Governor Ibrahim Gaidam and his godfather, Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim are reportedly set for a showdown over the Yobe East Senatorial District ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ahead of 2019.
Although one Dr. Almajiri Gaidam is also interested in the senatorial race, the contest is really between the governor and his mentor.
For Governor Gaidam, the next venture is the Senate but he is from the same district with Ibrahim who has been in the Senate since 2007.
There are seven local governments in the district, including Gujba, Gulani, Damaturu, Tarmuwa, Yunusari, Geidam and Bursari.
While Sen. Bukar Abba hails from Gujba, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is from Yunusari, although he was brought up in Gaidam.
For Gaidam, he had wanted to be a senator in 2003 after the demise of Senator Adamu Usman of the defunct ANPP but he was denied the ticket by Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who was then the governor of the state. Sen. Abba was said to have rated Gaidam as unfit to be a councillor. This time around the governor, who has hijacked the structure of the party, wants to fight back.
Speaking with the Nation newspaper, Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim said: “In sha Allah, I will be seeking re-election back to the Senate in the forthcoming election and I do not see anybody as a threat.
“I have no problems with my constituency and the electorate. I have not been recalled by those who voted me to represent them and I am physically and mentality fit. All I know is that by 2019, I will be re-elected back to the Senate.
“The governor has not told me that he is interested in the seat after the expiration of his tenure next year and I don’t need to bother myself about it since I know that there would be no vacancy because I am re-contesting for the position next year and I will continue to offer myself to my people for the position as long as I have the energy and sound health to represent them.
“I will stay in the Senate until death do us part. Everybody tells me that I’m senator for life. I’m going to be in the Senate for life…”
On his part, Governor Gaidam said: “My becoming governor is not by my power or the making of any other human being. It’s destiny because somebody said I would not even be a councillor in Yobe. Today, God has made me the governor, who knows where I will be tomorrow?”
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