By Yusuf Idris Gusau
Opposition politics in Zamfara State is regressing by the minute, hour and day, something akin to childish banters and motor park gist. Ironically, it’s being promoted by an otherwise seasoned politicians who have been around for two decades at the least.
In the motor park the usual conversation is often centered on rumors, heresays and crude conjectures. If you were to be a witness listening from outside the conversing group you would be at a loss who introduced the topic or where the topic originated from.
It is a cacophony of voices each one swearing to know better than the other.
That is how the topic of everyday, Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has become within the rank and file of the opposition All Progressive Congress.
They live in the day with his name on their lips. They go to bed with his image stalking their nights, and dream the nightmare he has become to their political survival.
Isn’t it surprising that the “strong” men and women of Zamfara politics can be in such disarray, disorganized and bereft of ideas on how to reposition themselves and the APC if they were the political heavyweights barely two years since losing to one whom they considered a less formidable opponent? How can they resort to hiring neophytes in mudslinging and fear mongering to do their dirty jobs if indeed they are “masters” of Zamfara politics as they claim to be?
For the last one year or so the subject of discussion within the APC has been whether or not Matawallen Maradun and Shettiman Sokoto will defect to the APC.
Why should that be an issue, and why should his domineering presence send chills into their spines?
Why should 2023 elections be a subject at hand when there are so many days and months to go and whereas there are lots of cleaning of the dirt they left in the augean stable?
Do they not know that Matawalle has a job to do than bother with who gets the governorship seat in 2023?
Are they not aware Matawalle believes, like every good Muslim should, that playing god as they did when they shared positions in their bedrooms in the past was the genesis of their failures to date?
If they don’t know, they should know now, that the Shattiman Sakkwato will certainly not wait for any person to decide his fate which he believes is in God’s hands and will only be processed when the time comes through popular support from the people.
It is ridiculously funny that the so-called political big-wigs have continued to engage the services of anyone they can lay their hands on including people who do not accept the mighty powers of Allah nor the rights and privileges of citizens in Zamfara politics. A coward who hid behind a sydonym of Musa Dangusau to dictate to the incumbent Zamfara governor not to move from his party, the PDP to another party the APC. Which oracle told him to pass such a despicable message for a contest that is open and where only the brave dares?
I want to quickly make one basic note and correction here that for these people who political cowards see as Zamfara political deep pockets, the fear of Matawalle joining APC is certainly the begining of their political wisdom.
Since the rumour began making the rounds that governor Matawalle was defecting to the APC, the whole partners in the party in Zamfara came crashing because of the fact that the writings on the wall have become so clear.
For the likes of Musa Dangusau however it appears politics begins and ends with just one person in Zamfara State, and any challenge to this person’s will and desire threaten their well-being. That is indeed a pity because they will soon eat their bread unbuttered because Matawalle has since demonstrated his political strength as witnessed during the Bakura House of Assembly bye-election which he won for his party prompting many APC members to join him in the PDP.
He has indeed become a serious threat to their demi-god and are afraid they will lose relevance and their meal ticket.
We wish to remind the opposition that though Matawalle contested and won his election on the platform of the PDP he never went to court because he believes strongly that power belongs to God.
And when the Supreme Court declared him winner of the 2019 governorship election, it was as a result of the squabbles caused internally by APC members in the state and by its parent body.
One assumes therefore that if the opposition were politically savvy as they claim to be, one would have thought it wise to beg Matawalle to hasten his movement to the APC instead of fighting a losing battle now that the national headquarters of the APC which is made up of enlightened personalities have since realized the asset he has become and are ready to receive him whenever he makes up his mind.
Also talking about Matawalle betraying his current party, the PDP as implied by the poisonous pen of phantom Dangusau. We ask, why should outsiders say that on behalf of the PDP, it should be the PDP that will complain.
Or, are they in anyway putting words into Matawalle’s mouth when he isn’t the type to be called disloyal or afraid to quietly live whatever it is that isn’t protecting the interest of the people of Zamfara?
Shakespeare said in one of his books “cowards die many times before their deaths” and walk into an early grave. This aptly describes those who are scared of the towering personality of the Matawallen Maradun and are the ones going early to their political grave.
That we can promise them.
Idris is Director General of Press Affairs to Zamfara governor
