When President Goodluck Jonathan at the weekly federal executive meeting held on Wednesday reeled out the names of the seven ministers who are expected to quit his cabinet in pursuance of their gubernatorial ambition, not a few expressed surprise that the name of Senator Bala Mohammed, the minister in charge of the Federal capital territory (FCT), did not featured.
The Minister has purportedly shown interest in the governorship seat of Bauchi state and had began preparation since early last year setting up structures across the three senatorial zones and the twenty local governments that constitutes the state. Evidence of this was seen in his posters of the that littered the state and the large number of his loyalists that trooped out to the North West unity rally of the Peoples Democratic Party held in his state.
Supporters came to the stadium spotting his branded wears and carrying his posters around the stadium. He was reported to have mobilised even more than the governor of the state to the rally.
However, Senator Bala Mohammed was believed to have had a second thought on his gubernatorial ambition because of the low-level of support he received from critical stakeholders in the state. The minister, it was said began consultation early which made many uncomfortable.His ambition made many to gather and form alliance against him.
The Minister, a former close aide of the incumbent governor of the state, Mallam Isa Yuguda is not in good terms with the governor who supported Bala ‘ s election as a Senator in 2007 under the now defunct ANPP they both belonged to then. It was believed that during the President Umar Yar’Adua illness, the minister, as a Senator then, pitched his tent with those who want power transferred to the Vice president Goodluck Jonathan, a position different from that of Governor Yuguda who as President Yar’Adua in-law and because Yar’Adua facilitated his defection to PDP from the ANPP, wanted power to stay with Yar’Adua and to remain in the north. The decision of Senator Mohammed ensured the separation with his benefactor.
It is also gathered that the minister joined the camp of Alhaji Adamu Muazu, a former governor of the state and the current national chairman of PDP when he fell out with the governor, a move that got the governor the more angry at him. Though the governor and his predecessor have since reconciled, Adamu Muazu, it was gathered, as part of the agreement he reached with the governor in order to secure his endorsement for the chairmanship position has decided not to interfere in the selection process of Yuguda successor. These is what can be explained as the reason for the relative peace the state chapter of the party has been enjoying.
The Chairman is even said to have another preferred candidate with notable names like Alhaji Yayale Ahmed being mentioned. Another reason why the FCT Minister stood down his gubernatorial interest is the general consensus in the state that power should be rotated. Adamu Muazu and Isa Yuguda are both from the southern senatorial zone, same with Bala Mohammed, hence, the call for a power shift to either the northern or central zone of the state.
The FCT Minister must have done a thorough analysis of his chances before deciding to back out of the race.
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