In what is considered by political analysts as a deft move to soften the grounds for the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, ahead the upcoming governorship election, expected to hold in the last quarter of the year, members of the highly revered PDP Elders Council, made up of distinguished personalities from the State, have endoursed the incumbent Governor Idris Wada as the party’s consensus gubernatorial candidate.
The development came on the heels of reports that main opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) currently has about 30 aspirants, eyeing the APC ticket.
PDP elders who endorsed Captain Wada as the party’s flag bearer for 2015 Governorship Election in the state include former PDP National Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali, former Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, former Chief of Army Staff, General Salihu Ibrahim (rtd) former Minister of Police Affairs, Gen David Jemibewon (rtd), Senator Tunde Ogbeha, former Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Prince Olushola Akanmode, former Kogi State deputy governors, Chief Sam Akande and Chief Patrick Adaba and one time Deputy Governor of old Benue State, Sule Iyaji. Also present, were Amb Usman Bello, Arc Gabriel Aduku, Prof Olu Akerejola, Dr (Mrs) Grace Gunwa, Hajia Ladi Ibrahim. Also at the endorsement were Alh Abdullahi Ohioma, Joe Agada, former SSG, Chief Shola Ojo among others.
The leaders while announcing their endorsement of Captain Idris Wada described him as a viable alternative within the PDP that can guarantee victory of the people and the party in the next poll.
Other reasons adduced by the Elders to have informed their choice of Wada as the party’s preferred candidate include that aside the misrepresentation made about salary payment, the state under the incumbent has done well in ensuring that civil servants get their dues amidst dwindling allocation to the state.
The elders noted the remuneration of the workforce which gulps about 87% of the state’s revenue, a challenge which the elders say had initially affected physical development and applauded the governor’s efforts at going to the capital market to augment the state’s revenue.
The Elders commended the iconic projects embarked upon by Captain Wada, and enthused that the projects embarked upon by the governor using the bond proceeds, would on completion have far reaching consequences in ensuring better living standard for citizens of the state. Speaking on the endorsement, a source posited that another term for Captain Wada would guarantee the issue of power rotation that the West and Central parts of the state have longed clamoured for..
According to a source who was at the meeting, Wada’s completion of a second term would have ensured that all the federal constituencies in the eastern part of the state would have had a two term shot as Governor of the state. This therefore informed the block support and endorsement by elders from the West and Central.
The Governor’s endorsement for another term in office which seem to have gotten the support of the PDP members from the west and central senatorial districts was further informed by his qualities as a fine gentleman, and the only person trusted to facilitate power shift.
With the endorsement by the highly revered Elders in the state, analysts posit that it is now clear that the PDP ticket may not be available as the above listed Elders are said to be working in concert with the grassroots to ensure that the PDP presents a consensus candidate ahead the party’s primaries and consequently ensure that Wada emerges victorious at the governorship election.
The elders decision to endorse Wada as party’s flag bearer, another source further added was made possible with the incumbent seen as a gentleman, and a man of an even temperament, and not tainted by hint of corruption.
If for anything, another source at the meeting say the incumbent governor is a prudent manager of resources, almost bothering on being stingy and does not see the present era as one for distributing the state’s common wealth.
According to Tijani Kabiru a onetime national president of NANS, who added his voice to the endorsement, “Captain Wada may be stingy but the governor is loved by the common man as it enables him to offer to the ordinary people the real dividends of democracy.
As it is, Captain Wada has with the elders endorsement, scaled the first hurdle and now seems to have an edge over those that may want to seek the PDP ticket ahead the party’s primaries.
