The Beginning of the Race
By Anza Philips
Sunday, March 23, 2008
President Umaru Yar'Adua leads Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, bigwigs in the campaign for the re-election of Murtala Nyako
Activities in Yola, Adamawa State capital were brought to a stand still Monday, March 17, as President Umaru Yar'Adua, his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, machinery came to the town to shore up support for Murtala Nyako, the party's gubernatorial candidate in the rescheduled Adamawa State gubernatorial election billed for April 12 this year. The occasion was the flag off of the party's gubernatorial campaign. The party is pitched against the Action Congress, AC, in the rescheduled election following the nullification of the Nyako's election by the Adamawa State Election Tribunal earlier in the year. The nullification was later upheld by the Appeal Court in Jos.
Movements into Yola town and even within the town were paralysed as the streets were taken over by Nyako's supporters. As early as 8 a.m on that day, PDP supporters from Adamawa and neigbouring states including Taraba, Gombe, Yobe and Plateau, in hired buses had taken over the routes leading into the town. This, coupled with the ongoing massive rehabilitation and construction of township roads in Yola made traffic situation in the town problematic and chaotic.
It was a day Yola stood still for Nyako who had been in the saddle for eight months before the nullification of his election. There were banners and posters in solidarity with the man who is fondly called Baba mai mangoro meaning the old man with the mango orchard. Nyako owns a large farm in Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The farm is reputed for its large production of mango fruits, some of which are exported.
Some of the inscriptions on the banners and posters read, "Nyako is not comparable. He has proved it. Vote for him again." "The return of a hero. Murtala Nyako" and "Bring Nyako Back, BNB." The situation at the Mahmud Ribadu Square venue of the occasion was even more chaotic. The crowd at the venue was uncontrollable. The security failed in their efforts at crowd control. It was also a field day for hoodlums as they picked pockets and stole people's phones.
Yar'Adua in his speech at the occasion, declared that he would mobilise every resources at his disposal to ensure that Nyako is returned as the governor of Adamawa State.
The President said returning Nyako back to office after the nullification of his election was equivalent to war against injustice, corruption and mal-administration in the country. He stated that the era of controlling government by proxy by some powerful forces was gone in Nigeria and called on the Adamawa electorate to exercise their freedom by voting for Nyako. Yar'Adua who addressed the rally in Hausa language advised the people to ensure that Nyako returns to Government House, Yola, because that is the only way to guarantee development in the state. He appealed to party supporters in the state to close ranks to ensure victory for the party, no matter their differences. He said the entire PDP structure at the national level was at the disposal of Adamawa State PDP to use in ensuring victory. He also enjoined all PDP members to go to every corner of the state to campaign for the party in the forthcoming election.
Yar'Adua was accompanied by the governors of Taraba, Gombe and Kaduna states, Vincent Ogbulafor, national chairman of PDP and the three senators from Adamawa State and Aliyu Idi Hong, minister of Culture and Tourism, were on the president's entourage.
Also speaking at the rally, Buba Marwa, former military administrator of Lagos State said the PDP in Adamawa State was going into the forthcoming election as a united body having resolved all differences. He called on the people of the state to be wary of the lies being peddled by the Action Congress.
According to him, Nyako has laid the foundation for the development of the state.
Ogbulafor, whose appearance at the rally on Monday was his first national engagement since assumption of office as PDP national chairman promised to mobilise the entire PDP machinery to ensure that the party wins the state again.
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