By Our Reporter, Lafia.
Global Times Nigeria will be focusing on the chances, strategies, possibilities of aspirants and stakeholders adopt in
Search for credible candidate.
Following the recent announcement by the Nasrawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) on the processes and arrangement geared towards the conduct of local government election in the State.
The Elders, Stakeholders in their numbered hail Nasarawa Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Balarabe Ibrahim for encouraging zoning Formula in Toto LG.
The major political parties and aspirants include:
APC =11
PDP =2
APGA =1
Going by history, some districts which has previously served the Chairmanship Positions are:
Elected Chairmen
Toto district = 3
1. Dr. Zakari O Sani.
2. Alh. Ishaku O. Ibrahim(Muktar) 3. Hon.Muhammed O. Musa (General).
Umaisha District = 2
1. Hon. Wabari Paul
2. Prince Nuhu O. Dauda.
Gadabuke District = 1
1. Prince Aliyu Sani only man that had ever served from the area.
Appointment:
Toto District = 6
1. Hon. Dogara S. Nyisana
2. Hon.Tanko Kaura
3. Mr Philip Tatari Shekwo
4. Alh. Umar Muhammed (Bamu) 5. 5. Hon. Muhammed O. Musa (General) Sole/IMC.
Umaisha District = 2
1. Hon. Samson S. Daudu
2. Prince Nuhu A. Dauda.
Gadabuke District = 2
2. Mr Nuhu Kure
2. Alh. Aliyu Gani
Global Times Nigeria revealed the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, NASIEC, announced October 6th of this year as date for its conduct of the LG election in the state.
The pronouncement has brought hope and relieved for the stakeholders and actors involved says long awaited one finally arrived, no doubt, it was received with lots of joy across the state.
Given the level of excitement generated, it also signifies that LG election has been what a lot of people desire most in politics, thereby generating political excitements in the state.
Nasarawa State had 13 LGAs, one of which is Toto.
It shares boundary with the F.C.T in the north, Kogi State to the south and Benue state at the western plank.
The LG is located about 200 kilometers from Lafia, the state capital and comprises of two (2) Development Areas of Umaisha and Gadabuke.
It also has Two (2) State Electoral Constituencies: Toto/Gadabuke and Umaisha/Ugya, in addition to 12 electoral wards; which are Toto, Shafan-Kwatto, Shafan-Abakwa, Ugya, Kanyehu, Umaisha, Dausu, Shegye, Katakpha, Garagwa, Buga/Karmo and Gadabuke.
Being the area that produced one of the most prominent political gladiators in the state, the state’s No. 3 citizen, the Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, there is no doubt that the local government has become the cynosure of all eyes.
In this regards, it is on records, that Speaker Balarabe has made it crystal clear in several fora that for equity, peace, justice and all round representations to manifest and reign supreme in the area, zoning formula MUST be the sine qua non to be adhered to in the choice to chairmanship position.
This idea is with a view to ensuring a most enduring political alliance among the 3 districts of Toto, Umaisha and Gadabuke.
Expectedly, this arrangement has been overwhelmingly accepted by all the major stakeholders in the area, and adjudged as the best developmental approach ever eked out for political progress in the area.
Political analysts also accepted the fact that this singular political Arithmetic by the Speaker is already changing the political narratives of the people and ushering in enhanced peace, unity, political participation and all round representations.
Some of the stakeholders and elders who already spoke on the matter included Alh Suleiman Ubam, a former commissioner in both Plateau and Nasarawa, Alh. Isa Ibrahim Rubochi, an elder statesman, Alh. Gambo Yanga, the managing director Dan-Yanga Agro Chemical Nigeria Ltd, Prince Aliyu Sani, the first democratically elected chairman of the area, former House member, Hon. Madaki Ada-Goje, Hon. Musa Ohinoyi (aka General), who is the longest serving chairman in the area and Mal. Danlami Yanga, a PDP Stalwart in the area who recently joined APC, all described the efforts made by the Speaker as the best political move ever made by any leader and widely accepted by all leaders in the area.
They however advised that the momentum of such a positive decision must not be allowed to wane but should be sustained for good, as it has capacity to strongly unite the people, to reengineer peaceful co-existence among them and ensure a smooth conduct of the forthcoming LG election in the area.
At the last count, so far 14 people have indicated interests to contest for the Council’s topmost position in the LG A, with 11 of them coming from the ruling APC.
While 2 are warming up from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP, there is also a lone short from APGA.
The breakdown in APC indicated that the 9 top contenders include the immediate past Deputy chairman of Toto LG. Hon. Kabiru Ibrahim Musa, Hon. Jibrin Maiwada Jojisa, a retired Education Secretary and two times aspirant for state assembly and Dr Shaibu Zakari a medical practitioner based in Loko-goma.
Others are comrade Salihu Ibrahim Rosy, a former Administrator for Gadabuke Development Area, Hon. Usman Dauda, an Abuja based land speculator, Hon. Aliyu Abdullahi Tashas, a serving Special Adviser to Gov. Abdullahi A. Sule on Conflict Resolution, who was one time councilor and aspirant for state assembly in the last election. Also in the race is Alh. Yusuf Ibrahim Maikasuwa, an aid to a former Senator, Abubakar Danso Sodangi, Mal. Isa Iganki a retired Director from the state ministry of education and Hon Ahmed Muhammed Oyoyo among others.
The first Seven who spoke in an interview with newsmen agreed to work towards successful election, where both winner and losers will embrace one another in good faith.
They have equally accepted to abide by the decisions of the party and elders, as well as working for peace, unity and progress of the area, moreso that all their manifestos centered on grassroots development, security of their people and consolidation on the industrialization policy of Gov. Abdullahi A. Sule.
Interestingly, all the aspirants appear to rely more on their individual strengths and popularity to win the election even as analysts will continue to make inputs as events Politically unfold.
2023: In Nasarawa Fresh Defection Hit PDP, As Speaker Balarabe Says APC Still The Party To Beat.
Among the foremost forerunners in this race therefore is the aspiration of Hon Abdullahi Tashas. It is easy to observe that if luck runs well for him, his closeness with the seat of power might be a huge advantage to him.
Observers are already of the opinion that if “one good turn deserves another,” Tashas must be enjoying a good strong backing of member of the state House of Assembly from the area, Hon Usman Labaran Shafa, to whom Tashas once stepped down for and even supported on the day of APC primary election that eventually led to Shafa’s victory.
Yet, there are others who believe strongly too that Hon Tashas’ ability as a renowned public commentator, now being appreciated by his people owing to his popularity as a pamphleteer and other efforts in propagating the good traditions of his people, stands a very good chance of clinching the APC ticket.
As for the immediate past Deputy chairman of Toto LGC, Hon Kabiru Ibrahim, his been a second in command in the last administration, will tell much about his aspiration.
What becomes of him will have so much to do with the overall performance or otherwise of that regime.
It’s already being speculated that notwithstanding his stewardship, whatever assessment comes out of that tenure may inevitably count on his aspiration that may either make or mar him at the APC primaries.
He is nevertheless, the youngest among the aspirants and a grassroot man.
Dr Zakari Shuaibu Lokogoma is seen as a philanthropist owing to his touch on lives as a medical practitioner at the grassroots level.
Some observers are however of the opinion that his ambition may hit the rocks, because of the zoning formula already agreed upon and widely accepted by all and sundry.
Dr Zakari is from Umaisha district, same place with the previous occupant of the seat that he is still seeking.
Other aspirants who are trailing from the back tract perhaps might do enough to make their impacts as grassroots people, but most of them, especially some from the other parties may not really hold water considering that APC is well rooted in Toto LGA, but could help to ventilate the process, though this is aside the political tentacles of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi that always draw people to the APC.
Which is why, even though the Speaker has made it very clear that he has no anointed candidate, his political strength in the area is too obvious that his party, the APC, stands a clear chance of wining the LG election.
This writer also gathered that APC stakeholders in the area has commenced series of meetings in earnest to pick a credible candidate and that there is a very strong possibility of arriving at a consensus.
While we keep our fingers crossed as time gets closer by the day, it is hoped that it will end well as the saying goes “All is well that ends well”.
