IT is now clear that the battle for the gubernatorial candidate to represent the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) in Sokoto gubernatorial election in March 2012 is between three people. Before the emergence of Yusuf Sulaiman, former sports minister, only Senator Umar Gada indicated his interest to challenge the incumbent governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko. Yusuf's entrance into the contest came to the open after several months of political manoeuvrings and clandestine activities aimed at discrediting Wamakko.First, he drafted his friend, Senator Gada, to test the waters in order to make them murky, ostensibly to distract attention from his insidious campaign of calumny and blackmail. The falsehood and mischief were meant to make Wamakko an enemy of President Goodluck Jonathan and therefore not worthy of a second term. After this, an orchestrated campaign was carefully planted in the media, and his friend, Gada, cashed in and amplified it. Gada did not only made it an issue, equally he celebrated it. The next avaricious plan was to hang a damaging petition on Governor Wamakko. This too failed though another one is being cooked up.The truth to the matter is that both Gada and Sulaiman were working in consonance, but using different strategies to achieve their common goal. While Gada was open and combative, Sulaiman was covert and treacherous. Their goal is, in some quarters simply to get Governor Wamakko disqualified from contesting the primaries.As much as people are entitled to aspire for any position in the land, they are expected to be truthful and honest in what they dish out to the public. However, in the last few days, what we read in the papers and other media outlets from the camps of the two friends were nothing more than banana peels and mud at Governor Wamakko in their attempts to actualise their vaulting ambitions.If Yusuf is claiming to be in the race to reconcile people, which people is he referring to, and what differences exist among them in terms of political persuasions' Multiple party democracy gives people the latitude of choice. In exercising this right, people are bound to differ and this is, by no means, a feud. Perhaps the reconciliation he may be referring to is bringing his co-travellers that see themselves as belonging persistently to a bickering group with the acronym 'the old PDP' who were kept in the gulag by Bafarawa for eight years before being liberated by governor sweeping popularity.On his own part, Gada is busy harping on change and disenchantment. His folly is that he failed to let us know what change or who is disenchanted with the Wamakko's administration. In fact, Wamako's popularity is still puzzling. Here is a man who people line the street to catch a glimpse of, while the old, especially women, ran out from their homes to hug and pray for, only for some disgruntled politician to try and rubbish. They seek for a change simply for selfish reasons and not because of lack of performance or for diminishing popularity. One of them is said to be seeking vengeance because the people rejected his bid to return to the Senate. Whose fault' Why blame someone for your ineptitude, which resulted into the abandonment of your constituency'The covert activities of Sulaiman was exposed after he purchased nomination form and just when his handful of supporters began to insinuate that he is the anointed one, President Jonathan wasted no time in disproving them before they drag his name into the mud by relieving Yusuf Sulaiman of his ministerial portfolio.It is easily discernible from the foregoing that the attempts by the two jolly friends to create disharmony between the president and Governor Wamakko has not succeeded. And now, they are left badly bruised.Now that the presidency has declared it has no favourite candidate, a level-playing field has been provided in the PDP primary in the state. And that is why democracy is about rule of law, fairness and social justice. This stand by the PDP is heartwarming because equal opportunity would be given to each aspirant and no one would complain about being deprived of his constitutional right. In this regard, a truly popular and competent candidate would, therefore, emerge from the contest. We envisaged that by 17 December, 2011, a more acceptable standard-bearer would be thrust on to the arena to face candidates from other political parties.As it is, now is the time for them to show us their dexterity, political clout and following. The dice is cast and we shall see who blinks first.Garba sent in this piece from Sokoto State.
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