Despite the popularly held opinion (rightly or wrongly) that the just concluded gubernatorial primary election of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State has been adjudged as the best of all the parties primaries in the country, there are still rumblings in some quarters.
The dissent voice is from some of the aspirants in the exercise that featured an unprecedented candidates or contestants numbering over 21.
Already individuals, groups, including civil right organizations, have applauded the conduct of the Borno state APC governorship primaries for standard and fairness just as some others held a contrary view.
For example, in a statement, one of the aspirants, the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, condemned what he described as irregularities in the election process. These include, among others, irregular accreditation of delegates, inducement of the delegates, lack of access to delegates and media release of preferred candidates by the state Governor, Kashim Shettima. According to the statement, the governor compromised the entire process by anointing a governorship candidate for the party.
In the light of the above irregularities, Baba Shehuri pointed out that 12 of the aspirants came together and took a stand condemning the bastardisation of the primary election and demand a cancellation.
In reaction to the Minister’s allegations, one of the aspirants in person of Shettima Yuguda Dibal, a former deputy governor in the state, said 14 of the 20 aspirants who vied for the APC governorship ticket in Borno State have endorsed the outcome of the primary. In addition, they also upheld the victory of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum as the flag bearer of the party ahead of 2019 election.
According to Dibal, in a press statement, a total of 15 of the 20 aspirants were physically present at the venue of the primaries which was held at the El-kanemi Sport Centre in Maiduguri from Sunday night to Monday.
Dibal said while 10 aspirants stepped down before voting, three others, including Alhaji Gambo Lawan, Attom Magira-Tom and Umar Alkali Nasco, each spoke in front of journalists with video evidence conceding defeat, and congratulating the winner with the promise of helping him win at the general election.
“One of them, Attom Magira-Tom, went a step further by announcing the collapse of his campaign structure including a vehicle for Professor Zullum’s campaign,” Dibal said, stressing that everything was captured on video.
According to him, “the 13 aspirants including the winner, Professor Zulum, fully endorsed the outcome,” adding that Senator Abba-Aji, who was earlier in the race, defected to the opposition PDP before the primaries.
Like the misunderstanding between the husband and the wife, each party will always have a convincing argument to put forward for self justification. At the end of it all, the arbiter is always in dilemma on the side to align or apportion blame. However since unity and compromise are essential for the overall interest of the entire family and mankind, the benefits of a united family should override other considerations no matter the degree or magnitude of disagreement.
Interestingly, it is the methodology of the election process that is the bone of contention and not the person of the said anointee in person of Professor Zulum who, from all intents and purpose, enjoys public acceptability.
It is imperative at this juncture for us to look at the future of Borno beyond legalities or political expediency. The man that wears the shoe knows where it pinches
most.
For now, Borno, as a result of the insurgency, has suffered deaths, sorrow and blood. There is need for collective action from all for a greater and prosperous state from the present debris of catastrophe. If Professor Zulum is acceptable to all, notwithstanding the mode of selection, then there is need to forge ahead and forget the
past.
