APC National Chairmanship: The Onus on two great sons of Borno

By: James Bwala

While I was trying to answer the question about the emergence of two former governors from my state contesting for the APC National Chairmanship position, I told a colleague, who put the question to me that, people supporting faces appearing on the pages of newspapers and on Facebook who are aspiring for the position of National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC seemed to be pointing to one direction except the case for Borno state where these two candidates are coming.

Already this has put some people on the fence, who do not understand politics or those who feel they must come clean on both sides. These people seemed to be on the line but to choose and support between two great sons, who had contributed immensely for the growth and development of Borno in their capacities as governors at different times, they have governed the state remains an apocalypse. Ask any neutral person to choose between the two and he would drag the words.

Questions and rumour making the round about their aspiration for the National Chairmanship position of the All Progressive Congress, APC suggested or rather informed my writing of this piece. The mute at either camp has put Borno on the focus and bad politicians have started bringing bad politics to play. But I feel this is not what people should be looking out for. We have had a fair share of differences but politics is politics. This piece may also be speaking the minds of many Borno citizens as I understand from my interaction with few.

I believe the onus is on these two great citizens to inspire courage towards delivering justice, peace, equity and understanding among politicians and to change narratives in the polity of the country if elected. The onus also is on them to demonstrate leadership uncommon as both of them are coming with a magnitude of experience in leadership and administration of people, material and resources. To have them two coming from a state puts Borno at advantage of producing the next National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress.

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Speaking on how Borno people will make a choice between the two however is putting a test between courage and responsibility. “The choice may rather be an unfortunate one at this time because it shows no oneness amongst the people and that is not what Borno state is known for.” As observed by an elder whom I would not mention here. 

I have also heard from many of my kinsmen just like the Biblical story of some for Apostle Paul and others for Barnabas but Borno is one and dividing the state along political lines sends streaming lines of cold water running down my spine. It also reminded me of the saying that a divided house cannot stand. This is true as many have come to believe so. But I did not consider this a bad omen looking at it from a political angle if it is to be played along the path of the great Waziri Ibrahim.

“I like Kashim Shettima for his intelligence and oratory.” someone had said, “For me, Modu Sheriff will make a good Leader here, APC needs the rocky type.” Another person said. In all my discussions both Kashim Shettima and Modu Sheriff seemed to be the answer from different perspectives and views of the people, which I hope to unveil as the days draws by. However, one thing remains certain; there cannot be two captains in a ship. 

While I speak with many of my kinsmen, friends, associates, colleagues and bystanders I engaged while putting this piece, I also find this to be an all-important puzzle on the political atmosphere brewing. This too will be a story for another day and I wouldn’t want to conclude at this time because surprises keep happening on political thresholds. I keep reminding myself that these are the possibilities politics provides for people. I have no doubt about the two gentlemen trying to sort out their dreams to kick the red button on this national calling. It may be a plus for Borno state on the other hand.

But a fight, I mean a political fight between a supposedly political godfather and political godson should not be presented as horrific as some rumours making the rounds seemed to have been suggesting. Rather it is to be an interesting phenomenon in the entire game called politics. Only the susceptible feels hurt, shifts blame and castigate one another in trying to win favour from this side or that side. 

For eight years, I have worked with Modu Sheriff as governor of Borno state and equally worked another eight years with Kashim Shettima. Both of them for me as a Journalist are great inspiration and subject of research in political studies. They have all made their marks as governors of Borno state taking on progressively from one point to another to make the state what it is today and I believe they still have much to offer Borno state and its citizens in their current struggles. 

Someone earlier today asked me about the question of Modu Sheriff and Kashim Shettima coming to edge out their political stamina on the battlefield for the seat of the National Chairmanship of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. I told him they are both progressive. And sincerely this is my opinion as a Journalist. If I were to be a politician perhaps my answer would have been different.  

For many politicians, speaking in this context particularly for those who have had relationships with both Modu Sheriff and Kashim Shettima, the choice depends on how deeply they have been involved either with Modu Sheriff or Kashim Shettima. But at this point, the choice will have to be made either for Modu Sheriff or Kashim Shettima. That was my own explanation.

Even for the governor of Borno state, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, the two former governors: Modu Sheriff and Kashim Shettima remain two angels God prepared from heaven to shape his ways. I was very close at a point in time when he came across both of them and on each encounter fortune smiled on him putting him in a very difficult position as many politicians in Borno state who had at various occasions been led by fate and faith to find favour from these two great sons of Borno.

Sheriff is Rocky as they would say and Shettima an Orator, either of them is a Captain in his own right but politics will be played and there must be a winner in the end. For me, it is Borno against the rest of the states – Zamfara, Nassarawa, and Benue for those I could remember and have written about. There is nothing poetic about political battles as being suggested between Sheriff and Shettima. Either side of the coin is a good advantage for Borno if the two roll it out well in their campaigns. The Onus is on them to make Borno state proud.

James Bwala writes from Abuja

APC National Chairmanship: The Onus on two great sons of Borno