Adamawa 2012: Marwa’s distinct flag-off & mission to Govt House, Yola

By Kingsley Omonobi

It was unbelievable but true. In politics, it is one thing to mobilize the electorate, it is another thing for them to attend or partake in the cause they were mobilized for, especially if you are not a sitting governor, for instance.

In the case of General Mohammed Buba Marwa, the CPC Governorship candidate in the January 2012 election, his personality, track record of performance and the huge conviction that Adamawa State would be turned into another progressive and comfortable place like Lagos and old Borno state under him, triggered thousands of indigenes to throng his flag-off campaign along Jimeta/Numan road on Thursday, 8th December, 2011.

Prior to the Thursday 8th December, 2011 flag-off and sensing the outcome of the event, there had been attempts by the PDP- led administration in the state to frustrate it as the date of Wednesday 7th, December earlier fixed for the event at the Ribadu Square was later chosen as the date for commissioning of Radio Gotel owned by a former Vice President.

But a determined Marwa advised his supporters not to be deterred or discouraged by the action of the State government but see it as a challenge that would be overcomed even though President Jonathan was nowhere near Adamawa state on that Wednesday or any other day for that matter.

Rather, what came to fore on that day in Abuja, far away in the FCT, was the inauguration of a 73-member campaign committee for Adamawa by the PDP in Abuja to work towards ensuring that General Buba Marwa and his co-contestants for the Adamawa Governorship election were stopped from obvious seeming victory that is in sight.

But the question many people living in Adamawa state are asking is, with what are these persons coming to the state to campaign? Is it the non-existent roads in many communities, non-existent power supply, and high cost of education meant only for the rich, or the advertized poverty, malnourishment and neglect on the faces of the people?

From investigations, Saturday Vanguard can report authoritatively that majority of the indigenes of Adamawa state are angry. After the 8 year tenure of PDP administration and all the frustrations that went with it, Adamawa people fought to ensure that someone who cannot be pressured to mortgage the states resources came into power .

But to their chagrin, Murtala Nyako whom they felt had seen it all as a Navy Vice Admiral, whom they also thought will govern the state like a father by making infrastructure work, provide jobs for the millions of unemployed, ensure education for all especially the poor, uplift their lives by putting in place poverty alleviating programmes and making food available, turned out to be towing a worse line than the administration he took over from.

Thus the slogan of a determined General Marwa’s campaign for the election is ‘CPC for CHANGE’ which has clearly caught the fancy of the electorates who can’t wait to see Marwa assume office, change darkness to light and begin a new dawn of

Nyako and Marwa

transformation in Adamawa state.

So on December 8th, they came in their thousands from all the corners of the state like Demsa, Fufore, Ganye, Gire 1, Gombi, Guyuk, Hong, Jada, Lamurde, Madagali, Maiha, Mayo-Belwa, Michika, Mubi-North, Mubi-South, Numan, Shelleng, Song, Toungo, Yola-North, Yola-South and the combined team of security agencies, the Police, Civil Defence Corps, SSS numbering about 1, 000 could hardly control the enthusiastic crowd.

Definitely, the outing at the flag-off would be enough to send jitters down the spine of any sitting administration if it had happened in any state hence when news started making the rounds next day that the Adamawa state government which was owing workers salary arrears had softened the grounds to pay some arrears, people started attributing the move to the fear of Marwa.

Therefore when former Head of State and Presidential Candidate of CPC in the 2011 election, General Muhammed Buhari (rtd) arrived Yola to flag off the campaign of Marwa, it was like a certain freedom had come for people in bondage. You could see people clearly heaving a sigh of relief as if Marwa had already been declared winner of the election.

Addressing the gathering, Buhari had said Marwa is a God fearing leader that will turn the lives of Adamawa people around for the better noting “Marwa has done it in other places like Lagos and Borno, comprising two states, So nobody should be in doubt about what he will do in his own state”.

His words: “If Marwa says he will provide free education, I believe him, If Marwa says he will provide free health care, I believe him. If he says he would provide security for lives and property, I believe him and if he says he will bring change, I believe him because he has done it before. So give him your support because he is a good man”

On machinery put in place by CPC to guard against ballot box snatching, stuffing and other electoral malpractice, Buhari said, “We have in place a mechanism to guard our vote’s right from the polling units, wards, and local governments to the collation centers. Our agents must be allowed to accompany our votes. Serious measures will be adopted by the gubernatorial candidate in this direction.

Reiterating that Buba Marwa if he eventually wins the election will address the problems in the state, Buhari said, “Marwa has already mentioned that he will give priority to education, healthcare, water supply, security problems which the people are itching for solutions in the state and I know he will do it”.

On his part, an elated Marwa said his promises as outlined in his programme of action to uplift the people of Adamawa state from the pit of hell, are his bond and that as an officer and a gentleman, he should be held accountable if elected.

Expressing much delight for the turnout during the flag-off, Marwa said it was enough evidence that the people of Adamawa have keyed into the message of change which he swore to bring to bear in the state.

“It is gratifying that General Buhari personally attended with high ranking officers of the National Secretariat of the CPC and other stakeholders like Governor Tank Al-Makura to flag off the campaign. We are very, very delighted, extremely happy and we are ready for the battle come January 14, 2012” he said.

He disclosed that with the flag-off, the actual tour of the state has commenced and” we hope to touch all the nooks and crannies of the state because as you know the CPC is a grassroots’ party. But we are just repeating our campaign because all this while,we have been campaigning and this will be my third round of campaign”.

On the reality that rigging seemed institutionalized in politics these days in Nigeria , Marwa retorted, “Our opponents will meet us here. This is General Marwa of the Lagos state fame. I am not stupid.When I go into something, I plan thoroughly. Those potential riggers will meet their waterloo this time around. We in the CPC will act within the ambit of the law”

For Nigerians living in Adamawa state, my message to them if we win is that “Equity and fair play is at their doorsteps. All people irrespective of their state of origin would be treated equally like I did in Borno state some 20years ago when I sew two pairs of school uniform each for every primary school pupil in our free education programme. Whether you are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Kanuri, Igala, Tiv, Ijaw etc, all will be treated equally”.