Borno Deputy Governorship: Shealting The Swords , Healing The Wounds.

By Inuwa Bwala

Given the role of a Deputy Governor, it is rather an anathrma to campaign, seeking to be chosen, as a deputy governorship candidate.
Changing dynamics have however seen to the emergence of individuals, openly campaigningy , to be so chosen.
It is a truism that, the choice is the prerogative of the governorship candidate, to nominate someone, he or she feels he or she can blend well.
The case in Borno for the oncoming elections, presents a case study, of people doing things wrongly and expect to alter a long standing narrative.
In the last few days, since Ali Abdullahi, was chosen as the runningmate to Engineer Mustapha Gubio, the polity seems to be getting charged.
I have tried to jaxtapose argumentson the appropriateness or lack of it, in the choice of Ali Abdullahi, as the deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progresdives Congress, APC, in Borno state.
While some justify the choice, others were not too comfortable with it.
To many, there was no sufficient consultations, with critical stakeholders, before the choice was made public.
To others, the candidate was picked from outside the traditional political circle, and yet to others, he is not conversant with the ways of the people, having been born and bred outside the enviroment.
I understand others even feel that the choice negates the expectations of frontrunners in the campaigns, with some people even developing a sense of entitlement, in way.
In as much as everybody os granted the right to aspire, it has never been the norm to consult everybody before a deputy governorship candidate is chosen.
It is normal to try selling the idea, but it is not a must, that the evrntual choice must be someone others feel must be the one.
No matter how anyone feels, there are rooms for a rhendezvous of interests, in a party that controls the government.
And given our peculiar circumstances in Borno, we have to give it to the candidate, to nominate somebody he feels he could blend with, effectively.
That most of the arguments did not center on competence, capacity or value addition of the deputy governorship candidate, leave room for one to surmise that, the conventional practice, rrlies more on atributes, above interest.
I would rather, those who feel slighted to reminiscence, on Ali Abdullahi’s past performances, and not the lack of patronage, or political convenience, on their sides.
The Task Ahead, presupposes that, while Borno is still smarting from years of insecurity, we do not enjoy the luxury of internal political bickerings, which could cause dislocations and possible going into the elections as a divided house.
It is a truism that we need a deputy governor, with requisite administrative experience and technical capacity, to fully compliment the efforts of Engineer Mustapha Gubio, so that together they can hit the ground running reminisceint of the Governor Zulum era. A curious look into Ali Abdullahi’s pedigree, shows that, he brings that capacity, in the same fashion that he demonstrated at SEMA. I have no doubt at the back of my mind, that both governor Zulum and our governorship candidate, Mustapha Gubio, are passionate about the continuity of the Zulum Agenda, hence the choice of Ali SEMA, as he is popularly known.
Taking into consideration the need to live up to the expectations of the people, especially on the need to rebuild Borno, they may have considered changing the course midstream may tend to slow us down.
I know as a matter of fact, that, Ali Abdullahi has been aligned to Zulum’s vision of service, integrity, and results, for a long time.
That the governor has gone out of his way in trying to placate those who may have nursed the ambition of being the ones to be considwred, points to the fact that, the Gubio/Abdullahi ticket was chosen to unite us, not divide us.
I am sure the Governor values every zone, every elder, and every stakeholder, and never intended to shut out anybody. We may recall, that, similar skepticism greeted the emergence of Zulum and Kadafur in 2023, but having seen their best sides, makes Borno the better off for it today.
Shealthing our swords and healing the wounds of this innitial perceibed snub, is a sinquanon to making the choice the best team, we could put forward for Borno.
I am compelled to appeal to all of us to look beyond personal interests and prioritize Borno, even as we strive to deliver. The Governor’s door remains open for dialogue, as always.
Let us rally behind this ticket, and mot risk a divided house that cannot deliver to our people. A united APC in Borno is what our people expect of us.

Let the narrative turn to the choice of Ali Abdullahi as Deputy Governorship candidate is about *competence, continuity, and service to Borno people, and not about how he emerged.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum with his deputy have showed focus on finishing the work of rebuilding Borno’s destroyed schools, hospitals and roads, and resettling our people. His successor needs a deputy who understands this vission and shares that same commitment.

Ali Abdullahi has the experience, he has demonstrated loyalty, and has showed dedication. Let us not crucify him on the cross of our personal ambitions.
I respect all opinions expressed so far, but this is not the time for divisions, this is the time to unite behind the ticket no matter its perceived inadequacies, so that we can continue to deliver for Borno.
Our collective focus should be Borno first, and not who should be in a particular position.
We have no cause to doubt the man who delivered for us, in the face of innitial skepticism, so, let Ali SEMA, be.