
It was also observed that despite the political alignment and re-alignment in Kaduna state, many sons and daughters of the state are still consulting; waiting for the appropriate time to declare their intentions for the number one seat of the state.
However, political watchers and analysts within and out side the state have said that the interest shown by politicians especially amongst the allies of the incumbent Governor of Kaduna state is an indication that the primaries in the ruling All Progressives congress (APC) will be fiercer than the El-rufai’s 2015 and 2019 primaries contest.
One of the prominent sons of the state, Senator Uba Sani who was the former political adviser to Mallam El-rufia has declared his interest to take over from his boss. Uba Sani is currently representing Kaduna Central Senatorial district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly. To many, Uba Sani has been described as a political guru and a man who is also considered to be instrumental to Governor El-rufai’s political success in Kaduna state.
Uba Sani, being a political strategust, has also been described as a political mathematician. This followed his political anticecdent.
In less than 14 days after the declaration of Uba Sani, a member of El-rufai’s cabinent, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, popularly known as Dattijo also declared his intention to join the Guber race and take over from El-rufai.
Dattijo who was the former Chief of Staff to El-rufai has also been described as the brain box of the El-rufai’s administration.
Meanwhile, an unconfirmed information has it that El-rufai’s Deputy, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe may eventually join the race. In the last 35 months of El-rufai’s administration, Hadiza Balarebe, no doubt, has gone through the turbulent water of Kaduna politics.
Within this period, severally, in her acting capacity, she has displayed some leadership skills, and these, according to some political analysts made her to be considered as a Gubernatorial material.
Also, another formidable candidate that may likely declare his intention for the Guber race in Kaduna under the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), is Dr. Bashir Jamoh.
Jamoh is the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Jamoh is a seasoned administrator and maritime expert; specializing in Logistics and Transport Management with over thirty two (32) years of professional and technocratic experience in the transportation and maritime sectors of the Nigerian economy.
His core competencies incude: Leadership and Team building, Training and Manpower Development, Authorship and Intellectual Contribution, Ability to Adapt to Hostile Environment and Effectiveness in Multicultural Environment, Resiliency and Organizational Agility, Good Knowledge of Concepts and Principles/Approaches to International and Public Procurement System, among others.
Meanwhile, the leading opposition party in the state; the People Democratic Party (PDP) held a consensus building meeting. The meeting was said to be a signal to the ruling party that PDP is ever ready to take over power in the coming election.
In PDP, the 2019 Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP in Kaduna state, Hon. Isa Ashiru, has again declared his intention. In the 2019 election, Ashiru came second, while Governor El-rufai was declared the winner of the election.
Ashiru was a member Kaduna House of Assembly for two consecutive terms and member of the National Assembly. While declaring his intention, he explained that his journey into politics is to serve humanity and provide the dividends of democracy to the people.
The former Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mohammed Sani Sidi, has also declared his interest to pick a ticket on the platform of PDP to contest in the Gubernatorial race.
Senator Shehu Sani who is currently a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the immediate past governor of the state, Ramalan Yero, who constitutionally has another term to spend if elected, are yet to declare their intentions.