Last week, three-time minister of the Federal Republic, Dr Shettima Mustapha, formally announced his intention to contest the chairmanship election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Group Politics Editor, Taiwo Adisa X-rays the chances of the latest arrival on the bloc in comparison to known faces who kick-started their campaigns earlier.EVENTS leading to the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are fast gathering momentum, following the declaration of intent by a whole lot of bigwigs from the North-East geo-political zone in running the affairs of the party. As at the last count, no fewer than 13 political heavyweights have signified interest in leading the party and are presently campaigning ahead of the 2012 National Convention. While the party hierarchy has, so far, chosen to keep the flag of democracy flying within its fold by allowing all shades of opinion to exercise their rights to contest the election, it is, however, clear that the long list will get streamlined along the line.So far, those who have shown interest in leading the party include former presidential candidate and chairman of the African Business Roundtable, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; former leader of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) Alhaji Gambo Lawal; former gubernatorial candidate of the party in Yobe State and a former Minister of Agriculture and Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri; former Minister of Interior, Defence and Agriculture, Dr Shettima Mustapha; Secretary of the PDP Campaign Organisation in Borno State in the April general election, Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Birma; former Minister of State for Power and Steel, Mallam Murtala Aliyu; former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, and two-time senator, Professor Jubril Aminu; former governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; incumbent Acting National Secretary of the party, Dr Musa Babayo; his National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Alkali, and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar. There has also been some mention of Alhaji Idris Waziri and Alhaji Mohammed Goni as possible contenders to the PDP hot seat.While antecedents, track records of consistency in the party and recent notable contributions to the success of the party would form the key selling points of each of these aspirants, it is expected that a battle royale of some sorts would eventually rear its head. Some are of the view that if President Goodluck Jonathan and leaders of the party decided to anoint a candidate on the basis of a payback time, members of the G20 could turn out the greatest beneficiaries. The fact remains that the G20 was the group which stuck its neck out in favour of Jonathan in the North. The group stood firmly against the Alhaji Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF), which orchestrated the zoning controversy ahead of the 2011 elections. Many saw the G20 as a largely pro-Jonathan group, which helped to stabilise the views in the North against the overbearing contention of the NPLF that Jonathan's Presidency was out to scheme out the zone. At the end of the election, many were also quick to credit the votes won by the president to efforts of the G20, which did not go to sleep while the NPLF was fanning the embers of North/South dichotomy. Now that some of the actors in G20 are indicating interest in leading the PDP, the battle at hand is becoming more interesting.Key actors in the G20 who have so far indicated interest in leading the PDP include, Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Dr Shettima Mustapha and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Of the trio, only Mustapha took his time before joining the race. The duo of Tukur and Adamu were quick to declare interest in the top job immediately the party's National Executive Council (NEC) ratified the zoning arrangement, ceding the national chairmanship seat to the North-East. It appeared the battle would be between the duo, until Mustapha, whose ambition had been a subject of speculation on many occasions, formally announced his intent last weekend.Mustapha, who has been in active politics since the aborted First Republic and has held commissioner posts in the Second Republic before emerging the running mate to the Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe in the 1983 presidential election, however sees nothing wrong in his late entry into the race. In a pre-declaration chat with newsmen in Abuja, last week, he stated that it was important that he notified and seek advice of all key stakeholders in the polity ahead of the formal declaration for the seat.'Now that I am almost through with the consultations with stakeholders and leaders of the party, including former governors, incumbent governors, elders of the party and lawmakers, I think I have reached a convenient spot to formally indicate interest in leading the party,' Dr Mustapha said, adding that the consultations he flagged off was continuous.A former broadcaster and member of the pre-independence Nigeria Youths Movement (NYM), Dr Mustapha believes that at over 70 years of age, experience should count positively on his side, having worked closely with the Nigerian greats, including Zik, the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Aminu Kano and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.He said of his ambition: 'At over 70, my priority is not money, it is honour and honour. I think the oldies so called, should play the intermediary roles so that we can make the party greater, proactive and responsive. I believe that having amassed so much experience in public life, it is not good to lock up all the experience and go home with it.'He further said: 'There is a saying that what you see today should be a warning for you tomorrow. If I had gone into detention, my experience would be different from you who just read about it in the books.'One thing Dr Mustapha has going for him is the fact that he has been seen as a peacemaker and an elder of the party. He served as its pioneer treasurer and has since remained a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.Dr Mustapha told newsmen that at his age, he had seen the red carpet and as well, the ditch (dungeon) of life. 'I was incarcerated for 12 months because I served as Commissioner for Finance in Borno State under Governor Mohammed Goni. I have seen the red carpet and the ditch. So, my intention is to bring all my experience in public service into the party, to make the party greater, proactive, and responsive.'One of the earliest supporters of the Jonathan battle against NPLF is also Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who is also in the chairmanship race. The chairman of African Business Roundtable had declared his intention long before Shettima.He said of his ambition: "I will unify PDP if given the chance to lead . In the past, the opportunity to truly elect the national chairman was not there. Now that we have the opportunity to talk, we want to reform, change, refocus and change the status-quo.'The PDP can only rule forever if it keeps its social contract with the people and I assure you that this is what shall form my priority as chairman because as a founding member, I clearly understand the ideals that the party was meant to achieve."Dr. Hassan Adamu is another notable G20 leader in the race for the chairmanship of the PDP. Like Tukur, he had also declared his intention to lead the party earlier than Shettima. His leadership of the group could be an asset in the final considerations, but many watchers of the party said that making a choice when it concerns the trio of Adamu, Shettima and Tukur could be an intriguing exercise. The trio has got experience, age and consistency in supporting the cause of the party as key selling points.But stakeholders in Shettima Mustapha's camp believe that the wide consultations, which took him a long time and is actually responsible for his perceived late entry into the race could serve as a tonic that would swing the decision in his favour. Such analysts would also contend that Mustapha has the most intimidating political party experience of all the contenders, having actively participated in national politics since the pre-independence days.He said in his flier being circulated in Abuja: 'If given the opportunity to lead, together with the rest of the party executives, I will insist on party discipline, the supremacy of the party's decisions, rewarding loyalty and consistency of policies and actions. While I will abide by the fundamental philosophy of the party inclusivity, I will not tolerate political prostitution in the party.'But outside the key issues of loyalty, party discipline, experience and consistency, other factors and key stakeholders will play major roles in determining the next chairman of the PDP. The younger elements in the party, including former Bauchi governor, Adamu Muazu, Aliyu Moddibo Umar and Musa Babayo, are also pushing hard for the top job. One of the critical stakeholders is the PDP governors' Forum, whose influence is growing by the day. National Assembly members of the party are also expected to play vital roles in determining the new chairman of the party. It is therefore important that the candidate who is able to sell himself the more to all of the critical stakeholders of the party would stand to reap the sumptuous harvest at the end of the day.
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