Yuguda: The new saint in Bauchi

By Aminu Adamu Naganye

It is common, if not habit, for politicians in Nigeria at all strata to dump one political party for another for one reason or the other, but usually personal ends drive the cause. Recently, Isa Yuguda, the immediate past governor of Bauchi State announced his resignation as member of the Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Yuguda, expectedly, revealed his reasons for quitting the party that ruled Nigeria for 16 consecutive years at the centre before its defeat by the now governing All progressives congress (APC) in the last general election.

The former two-term governor of Bauchi state said as part of his reasons for abandoning the once powerful party in Africa was the shocking revelation of embezzlement of funds meant for fighting insurgency in the northeast where Bokoharam ravaged unabated for six years by members of the then ruling PDP which left moral burden on all its members. Ex governor Yuguda also questioned the integrity and moral capacity of the PDP acting chair, Ali Sheriff, to charge affairs of the party in its bid to reclaim power from APC come 2019. Yuguda therefore concluded that the PDP lacks capacity and willingness to bring about the needed development to Nigeria which made it necessary for him to head for yet-to-be known party.

It’s pertinent here therefore to take a glimpse of Yuguda political limelight to see if he has political honesty, integrity and moral capacity to disparage his one time favourite party and its chair. As aviation minister As a career banker, Yuguda was one of the leading financiers of the PDP in Bauchi in 1999. It was believed that his financial contributions to the party in Bauchi aided and paved the way for PDP’s emergence as victorious in 1999 which forced its stakeholders to consider him for compensation as ministerial nominee from Bauchi State against initial arrangement of zoning the ministerial slot to the Katagum zone of the state. And it worked out. He served as aviation minister under former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

His gubernatorial ambition and struggle to control the soul of the PDP in Bauchi brought their political rivalry to public domain with the then Bauchi State Governor Ahmadu Adamu Muazu. After his resignation as minister and the failure to clinch governorship ticket, he dumped PDP for now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). As Bauchi State Governor In 2007, Yuguda secured Governorship ticket from the ANPP and the then opposition leader President Muhammadu Buhari campaigned vigorously for the success of Isa Yuguda which added more flavour to Yuguda’s popularity.

However, Mal. Isa, as he’s called, betrayed both Buhari and the ANPP by retracting to the PDP and repositioned himself firmly by tightening the nod with the daughter of President Yar’adua. Though people of Bauchi were not happy with Yuguda’s itinerant political style, but they were more disappointed with his underperformance as a governor particularly at his second term. It can be argued in his favour that he provided jobs for the youths via his initiatives such as Spider Web Security, Cosmopolitan Cleaners and many more before the youths are rendered jobless by the now unpopular Gov M. A. Abubakar.

However, his failure in infrastructure is simply recognisable by all and sundry. For instance, renovations of secondary schools in Bauchi were haphazardly done and were incomplete of which payments were made. Similarly, water supply remained his fault line in Bauchi and till date it is a colossal problem in Bauchi Another damning project that has deprived Bauchi’s resources during Yuguda’s administration with little or no value was the construction of multibillion naira international airport that Bauchi state doesn’t need; doesn’t want and doesn’t ask for.

But because it was an easy way to carve billions away for personal benefit; he prioritised the project against the needful water supply; road networks; improved health care and education that people of Bauchi needed; wanted and asked for that were left on the back burner. The eve of 2015 general election The Nigerian polity was tense with the politicking of politicians prior to the last general. Coincidentally, that was the time that Bokoharam terrorists were killing, maiming and displacing innocent Nigerians with little or no resistance from the poorly equipped Nigerian forces.

In fact, Sambo Dasuki, now embattled former National Security Adviser (NSA) had to recommend postponement of the election before subsequent reschedule. While Boko Haram was killing both our security forces and unarmed civilians, Yuguda sustained his loyalty to PDP and campaigned the length and breadth of Bauchi vigorously for its success despite obvious consequences of the PDP’s misrule in tackling insecurity in Nigeria. In the last 16 consecutive years of PDP misrule, Yuguda was ardent supporter; devoted propagator of its manifestos and leading financier of its activities; he only left the party temporarily not because the party was not bringing development to Nigeria or ‘lacks capacity…’but because he couldn’t secure governorship ticket under its platform.

However, after people of Bauchi had given him the mandate on the platform of ANPP, he stepped back to the PDP, arguing that the interest of Bauchi people can “only be pursued and preserved” under the then ruling party. Since that time, Yuguda remained committed to the PDP project. There was no time; there was no day; there was no week; there was no month and of course, no year that Yuguda didn’t try to portray PDP as the party with no alternative in Nigeria for Nigerians. Yuguda’s question, integrity and morality A few questions boggle one’s mind on Yuguda’s integrity and moral responsibility to castigate the PDP on his way to claim sainthood.

For instance, is Yuguda truly aware and of the belief that PDP is not the best for Nigeria? Why did he try to mobilise resources at his disposal to ensure its success against peoples wish in Bauchi? Had PDP won the last general election could he have the gut to take this decision and this damning comment against it? Or he’s making this effort to have his name pencil off from the EFCC’s list? I doubt this misadventure because Saaraki’s CCT “chair” is a good lesson.

Fortunately for Yuguda, he’s yet to name his new party, he should therefore think deeply and deeply before making another political gaffe that can ruin his hazy reputation in Nigerian politics. This is because his hands are soiled with many allegations just like he reminded us of Ali Sheriff’s alleged involvement in Bokoharam menace.

Despite all these and many issues hanging on Yuguda’s neck including alleged sponsorship of “sara suka” thugs to terrorise people during his campaigns in 2007 in Bauchi; he can still pursue his nightmare of becoming the new saint in Bauchi at least by defying all partisan political engagements for the rest of his life. He should just stay and watch! That may make him a saint; only if we close our eyes on his past and only to judge him by his “plausible argument” for dumping the “devilish PDP.” He may be regarded as the new saint in the state.

Naganye is from Bauchi and is reachable  @ [email protected], 08142066713