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By Adamu Muhd Usman
Sule Lamido was among the nine people (G9) who formed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 1998, along with Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, Prof. Jerry Gana, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, the late Mallam Adamu Ciroma, the late Chief Solomon Lar, the late Chief Bola Ige, the late Sen. Ella, and the late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi. They confronted former Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, on the need to quit office and allow democracy to prosper.
Lamido and Rimi were picked and locked up in DSS cells, Rimi in Ilorin and Lamido in Maiduguri. They were only released after the sudden demise of Abacha.
Lamido, Gana and Ayu are the PDP founding fathers still alive and on the landscape in politics and PDP. Lamido’s four decades of experience in the rough terrain of Nigerian politics is being brought to bear in this election circle. He is so often in the news for a combination of reasons, including his imposing physical presence, his simple style of doing things, his solid records of commitment, loyalty, achievements, consistency and sacrifice to PDP since its creation in 1998.
Lamido is one of the most experienced politicians in Nigeria, and is arguably the most successful governor in Nigeria from 1999 to date. Before then, he was a former unionist (PRP national youth leader) parliament (Rep) and a former diplomat (minister). He has made a lot of sacrifices for this country, Nigeria. His contributions have re-united and re-awakened Nigeria and, if politics and PDP are concerned, Lamido is one person you cannot bury or shove away.
Lamido always says his mind, which in all cases aligns with the interests of the common man. He never succumbs to sentiments. He is not the fair-weather type, as so many politicians are; rather, he stands rooted in principle and progressive politics. In all of this, he brings rich personal experience to bear on all he does.
Lamido has been consistent in PDP. He displays his sagacity in full force. He as well deployed his unmatched energy and political skills in campaigning for PDP candidates from the top to the bottom, from 1999 to date. He has a history of radically confronting the military junta of Abacha for the sake of restoring democracy to Nigeria and he was sent to jail severally, during the PRP days and the military era.
Lamido was imprisoned for his emancipation struggle for the masses. Some of these things will give him an edge and advantage over other compatriots in the corridors of Nigerian politics and the PDP. Even before the return of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, etcetera, to the PDP then, Lamido, being a party man and democrat, had been calling Atiku, his former colleagues (governors) and other PDP party faithful who left the party for one reason or the other to return home (PDP).
If Lamido doesn’t mean well for the PDP and the country at large, he should have not openly and consistently been calling on them to return. Anybody who knows the NEPU/PRP orientation and Santsi school of politics must salute Lamido for being consistence in his ideology, principle, fearlessmess, courage, radicalism and telling the truth and saying his own mind, no matter what or how.
The gossips, the political analysts and the entire populace are overwhelmingly convinced that the political gladiators in the region and across board cannot produce a match for Lamido, let alone surpass his credentials and achievements. This is a must-believe, because the man Lamido is the most experienced politician in the region, if not in the country, without mincing words. This is by virtue of the roles he played in various political parties in his life as a career politician from Nidus to his present stage, followed by his working experience in the government circle. And don’t forget that his political association with political heavyweights across the globe is his political asset that cannot be matched at least with any person in the region, now and possibly in decades to come
The long-awaited PDP presidential primary has come and gone, with the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flag-bearer for 2023 presidential election. Lamido, as a party man, nationalist, loyal and consistent in PDP and a true democrat, has supported and accepted the outcome of the political development because it is in him for over four decades now.
Also, Lamido has appealed to the aspirants, even before the presidential election, that this contest or aspiration shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair and if the presidential primary was conducted in a very democratic way that is free, fair and credible, as it was, let everyone accept the outcome and support anyone who emerges as the candidate of his great party, the PDP, to victory in 2023, God willing. That is why Lamido keeps on applealing and praising Governor Nyesom Wike as a good partyman and leader to accept the destiny to come and work as a team to rescue Nigeria, to support Atiku and make PDP win in order to make Nigeria rise and work again positively. Since leadership is an attribute of God, leadership is the will of God, leadership is the choice of God.
Lamido is more concerned with a peaceful, progressive and a united Nigeria than his personal interest. As he supported Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 and 2003, the late Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007 and Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and 2015, and he supported Atiku in 2019, he will as well continue to support anybody who wears the crown and work for PDP in many years to come, if he is alive, including Wike, Insha-Allah, because he believes in God and destiny.
Sir, as you add another year, may God Almighty continue to grant you more health, preserve and prolong your lifespan. May He continue to give you more strength to keep working for Nigeria to be peaceful, united, efficient and great.
Once again, happy birthday, Excellency.
•Adamu writes from Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa state; [email protected]
