By Abdallah el-Kurebe
Two terms governor of Sokoto state and Senator representing Sokoto Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly (NASS), Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (aka Alu) is known to have a penchant for quietude. This is displayed even at the floor of the Senate, where except he has something to say, he sits, listen and probably contribute to debates – if and when he feels he should.
Down history lane: He’s known for winning battles
Recalling history, Wamakko, insignificant as he seemed to be as deputy governor in Bafarawa administration, was attempted-to-be-impeached in 2006. The well-calculative, sharp politician resigned. Yet, as a seeming ‘nothinger’ in 2007, Wamakko quietly but squarely contested governorship election with his blossom friend and Bafarawa’s anointed candidate, Maigari Dingyadi, now Minister of Police Affairs. Wamakko won the 2007 governorship election against the power that then was. As a political strategy, Bafarawa had pitched Dingyadi against Wamakko, to break the knot that then bond the two together – they are bossom friends and in-laws whose children have nuptial tie, till date. As if winning the election did not end the contest, Bafarawa pushed Dingyadi to challenge Wamakko’s election victory in court. However, through the hierarchy of the courts (from High through to the Appeals and Supreme Courts, Wamakko became victorious on November 16, 2010 against Bafarawa/Dingyadi after three years of judicial debacle. The rest is now history. Wamakko has won back Dingyadi who has since reunited with the Senator in the All Progressives Congress (APC) with the former being the leader of the party in the state and the later as Minister of Police Affairs.
The genesis of Sokoto APC crisis
Crisis in the state APC started with the conduct of state congresses where three parallel congresses were held with Wamakko leading the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; former minister of Transport, Yusuf Suleiman; Senator Ibrahim Gobir, six members at the House of Representatives (except Abdullahi Salame), 15 members of the State Assembly, Executive Secretary of Police Trust Fund, Ahmed Aliyu; a National Commissioner of the National Population Commission and many others to elect Isah Achida. The representative of the APC national headquarters and Chairman of the Congress Committee, Suleiman Abubakar oversaw the congress before which he said, “Our mandate from the national headquarters of APC is to ensure the smooth conduct of the congress…”
On the other hand, Gada led the Mainasara Sani faction while Rep Abdullahi Salame led Abubakar Sirajo as faction, with the Speaker of Sokoto State House of Assembly as Salame’s back up.
Litigation ensued
Sirajo challenged Mainasara-led faction at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, which on December 16 2021, affirmed the chairmanship of the party in Sokoto to Mainasara Sani (Gada’s faction). Sirajo challenged the FCT High court’s judgement at the Court of Appeal and Achida’s faction filed to join the suit within which time the national headquarters of the APC was to inaugurate state chapters. However, Mainasara presented the order of the FCT High Court to claim that he was the chairman declared by the Court to lead the Sokoto chapter. In the National headquarters’ obedience to the court order, the APC chapter among others with similar court cases, was not inaugurated and the appeal went on.
Hired Mercenaries within litigation
While the appeal was on, the duo of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and former Kano state governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, in what could be described as sub juice, declared Mainasara Sani as the authentic state chairman of Sokoto APC on Sunday, February 27, 2022. The occasion was the empowerment ceremony organised by Abdullahi Salame who is a member of the House of Representatives, representing Gwadabawa/Illela Federal Constituency. Senator Gada who seemed to be working with Salame, was also present at the event.
“This is the elected chairman of the party in the state. His election was affirmed by the court,” Malami had said even when the matter was on appeal. Pundits observed that as the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria, Malami’s affirmation of someone who is a subject of litigation, is sub juice.
Reacting to Malami at a press conference, Achida said “Malami just played to the gallery because he knows that the people he is supporting have lost bearing as far as Sokoto politics is concerned. We are the authentic leaders of the party in the state. We are in control of all the wards and the local government areas. We have two senators, six member of the House of Representatives and 15 members of the State House of Assembly in our fold.”
Also in solidarity, the 23 local government party chairmen, addressed newsmen on March 5, 2022 to affirm their loyalty to Achida faction led by Senator Wamakko. “The association of 23 elected local government chairmen of the party in Sokoto state have reaffirmed the leadership of Isah Achida as the Chairman of the APC and Senator Aliyu Wamakko as the only leader of the party in Sokoto. This comes after our election on the 4th September 2021 and we believe we are the true representatives of APC and its supporters in our local government areas,” the chairman of the forum stated.
Pundits who observe the political trends in Sokoto, have opined that Gada and Salame missed it all by not using ‘local soldiers’ to fight their own war but ‘importing foreign mercenaries’ in the likes of Malami and Shekarau. They further posit that fighting ‘political wars’ in Sokoto requires home-grown ‘military wares’ who understand Wamakko’s ‘political war weapons and tentacles’. “Importing Malami from Kebbi and Shekarau from Kano as mercenaries and both of who have their own home-grown political problems, would not have efficiently fought Gada and Salame’s war. Gada and Salame rather needed sympathizers in the state to support their course, if they have,” Bello Goronyo posited.
Appeal Court ruling
The Appeal Court in Abuja on Thursday, March 25 2022, a day to the national convention of the party, nullified the FCT High Court Judgement. The court held that the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain the mater. “We should know that where a matter happened, that is where it should be addressed…I also strike out the suit on the basis of lack of jurisdiction…FCT High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter. Any stake, including decision and judgement done at the high Court, is nullity.”
Reacting to the Appeal Court judgement, Achida said the development was a result of Sen. Wamakko’s doggedness and political clout.
“The war has been won and our leader, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko is the warrior. His doggedness and resilience is the result we are witnessing today.”
Wamakko and Gada: Political weights
Judging by the crass measures of Wamakko’s political acumen both in terms of achievement and followership, it could be said that Gada is not an equal. And, any comparison could be disastrous.
According to Aminu Goronyo, “The two are different. While Wammako is a grassroots politician with structures spread across all poling units, Gada is a specialized Abuja politician whose political strength is probably found there. You cannot successfully equate the two. You can see why he has to bring in mercenaries from Kebbi and Kano to declare his candidate for him,” he said.
The matter has been started at the Federal High Court, Sokoto Division for hearing with the matter now adjourned to May 10, 2022 for hearing.
