Despite presenting Captain Idris Wada as the gubernatorial candidate of the Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming election in the state, schedule to take place in December, reports have it that the party is yet to get its bearings right. Yekini Jimoh and Charles Akinsete examine the scenario.IT is no more news that Captain Idris Wada is the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi State. However, this does not suggest that the victory of the Lagos State-based business man came with ease. In fact, Wada's emergence came as a surprise to many political watchers in the state, as some have actually written him off as a viable contender, among other strong PDP aspirants in the state. However, he proved his opponents wrong with strong votes at the party's primary.Given Wada's unexpected victory in the PDP primary in the state, many have compared the Kogi PDP candidate to the incumbent governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, when he too, in 2003, came out as a PDP aspirant in the state. Nobody gave Idris a chance, as he too was seen as an under dog. But at the end of the day, he not only clinched the party ticket, but went ahead to get the mandate of the people in the 2003 gubernatorial election in the state.Wada hails from a humble family in Igala land. He attended Government Secondary School, Dekina, in Kogi State and went for his Higher School Certificate at the Federal Government College, Sokoto, from where he proceeded to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre (now Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT). He graduated with a Commercial Pilot and Instruments Certificate and went to British Air University, Scotland, for Flight Instructor Training. He also went to the United States to get advanced Flight Instructor Training Certificate, and then came back to Zaria and worked as a flight instructor. He served as a pilot in Nigeria Airways and left in 1983.With this background information, some people have wondered how Wada, who they claimed had little political experience, could clinch the party's ticket in the primaries, which was said to have been peaceful and well organised. Captain Idris Wada scored 547 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Alhaji Razak Kutepa, who got 249 votes. The deputy governor of the state, Philip Salawu, got two votes, while Jubril Isa Echocho had just one vote.After his victory at the Lokoja Township Stadium, Wada said 'I am a product of a humble background, where the fear of God, hard work, respect for elders and authorities were preached on a daily basis,' adding that, given his background, he is ready to serve in the best interest of the people. He, however, solicited for the support of his party members in the gubernatorial election coming up in December.According to some political stakeholders of the party, the candidature of Wada for the PDP in the Kogi gubernatorial election is a positive development for the party and the state, considering his rich background and robust achievements in his profession and in life as a whole. According to them, Wada is well imbued with the principles of governance and, indeed, has what it takes to take the state to greater heights, adding that the only thing that can stop him is, if the party members allow internal strife which could cause division in the party.Given this trail of thought, Wada's chances of becoming the number one citizen of the state may have improved, as reports gathered indicated that his opponents, irrespective of their loss, appeared to be in support of the captain. A reliable source revealed to the Nigerian Tribune that the runner's up in the PDP primary, Alhaji Kutepa, haveagreed to work for the success of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. It was reliably gathered that Kutepa, in fact, nominated Architect Yomi Awoniyi from his camp as the running mate to Captain Wada.Captain Wada, who became a first class flying instructor at the age of 23, seemed not to be resting on his oars as regards his victory. The PDP gubernatorial candidate, who has been assuring the people of the state of his commitment to good governance, said that if given the mandate, he will use his wealth of experience to pilot the affairs of the state.Already, he has started working towards reconciliation among his party faithful before December 3, 2011 gubernatorial election, while urging his party members to put aside their differences and work for the party's victory in the election.Wada, who addressed newsmen after he was confirmed by the National Secretariat of the party as the PDP's standard-bearer, said his victory should be seen as an act of God, saying 'I give thanks to Almighty God, who made it possible for me to be elected as the party's candidate. This is not the time to fight to destroy our dear party, the PDP. This is a time for reconciliation. There is no victor, no vanquished. Power is given by Almighty God to whom He wishes at every point in time. I am, therefore, appealing to all my co-contestants to join hands with me and my deputy for us to triumph in the 3 December election.'To further strengthen his machinery, the PDP candidate was said to have begun talks with stakeholders in the party, as he had begun to hold meetings with party leaders in the state on the need to move ahead. Captain Wada's visit to Ayingba, Okene, Kabba and other places in the state, with the view to bringing everybody under the umbrella of the party, has been viewed in some quarters as a welcomed development.Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, a former gubernatorial aspirant of the party, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Alfa, said the first thing party faithful should realise is that the gubernatorial election in the state is going to be closely monitored. According to him, 'the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, is determined to prove a point. In the mean time, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its standard-bearer in the forthcoming election in the state, Abubakar Audu, are not going to leave any stone unturned to ensure victory for the party.'Alfa, however, added that it is perhaps too early for the party to sing a victory song, going by some political issues which could affect the party's chances in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, especially the court case between the INEC and one of the party's aspirant, Jubril Echocho . He said, 'if the INEC wins the court case, Echocho will retain his mandate. If the INEC loses and Echocho wins the case, he will still retain his mandate and become PDP's candidate. The problem here is that the governor may not work against Echocho for self preservation. Secondly, those who hope to gain from Captain Wada's victory could work against Echocho. I am not sure if there is enough time for genuine reconciliation.'Speaking on the chances of Wada, the party leader said that Wada, despite the fact that he has what it takes to govern the state and improve on its growth and development, may lose the party's ticket, if care is not taken. 'Whereas Captain Wada is competent, his albatross may be the governor. He is seen as the governor's imposition and those who are wary of continuing the governor's legacy may, in the end, work for the opposition. This is a pity because Wada is a fine gentleman. Also, those who expect to benefit from Echocho may not dance to the tune of Wada. Kogi deserves good governance, party or no party! Those in the other parties are also Kogites. As a main force behind PDP in Kogi State, I want my party to win.'However, Alfa insisted that the gubernatorial election would be an easy task for the party, saying that 'the PDP will have a herculean task to repair the irreparable damage done to its image in the last eight years, especially in places like Ankpa where the people are looking for a golden opportunity to pay Governor Idris back for his vendetta against them.'However, a member representing Kabba/Bunu Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Dr Taiwo Nathaniel, has assured that there is no cause for alarm, saying that the party had obtained the records of the antecedents of Captain Wada and was satisfied that he is a top flight professional.'Do not read any unwarranted sentiment in our support for him. We want him as the next governor. He has a clean record, amiable, simple and accessible. Politics is a game of numbers and strategy. One of the strategies is for family members to come together quickly to fight a common enemy. Would you believe that only recently, Alhaji Idris and Senator Smart Adeyemi literally ate from the same plate' The PDP has come to stay and we know how to manage our differences . The so-called strong opposition would be crushed by the strong electoral machinery of the party,' he concluded.
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