By Garba Mohammad
As INEC gets set to conduct bye election in Adamawa state,following the impeachment of the state governor Murtala Nyako and sudden resignation of his deputy Bala James Ngillari, the governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are increasing, as the former Lagos State military administrator and Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, formally declared his intention to became the next governor of Adamawa State, promising free education in the state and putting an end to hardships faced by the citizens.
However minutes after his declaration, another chieftain of the party,Dr Umar Ardo fired salvo, saying that Marwa is merely chasing shadows and declared that , “No ticket, nor waiver for PDP deserters in Adamawa,’’ a situation now sparking fresh crisis in the party.
Speaking at a ceremony on Tuesday in Yola, Brigadier-General Marwa, said the driving force for his aspiration was the burning desire to provide for the well being of the people
“All school fees will be abolished. P.T.A fees will no longer be necessary,” he said.
According to him, his declaration was in response to the numerous calls by people in the state for him to run so as to effect the salutary service he rendered as a military governor in other states.
“With my background as a soldier, diplomat and public administrator, I promise to offer true dedicated service based on a tested and trusted leadership, honesty, hard work, sincerity and commitment.
‘’My track record of public service in present Borno and Yobe and Lagos states will be my guarantor.” He stated.
He further pledged to provide free health care services, free education in public schools, internally generated electricity and boost agriculture with appropriate technologies.
“I closely monitored events in Adamawa State .I was kept fully informed of going on including the levels of expectations, yearnings and frustrations of people and in due course , you reached out to me for leadership at the state level. You good people of Adamawa State asked me to come and run for governorship, I will not disappoint you,” said he.
But in a swift reaction another chieftain and contender,Dr Umar Ardo averred that Gen. Marwa is merely chasing shadows.
In his words, ‘’Adamawa PDP has not forgotten how he deserted us on the war front. At the heat of the fight, he ran away from the battle field to a safe haven, abandoning gallant troops to fight the war to victory, only for him now to come back expecting to be given the command of the fighting unit. As a soldier, Marwa should know better than that.
‘’He knows the consequences of desertion at the war front. If he isn’t court-martialed, he certainly won’t be given the formation command.
Dr Ardo maintained that ,’’Besides, by the provisions of Sections 8 (b) & 50 (9) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2012), Marwa and his likes are not eligible to contest any elective office under the platform of the party except given a waiver. And the procedure of obtaining a waiver is clearly stipulated under Section 50 (10b) of the Constitution.
‘’As a rational being, he should have done first things first – i. e get the waiver first before declaring to contest. But certainly Adamawa will not recommend waiver for Marwa because it will be tantamount to appointing a deserter as commander of the military formation he deserted on the battle field.
‘’No army in the world can do that – and we won’t do it in Adamawa. In any case, if we had also chickened out like he did, where would he have had the party to come back to contest under?’’ Ardo queried.
