Adamawa council polls: Fintiri meant what he said

Last Wednesday, this column noted Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s capacity to make changes if he desired them or understood their nature and dynamics on the coming council polls in Adamawa. That capacity was thought to be absent, partly because he showed no inclination to shake things up by promising any candidate vying for council seat automatic ticket or playing a godfather role to any aspirants. But in reposting the party and giving power back to the people as the slogan of the People’s Democratic Party, he had managed to carry out a largely unexpected decision of not supporting any candidate nor allowing any of the aspirants to use his name as a campaign tool to hoodwink party officials to support their ambition. Am excited about the new verve he was acquiring and which seemed to please him and surprised others, he also threatened to sanction any black sheep within the party that will play the fifth columnist role. Many Adamawa citizens perceived the small but significant shift in the Governor’s demeanour, a shift amplified by his placatory statements to PDP stakeholders during a meeting at bequest hall in Yola. If he could cause a mild tremor in this August meeting and speak peace rather than ‘the language they understood’ to the council aspirants and stakeholders, the public reasoned.  There is no indication yet that he would tweak his belief in a fair and democratic process for any aspirants, even those with close affinity to the Governor himself as many Adamawa citizens expect, especially with some of the former chairpersons remaining badly flawed in performance. The Governor was right when he alleged that some of those sitting with him at the banquet hall penultimate Wednesday are sycophants. Others lack the courage to offer sensible and tangible advice, yet others lack the depth to steer the administration in the right direction regarding party loyalty. Last week, this column warned Adamawa Opposition to be wary of writing off the Fintiri administration. That counsel still stands, for who knew at the time that Fintiri would do the right by not allowing his party to disintegrate due to internal dispute that will arise from the council polls. Many have expected the Governor to roll out the names of his favourite chairman and councillorship aspirants. Still, he uses the opportunity to speak kindness, love and inclusion to them, and had he communicated such affections in the face of blistering opposition and heckling. His vaunted conversion would not only be trusted but it would also be deemed genuine and enduring. In any case, since he has begun to mollify the rage of his partymen must also start to respond little by little, gingerly and tentatively. In conclusion, no chairmanship aspirant or councillor can boast of having the backing of the Governor to circumvent the democratic process of the PDP primary in Adamawa.

Written by: Solomon Kumangar, Special counsel to Governor Fintiri on media and Publicity