The sour political relationship between former Governor Murtala Nyako and the incumbent, Muhammadu Bindow, is believed to have been major challenge that led to the defeat of the latter in the just concluded Governorship election in Adamawa State.

Nyako’s popularity and overwhelming support from the people of the state was based on his empowerment programme through his Local Apprenticeship Scheme (LAS), which won the hearts of the people. The impact of Nyako’s programme and support from the people of the state was enjoyed by Bindow in 2014, when the former urged the electorate to vote for him.

This saw the emergence of Bindow as governor in 2015. Bindow’s fall out with Nyako started when the former failed to sustain Nyako’s empowerment programmes and his refusal to carry along some key supporters of Nyako as earlier agreed during the campaigns. The frosty relationship was alleged to have grown deeper day by day to the extent that Bindow stopped receiving phone calls from Nyako, and allegedly threatened to implement a white paper indicting the Nyako-led administration.

This and many more forced Nyako to sponsor his son, SenatorAbualaziz Nyako, to contest the governorship seat of the state, on the platform of the African Democratic. Congress (ADC), where scored 113,237 votes which if added to that Bindow’s 336,386 votes could swung the pendulum in Bindow’s favour. Nyako, during a tour of the state, to herald the commencement of his son’s campaign constantly used the term ‘O Jippa Tan’ meaning Bindow should step down by all means.

This, no doubt affected Bindow’s chances of winning the governorship poll in the state. Bindow’s failure to implement what he called as ‘Stomach Infrastructure’ during the signing of the 2018 budget of the state, also contributed to people’s revolt against him. The governor had given the assurance while signing the 2018 budget of N177.9 billion at a ceremony in Government House, Yola.

LEADERSHIP recalls that he stated that: “In line with our Budget of Hope and Empowerment, this administration will do stomach infrastructure next year.”

Hence, the electorates waited assiduously to no avail, as they complained, arguing that they cannot feed on the over 300 roads acclaimed to have been constructed by the governor during his four years in office. The alleged hijacking of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in the state, by Bindow and the party’s endorsement of him as sole candidate, resulting to issuance of automatic tickets to candidates vying for various elective posts is also a factor as it forced some stakeholders of the party to gang up against Bindow’s candidature.

Prominent stakeholders and major contenders in the party, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, Mahmoud Halilu (alias Modi), Marcus Gundiri and Abdulazeez Nyako were denied nomination forms. This group of APC chieftains worked behind the scene against Bindow at the governorship poll. Bindow’s re-election bid suffered serious defeat across the local governments in Adamawa state, partly for his failure to pay salaries for many months despite promises to pay time and time again.

The funds meant for these local governments and salaries of their workers, it was gathered, were diverted for road constructions in urban areas. Indeed, analysts said this also contributed to why Bindow lost grassroots support. The interview by the First Lady Hajiya Aisha Buhari on the eve of the governorship election, where she urged electorate in the state, to vote for credible candidates of their choice, analysts believed played a significant role in dethroning the power of the incumbency in the state.

The interview was aired on international media mostly in local languages equally pointed a negative direction against the coming back of Governor Bindow, the masses complied to the call and on the day of the general elections, voted against him. Another factor that worked against the governor is the reckoning of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who vowed to return the state to PDP by all means.

Atiku’s effort worked for the PDP against the otherwise strong wind that blew across the Northeast and Northwest except Adamawa this time, all because, Atiku needed to win his state. The Atiku factor in the presidential election appeared to have been carried over to the governorship poll to add value to Ahmadu Fintiri’s quest.

And the PDP which used to be the governing party in the state almost up to when Bindow became governor on the APC platform in 2015, has always remained a strong party across the state. Abubakar, at a mega rally organised by the state branch of the party to formally declare his intention to vie for the presidential seat under PDP, said he was overwhelmed by the mammoth crowd that graced the occasion. According to him, the turnout confirmed the popularity of PDP in the state. He criticised the APC for failing Nigeria in areas of economy, security and job security, adding that he would address the the problems, if voted as president.

The National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus described Abubakar as a leading presidential aspirant in the party that had the capacity to dislodge APC in 2019.

“PDP is a tsunami that will soon wipe out APC. We are not afraid, we are strong and coming like train to crush APC,” Secondus said.

The forum of former vice chairmen and elected councilors in the state, 105 supervisory councilors, 226 legislative councilors, 21 vice chairmen in the forum announced withdrawal of support from Bindow and pitched their tent with Mahmood Ahmed, seeking gubernatorial All Progressives Congress (APC) party.

The forum who described themselves as grassroots politicians and had been contributing to the change agenda of the APC, alleged that they have been neglected by the Bindow administration, hence their decision to work for another APC aspirant. Dedan Menayi, Vice chairman of the forum, while addressing press conference said members of the forum were “constrained to withdraw their support,’’ for the governor’s inability to pay medical and health workers, furniture as well as local government staff for over eight months.

“Governor Bindow had several times promised to pay furniture allowances to all former vice chairmen, secretaries, supervisory councilors, legislative councilors and advisers but he has refused to fulfill his promise.

“We are withdrawing our loyalty and support and calling on patriotic APC governorship aspirants, most especially Dr. Mahmood Halilu Ahmed–Modi to come and rescue the state,’’ Mr. Menayi maintained.

“The aftermath of this has led to separation in marriages, eviction by landlords and closure of many businesses in the state; while failure of the governor to pay our salaries has also led to withdrawal of our children from schools,’’ he said.

Chairman of the Councillors Forum, Mr Rikam Bishard who spoke at the meeting, said their tenure which was reduced to two years by the State Assembly would lapse in June yet they were not paid allowance. He also lamented that their monthly salary was reduced to N207, 000 as against N320, 000 received by their predecessors.

The councilors had parley with Gov Bindow at the Deputy Governor’s office and the meeting ended with a scuffle between the Governor’s security aides who attempted to arrested a councilor who who accosted late Chief of staff to the Governor Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta, at the meeting.

The suspension of Mahmad Yunusa chairman Yola-North and Mr. Vrati Nzonzo, Lamurde local government, areas who was politically seen as a hero in the state capital was described as wrong which also contributed losing Bindow’s losing reelection bid. Politics watchers assert that the fact that Governor Bindow who has made some marks in the area of infrastructural development especially road constructions, was not able to secure a second term will no doubt serve as a lesson for future governors who will have to avoid offending the wrong politicians. But all things said and done, Bindow will be remembered for the infrastructural development especially road construction which has changed the face of the state capital and other major cities.

•Sourced from Leadership report