Abubakar Sani Bello: A True Democrat of Niger State.

After the All Progressive Congress (APC) sold tickets to all gubernatorial hopefuls, and as the party counted down to the primary elections, Governor Abu Sani Bello came under no small pressure to anoint a candidate, a successor who would continue the work and protect the interests of camps within the party.

The above was a dilemma not so dissimilar to what President Buhari currently struggles with. Governor Abu Sani Bello must have found the situation impossible: like Buhari, he had the option of his loyal and trusted Deputy, like Buhari, he had the option of party faithful who, if dissatisfied, can shaken the party’s chances at success in the general elections, like Buhari he too had the option of technocrats adjudged as most fitting to run a state. They are all reputable names, all competent individuals, all demonstrating a promise for greatness.

Further, Governor Abu Bello permitted all, including political appointees the liberty to openly support aspirants of their choice. This was why even government officials were divided. Many of his committed lieutenants rooting for different aspirants, and all of them imploring for his support and blessings. The Governor, who loves and respects all his lieutenants, the last thing he would have wanted was to be caught in a situation where something he could do may hurt and disappoint them, but caught he was. He knew that the next step of the coming days before the primary election must be carried out with wisdom and mercy, and that was exactly what he did. He denied himself that liberty he so freely granted others to anoint whom they see fit because he understands that as a leader this is what he must do to guarantee stability. Here was a Governor for the first time, to the greatest admiration of many Nigerlites, having no anointed person.

To be clear he had the power, everybody knew, to impose a candidate. Further, all the aspirants respected his right and political freedom to make and support an aspirant of his own choice. As a human being, certainly Abu Sani Bello must have had someone, a preferred aspirant, he wish, will take over from from him, in mind, but suppressed it for the greater interest of Niger state. It couldn’t have been easy, the discipline, the self-restraint to not wield his power and impose a candidate on the party and his people. This must have taken no small courage as well as faith. Or perhaps the kind of courage that comes only with faith.

The wise leader, Abu Sani Bello demonstrated that discretion was the better part of valor. And in the face of the criticism and indeed pressure of many stakeholders who would have preferred a dictator. Abu Sani Bello held like he has always held that democratic process is the best way out to produce a candidate without malice and rancor.

And so, in the Holy Month of Ramadan, His Excellency had Iftar with all the aspirants and made it clear that he had no anointed person and that he will ensure a level playing ground for all the hopefuls. Many Nigerlites judged this as a political statement, one of those things politicians say but do not themselves believe. The other many who believed him thought his position and neutrality unwise. But the skeptics and the doubters have seen that Abu Sani Bello is a politician who says what he means and means what he says. And so here we are today witnessing history unfold before our eyes.

His Excellency’s neutrality has worked in his long-term advantage. What many politicians may consider foolhardy has turned out to be one of those ironic twists that has now stabilized the party, fostered unity and, in the end, would determine history, and for the first time in our history, the people of the party were given the total power to choose who they want to be the flag bearer, this is history in Niger state. Now, even the staunchest critics of the Governor would admit, that truly Niger now has a new father of its democracy and it is Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.