News Editor
By. News Editor
The multi billion naira question in the lips of most Nasarawa state people currently is, who occupies the Shendam Road Government House come 2023?
The race appears to be taking the shape of a two-horse contest. As in 2019, two familiar arch-rivals, incumbent Governor Abdullahi Alhaji Sule of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and ex representative, Hon. David Ombugadu, of the main opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) are set to lock horns in the gubernatorial contest.
Governor Sule, a private sector player whose job as the Group Managing Director of Dangote Sugar just before the 2019 State Governorship elections appears set to proof the man in charge after being assisted into power through the acquisition of peseant local farmers whose farmlands were forcefully acquired by Dangote Sugar in Awe, by ex Gov Tanko Almakura, is battle ready.
Interestingly, before his huge dive into the murky waters of Nassarawa politics, Gov Sule was the Managing Director of the defunct African Petroleum, AP.
Without mincing words, Governor Sule’s record of performance is a subject of debate among close watchers of Nassarawa politics.
Nasarawa is one of the states owing Local Government workers salaries upto six months.
Governor Sule, appears to be latching unto the incumbency and leverage oof ex Gov Tanko Almakura and the national Chairman of the ruling APC to get a second term victory in 2023.
The expected support of Senator Abdullahi Adamu incumbent National Chairman of the APC many say, will be a massive slap in the face of the party to be defeated in his home State.
However, Sen Adamu himself has his local problems to face.
For instance, the youth turks made up ex Rep Aliyu Wadada, current Rep Jonathan Gaza, and Barr Labaran Magaji of the ruling APC and the united opposition PDP in the western Senatorial zone to contain with.
In the southern zone, Gov Sule is faced with berage of challenges. His last Thursday’s procured endorsement from the Tiv community got a hit back twenty four hours after he played host to the Tiv community in Lafia.
The Tiv ethnic nationality largely in the five local government areas of the southern zone have vehemently disowned the endorsement a day after the visit.
His party, APC had handpicked candidates at the ditriment of the rest of the ethnic colouration.
For instance, ex Gov Tanko Almakura who is currently gunning in for a second term in the Senate, has his nephew, Hon. Mohammed Almakura as the APC candidate for the Lafia/Obi House of Representatives.
Those who were schemed out including ex Representatives Dr Joseph Haruna Kigbu, Hon. Sarki Dahiru, etc are battle ready against their former party.
Gov Sule is relatively unpopular within his Akwanga zone.
Akwanga zone where his major challenger, Dr David Ombugadu hails from is a PDP strongest home.
This zone has three PDP ex ministers: Sen Solomon Ewuga, Labaran Maku, Sen Patricia Akwasiki, three Deputy Govs including Dr Mike Abdul, etc will certainly proof difficult for Gov Sule.
Gov Sule’s seemingly ally, Sen Godiya Akwashiki has defected from the ruling APC to SDP to contest for the Senate.
The youthful Dr. David Ombugadu, forty four years, a two-term former member at the House of Representatives would be banking on his agitation for a generational shift in leadership.
His performance as a federal lawmaker representing Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives currently enjoys the goodwill of the youths and agitators of power rotation.
Ombugadu, who has constructed over 1000 boreholes in his Federal Constituency, also provided employment opportunities in addition to several empowerment initiatives.
He is seen to be on a rescue mission to salvage the state from the years of APC’s misrule.
Though, the Keffi zone believes a new governor aside Sule from Akwanga zone might delay their turn beyond 2027.
However, this argument appears to have unite the Christian faithful even more closer to Dr Ombugadu now than ever before as the faith has never produce a governor since creation in 1996.
The PDP in the state has put its house in order for it to win a governorship election in the state, as some of its critical stakeholders have pacified it’s disenchanted leadership behind the state governorship candidate of the PDP.
Nasarawa PDP Chairman, Hon. Francis Enokela Orogu, who had some misgivings with other stakeholders who accused him as running a one-man show and ostracising him has since embraced peace thus disappointing the APC.
The ball has already been set rolling, as it appears to be no cease-fire case between the two political gladiators and their political parties.
