A Kaduna-based political analyst, Nasiru Dambatta speaks with Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo on the prospect of the former Governor of Zamfara state now Senator Abdulaziz Yari becoming the next President of the Senate.
Why are you rooting for Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari when the APC has reportedly already decided on Godswill Akpabio?
First, Yari is a candidate from the Northwest, with vast executive -cum-legislative experience. Secondly, the North-west is on record to have provided the highest percentage of votes of over 30% , over and above every other geopolitical zone in the country.
Let us not forget that the president-elect scored a total of 8.79 million. That was how the Northwest emerged tops with 30.0% votes cast in the entire presidential election. Even Tinubu’s immediate Constituency of South West came second with 25.9%. The North Central came third, with 20.0%, while the North East came fourth with 13.5%. The South South came fifth with 9.10%, while the South East came a distant sixth with a mere 1.45%. On the scale of electoral fortunes in that election, Yari’s Northwest beats all. That is why our Northwest Progressives Forum cautioned the president-elect not to support the underperformed geopolitical zone in the presidential elections. We still think Yari is the best among all the people in the race. Our position is not with prejudice to the stand of the APC because the ruling party is also entitled to their opinion in a democracy, though massive protests against APC’s choice of Senate Presidency and Speakership are still raging in the media. I saw Southwest governors from Tinubu’s immediate Constituency, rejecting the APC stand. I saw the Coalition of Northern Groups( CNG) warning against what they see as a direct imposition on the National Assembly. The story is no less different at the House of Reps too, as some newspapers alleged underground moves to deal blows on current leadership under Rt Hon Gbajabiamila. It is now very difficult to conclude that the APC’s final decision is popular enough.
On what premise do you think Yari is comparatively a much better choice for the Senate President slot than say Akpabio or Orji Uzor-Kalu?
It is on record that Yari has been in the APC for many years, and his membership predates the merger that led to the formation of the APC itself. Let us not forget that Yari has been a powerful force since the era of ANPP. He was once a party Secretary that handled many internal crises in Zamfara State when the democratic space was seriously overheated. He neutralized opposition and brought the party back to its feet. He calmed frayed nerves and made the party even stronger than it was before the internal wrangling. Please check your records and tell me when Senator Akpabio joined the APC; exactly how long? When did Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu joined the APC? You see, in politics, you cannot overlook how much input a loyal party member has made into the success of the party. I dare say that Yari has spent hundreds of millions to support party activities and remains a one-man squad against hunger and poverty in Zamfara State, even after his exit as governor of the state. He was very generous to the poor people of his immediate constituency, and that is why he won the Senatorial election fair and square. I doubt if there is a strong basis of comparison between Yari and the duo of Akpabio and Uzor-Kalu.
