KEBBI 2023 POLITICAL PERMUTATION-Part 1

*KEBBI* *2023* *POLITICAL* *PERMUTATION* : *THE* *HARDWAY* & *THE* *ONLY* *WAY* *FOR* *ATIKU BAGUDU, ADAMU ALEIRO, ABUBAKAR MALAMI*

         *_PART_* *1* 

By AHMAD UMAR (KAMBA)

It is no more news that Kebbi state political gladiators have drawn a battle line for 2023 power struggle. The former state Governor and currently a senator representating Kebbi central, Alhaji Muhammad Adamu Aleiro fired the first shoot at APC stakeholders meeting held at presidential lodge Birnin Kebbi, when he looked directly into the eyes of Governor Bagudu's loyalists and boldly called them bunch of HIPOCRITES this statement was interpretated by Bagudu's camp as OPEN DECLARATION OF WAR by Aleiro's camp. Thus few weeks later Governor Bagudu's camp re-grouped and fired back by ruthless impeachment of the Speaker, Kebbi state House of Assemby, Hon.Sama'ila A. Kamba who is believed to be a loyalist of Aleiro's camp. Hon. Kamba is now the first major casualty of this titanic combat; who is next?, the time will show. Presently it is evident that each camp is now stocking 'arms and ammunition' for any eventuality.

 As trained journalist with specialization in POLITICAL COMMUNICATION and opportuned to tenaciously follow the political development in my dear State (KEBBI) since 1999 to date, I do not need the service of a rocket scientist or soothsayer to accurately often fairly predict the out come of this power struggle.

There are many mini political camps in Kebbi State with leather weapons in their possession, but the camps of *Governor*  Bagudu,  *Senator* Aleiro and *Minister* Malami are regarded as the most ruthless camps with their arsenal full of sophisticated artillery.

The pertinent question now is; Is there any way out for the trio  ( *Governor* , *Senator* and *Minister)* ?, the answer is YES there's way out but diffenatelly  it is a HARD WAY and THE ONLY WAY:

1- GOVERNOR ATIKU ABUBAKAR BAGUDU.

Without any confidential eye ball- to -eye ball interview with Gov. Bagudu I can confidently assert that three (3) political offices are scratching the heart of the Rice- Revolutionalist; PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT & SENATORSHIP. But fillers from the camp indicate that Mai-shinkafa has jettisoned Presidential ambition, he almost sticks to Senatorship, which itself is full of challenges, because the seat is currently occupied by former state Governor, Adamu Aleiro.

Apart from Bagudu's ambition of next political office, he is also facing serious challenge of successor; that is who he is to be handed over to as next Governor of Kebbi State.

Is there anyway for Gov. Bagudu to get these gigantic missions accomplished according to his dictate?. Yes there's, but IT IS A HARD WAY:

Gov. Bagudu alone cannot fight Aleiro's camp, thus he must seek reinforcement from Hon. Minister Malami's camp; where there must be TAKE & GIVE gentleman matual alliance between the two. While persuaing his Senatorial ambition, Gov. Bagudu as matter of fact must conced GOVERNORSHIP TICKET TO MINISTER ABUBAKAR MALAMI, if the two can reach and maintain this compromise with all sincerity, I can confidently advice them to begin preparing a victory speech,.. but anything short of this will pave way for Senator Alerio's camp to invade them one beside the other and crush them down. Conceding a Govornoship ticket to Minister Malami by Gov. Bagudu IS A HARDWAY BUT IS THE ONLY WAY.

2. SENATOR MUHAMMAD ADAMU ALEIRO

His Excellency, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aleiro is the most beneficiary of Kebbi project. He is the only individual opportuned to serve as a GOVERNOR, SENATOR and MINISTER (GSM). In a nutshell Aleiro has been in the SYSTEM for more than 50 years: he served in the prestigious Nigeria Customs Service for about 30 years and has been in different political offices for more than 20 years.

Now, what is the way out for this blessed gentleman?, In my candid view, Baba Aleiro should follow the path of likes Senator Sani Yariman Bakura of Zamfara state, Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, HE Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto state by Honourably disengaging from local politics and concentrate on National politics and move out of Birnin Kebbi metropolis; by relocating to Abuja.

By so doing he can automatically become a mentor, moderator, motivator, anchor, guidian, coatch, cauncellor, resource person and above all father to all Kebbians who wish to contest for any political office from any political party.

He can equally use this opportunity to expand his business empire especially LABANA RICE in away and manner that in the next few years he will join the club of the likes of Aliko Dangotte, Abdulsamad BUA, Dahiru Mangal etc.

Decamping to PDP will be a suicidal for Baba Aleiro, Kebbi PDPians are very hungry, any amount of money you give them for campaign engineering they'll divert it to food vendors and buy food to eat and leave you vulnerably in limbo.

Disengaging from local politics to avoid clash with  *Bagudu*- *Malami* *Joint* *Task* *Force* ( *BM-* *JTF)* that might led to his down fall or disgraceful exit is HARD WAY for Baba Aleiro and is THE ONLY WAY (my opinion).

3- MINISTER ABUBAKAR  CHIKA MALAMI

As it is today, of all aspiring politicians in Kebbi State, Malami's chance is brighter. He got an opportunity and has been wisely and judiciously utilizing it.

Minister Malami facilitated the appointment of about 20 Kebbi State idigines as Director General (DGs), Managing Directors (MDs) and Chief Executive Officers ( CEOs) of various Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Malami facilitated the grant of soft loan worth N5 MILLION each to 500 hundreds youths enterprenuers of Kebbi state origins, this means he created 500 milionaires at one shoot.

Malami facilitated securing of job to about 1000 graduates of Kebbi State origins into various Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; Military and Para-military especially National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Malami also engaged 1000s of Kebbians youths in his various commercial activities.

He helped many contractors of Kebbi origins to secure multi-billion contracts at the federal level. And facilitated many federal government capital projects in Kebbi State to mention but few.

In a socialized society with these unique achievements Malami need not engage in any campaign to become a Governor. But as far as Kebbi politics is concerned, the above mentioned contributions of Minister Malami to the progress of Kebbians may not serve as a WAY OUT for him to become next Governor of Kebbi state.

Then what is the ONLY WAY OUT for the Minister?, Let me borrow from Hon. Gudaje Kazaure; '..this issues is very simple';

Malami's brightness, success and chances notwithstanding, need to cement the truce between him and Gov. Bagudu. Any breach of such alliance will do no good to both sides. Consolidating such truce IS THE ONLY WAY and it is HARD WAY.

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We shall meet in Part 2, for zoning and related debate. 

 *_AHMAD_* *_UMAR_* ( *_KAMBA_* ) is a professional journalist with specialization in Political Communication, he holds B.Sc in Mass Communication, Diploma in Law, Diploma in Accounting and a Diploma in Information Technology. He can be reached on 07038182929 (text only).: E-mail; ahmadugamji@gmail.com