By IBRAHEEM MUSA

In politics, elections are lost and won, in most cases, even before voting, counting and announcement of results are made. Next week, local government election, on October 19, will hold in Kaduna State and the outcome, from the optics, is pretty much obvious and self-evident. Indeed, the result will celebrate   focus,  long term planning and a well thought-out strategy. Perhaps, a little context will connect the dots, paint  the larger picture and put issues in bold relief.

Significantly, Senator Uba Sani, the Kaduna State  Governor, had promised to  be even-handed  in his inaugural address.  Politics, he had argued, was over  and all citizens should join in the brass tacks of governance.  Truly,  the Governor  matched his preachment with action, upon assuming office, as he  reached out to the opposition, religious and socio-political organisations, waving   an olive branch. Likewise, he built bridges, opened communication channels and pulled down walls of distrust within a short time. Indeed, the efforts have yielded fruits as the political elite, across party lines, are either in the same boat or rowing  in  one direction.

Specifically, Senator Uba Sani and Alhaji Ahmed  Makarfi, despite political differences, have  a very cordial relationship. Similarly, Arch Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Makarfi’s successor and former vice president, is the Governor’s   political allay whose  counsel he seeks regularly. More so, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Sambo’s protégé, had crossed over to  the ruling APC in September last year.

Likewise, the Governor has wooed    opponents  after the last  general election. Last week, Senator Shehu Sani  voted with his feet, left the PDP and pitched tent with APC, bringing his supporters along.  Similarly,  Senator Suleiman  Hunkuyi, the NNPP  candidate, had returned  to the APC, seven months after the gubernatorial election. Likewise, Alhaji  Sani Shaaban, a former lawmaker and Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate, has dumped the party and is eyeing the APC.  Indeed, the government,   political and  ethno-religious leaders, are now  on same page, strategizing for  development.  Besides,   a rave of defections, in recent times,  has further depleted  the  opposition,  especially the PDP.

Last July, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, ex National Organising Secretary, dumped PDP for the APC, citing personal reasons. Essentially, the spokesman of PDP State  Campaign Council, Alhaji Yakubu Lere, crossed over to APC based on personal relationship with the Governor. Likewise, the Chairman of Chikun local government, Salasi Musa, his entire councillors and their supporters,  have left PDP for APC. Also, Hon Ibrahim Gajere, the Kajuru local government chairman, has gone to APC, so has Hon Mathias Siman, his counterpart at Kaura area council. In fact, over 200,000 PDP leaders and supporters, in the last four months, have defected  to the APC, according to Senator Uba Sani.

Marketing Kaduna in China, BY IBRAHEEM MUSA

Indeed, the coming local government election, for all intents and purposes, will be walk over for APC candidates as the opposition, through political brinkmanship, have been depleted and weakened.  Besides, they  will run  on Senator Uba Sani’s  achievements and goodwill. In fact,  the Governor  has built 62 roads across the 23 local governments, brought  development to rural areas,  built  60 secondary schools, furnished  over 200 primary and secondary schools, distributed free fertilisers to farmers and slashed tuition fees of Kaduna State owned tertiary institutions,  as well as delivered sundry dividends of democracy, in the last 17 months.

However,  in contrast, PDP’s campaign sounds  hollow as its candidates are running on promises . Clearly,  the electorate will rather  vote for what is on the ground than what is on the horizon.

The Star