Notable politicians aspiring for the governorship seat of Gombe State in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state include a business mogul and contractor, Alhaji Bala Bello Tinka, the state Commissioner for Finance, Hassan Muhammadu, Ambassador Haruna Garba, among others.
So far, only Bala Tinka has declared interest publicly. Though the rest are yet to declare interest, and having not contested for the seat in the past, has made political observers in the state to describe them as “jokers”.
However, an aspirant that is yet to publicly declare interest for the seat, but is believed to be nursing the ambition, is Alhaji Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, a one-time gubernatorial candidate in the state.
Jamilu, a technocrat and politician, contested for the governorship under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2007. He contested against the then Governor, Danjuma Goje. Although he lost the election, many believed he lost due to power of incumbency considering that his attempt was widely acknowledged by the electorate.
Analysts believe that in the event he throws his hat in for the race this time around, Jamilu, who is the Managing Director of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), may likely have an upper hand of winning the election considering that he is a member of the PDP, which has been the ruling party in the state in the last 14 years.
Pundits who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday said Dankwambo’s track record in the last eight years would count and be of advantage for whoever emerged as PDP candidate in the 2019 general elections.
In addition to his vast experience in both the public and private sectors, Jamilu Gwamna, who is also the Sardaunan Gombe, is also a bosom friend of Governor Dankwambo, having entered the political scene almost at the same time in 1999 during the administration of Governor Abubakar Habu Hashidu.
Jamilu was appointed the Executive Chairman of Gombe Water Corporation (GWC), while Dankwambo was appointed the accountant general of the state.
He is reportedly maintaining a cordial relationship with Dankwambo even as some people close to them said the governor would be comfortable to handover to him for fear of being probed for his eight-year rule.
Jamilu also comes from the family of a respected elder statesman, late Alhaji Isyaku Gwamna, and he is also believed to be a man of honour and high moral character in his own right.
It is widely believed among his supporters that he has never been found wanting in disrespecting the elders or playing dirty politics throughout his sojourn, particularly during his electioneering campaign in 2007.
Daily Trust on Sunday also learnt that it is to his credit the designing and subsequent award of contract for the Gombe Regional Water Scheme project. However, his then principal, Governor Habu Hashidu, lost re-election in 2003 before the project came to reality.
Daily Trust on Sunmday checks reveal that Jamilu has good relationship with people at the grassroots and enjoys massive support; especially from the youths.
As the then chairman of the state water corporation, he was said to have recruited so many youths, especially fresh university graduates.
Also, as the current MD of KEDCO, he is said to have facilitated the employment of over 200 people from Gombe State alone. These gestures have endeared him to many people who see him as the man with the love of the masses.
Political pundits said the political structures he used to contest for the 2007 election were still intact, having run a robust campaign that nearly unseated Goje at the time. After losing the 2007 election, Jamilu Gwamna went back to the private sector and served in various capacities that culminated with his appointment to head KEDCO, one of the 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) that took over from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
These positions, political analysts said, have groomed him well to be on the saddle in Gombe State in 2019.
Sources say he has an edge over other contestants that have so far shown interest to contest for the number one seat in Gombe.
However, having come from the same Gombe Local Government Area as the incumbent governor is one of the stumbling blocks to be faced by Jamilu Gwamna.
This is despite the fact that zoning of political positions, especially between Gombe North and Gombe Central, that had always produced the governor and the speaker of the state assembly since the return of democracy in 1999, is not making much impact.
However, observers believe people from other local government areas may kick against having another governor from the Gombe Local Government Area.
Also, while Gwamna is yet to openly declare interest despite his posters adorning major streets in Gombe metropolis, some politicians from the ruling party have since started strategising to clinch the party’s ticket. Therefore, his late entrance may have negative effect, some observers said.
However, his supporters are quick to dismiss this notion, saying Governor Dankwambo also entered the race only some few months to the election which he eventually won.
Political analysts are also of the opinion that having PDP in power since 2003 will make some voters to try another party come 2019, especially from the opposition APC which is strategising to take over from the PDP.
And despite Gwamna’s track record of service, clinching PDP’s ticket will be a herculean task for him, with the calibre of politicians jostling to get the party’s ticket.
He has to beat top contenders who have worked closely with Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo in the last six years, including people like the Commissioner for Finance, Hassan Muhammadu, who is also a technocrat and who many believe is part of Dankwambo’s success story.
Also, the Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Ahmad Abubakar Walama, Bala Bello Tinka, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Yayari, Senator Haruna Garba, among others are all likely contenders.
It is in the coming months that the reality will actuality manifest.
