In a political system where some players refused to play to the gallery and preferred the right thing being done different from the unpopular status quo, it is imperative to note that indifference and challenges from those that believed in the slogan of ‘business as usual’ will resist it body and soul.
But for Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Ibrahim, popularly referred to as Abu Ibro by his fans, supporters and political followers, the road to Lugard House was a serious business, so he started soon after the 2015 election that ushered in a new administration in Kogi in 2016.
Going by the popular saying that politics is local, Abu Ibro began by mobilising youths, opinion leaders, stakeholders and annexing a formidable squad not only to support his ambition but a political squad that will return Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to leadership position in Kogi by 2019.
He was focused, prepared and determined with adequate capacity to take Kogi to another level of political development devoid of self centredness, but embrace the best practices through mass mobilisation of all and sundry that constitute electoral value in Kogi.
He maintained touch, interacted frequently and accessed feedback almost every now and then, even before the idea of who and who will become the party’s candidate for the election through a wider consultation of his camp and the PDP family by extension.
Prior to the preparation of the election, the powers that be in Kogi identified Abu Ibro as the only strong formidable, force from all point of assessment and views, with solid advantage of emerging victorious even though, with internal scheming of intra party players within PDP.
To the electorate that formed the crux of the political activities, it was a waiting game to install a well coordinated, polished, modest and consummate politician as represented by the person of Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim.
This mindset of Kogites was borne out patriotic zeal to usher in good governance through a generally acceptable person with high level humility, exposure that will return the state back to its feet, as displayed by Abu Ibro.
He detonated with ease, the strong position and ideas of institutionalised surrogate of any sorts,clarifying the archaic and unworkability of such arrangements in this modern works and current dispensation without so much disagreements.
Abubakar Ibrahim collapsed all political structures and parties in Kogi into one indivisible, formidable and insoluble force with a singular idea that Kogi must work again and return to the path of glory.
In his determination to install the best political practices, though tasking, he ensured delegates list for the November 16, 2019 election was handy and used as working template towards his projected victory in the last election.
This was in addition to dignifying delegates for election of such magnitude, through the introduction of local government tour to meet the delegates and party stakeholders, not only solicit for their votes, but charge them on the need to rally round our people so as to reverse the leadership gap in Kogi, a feat not achieved since the inception of the state, except during elections. His steps forced other aspirants to join the process, unlike when the delegates are being treated as people at the mercy of political office seekers.
He repeatedly emphasised that the spirit of sportsmanship was his watchword, not a do or die affair, insisting on resolute commitment to avert conceding to the current charade under the present dispensation.
With a strong believe in level playing ground, amongst the 15 candidates that vied for the coveted Kogi Governorship election, crowd of heads of stakeholders, supporters, delegates, and well wishers that thronged his maiden visit, left the Wadata office of PDP in hasty doubt because of calculations to allow a former governor complete its tenure as being taunted.
The unprecedented crowd that spread from Grand Ibro hotel venue of organised reception for the visitors who thronged the collection of nomination form at Wadata national secretariat of PDP changed the political equation and calculations being bandied by political actors before the September 3 primaries in Lokoja.
Abubakar Ibrahim, during his visits to the delegates penultimate the primary election, had impressed on the delegates the fact that we are one in PDP, under the umbrella, not minding our personal ambition but the collective desire to liberate the people.
He introduced and institutionalised a transparent process by not conscripting the delegates for votes in spite of his high influence and connection but insisted on due process of before, during and after the election that was disrupted by political desperadoes.
Shortchanged in the process, he did not explore the court immediately but sought for redress through the normal process of complaints and appeal to the NEC and NWC of the party for their intervention thrice. However, the expected intervention was not forthcoming because of overriding self centredness, greed and personal aggrandizement.
Undaunted by the underhand dealings and decision of the leadership of the party, he headed for the court. His decision to seek redress in the legal space does not make him a ‘dissident’ among the 15 aspirants that went in for the exercise, having come second position with some unresolved issues.
Alhaji Abubakar was not unaware of precedence, antecedents and records of such exercise, he was was convinced on the need to put records straight by approaching the court for proper adjudication and redress of the glaring anomaly that transpired during the September 3 primaries.
As a sincere and loyal party member, he was neither attracted or engaged in any untoward activities that will affect the PDP’s chances going into the November election. He worked tirelessly to ensure PDP emerge victorious so as to guarantee his mandate security and to reclaim it having prepared to exhaust all tiers of legal process to the Supreme Court.
Even after all factors that led to the decision of the party to produce another candidate, he gave room for a fact finding mission that led to the lingering primary election impasse in the party with high hope of reclaiming his stolen mandate as the party’s candidate for the last November 16 election in Kogi.
On the whole, Abubakar Ibrahim has approached the apex court in expectation of a grand decision from the corridor of the last hope of the common man, to reverse the charade that took place in Lokoja.
It is in public knowledge that he may be the governor-in-waiting in view of the highly militarised and massively rigged November 16 election in Kogi, in anticipation and without prejudice to the Apex Court judgement expected in few months.
His offence before the opponents is his consistency, steadfastness, loyalty, determination and focus to reclaim his stolen mandate through legitimate means.
He who laugh last will surely laugh best. Time shall always tell.
– Yusuf Abubakar writes from Abuja.