By Abba – Eku Onyeka
Abuja
Though other politicians from different political parties and tribes in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have begun to aspire for AMAC chairmanship, the Vice Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the area council level, a Gwandara by tribe, Alh Musa Saidu Karshi, who doubles as the Secretary, Murtala Campaign Organisation (MCO) has said that the Gwandara nation within and outside FCT has come together and unanimously chosen and selected Hon. Usman Murtala Karshi (Yamarayi) for the position and told others to step down for him. He also debunked the rumour that Hon. Muritala has stepped down, wondering how a person who has received the people’s blessings and has also been chosen by the people would discontinue the race.
Gwandara is one of the indigenous tribes in the FCT.
Speaking to journalists at a press briefing they organised to that effect Monday, he wondered why another son of the tribe should boldly come out to aspire for the same position, after the elders and other stakeholders unanimously came together to select Hon. Usman Murtala Karshi due to the quality seen in him, and the other aspirant humanly obeyed.
Advising all Gwandara people to support Yamarayi whom, according to him has received the blessings of the entire Gwandara nation, Alh Musa Saidu Karshi said that he would continue to fault in its entirety the declaration of interest by another Gwandara son after one of the aspirants has stepped down for Muritala Usman Karshi, in line with the agreement of the elders and other stakeholders.
A woman leader among the politicians, Mrs Salamatu Bello Jubrin who spoke to journalists at the event also wondered why another person should aspire for the same position after the Gwandara and other tribes in AMAC and environs have come together to support select Muritala Usman Karshi. She however said that she didn’t see the aspiration against the wish and decision of the Gwandara nation as a problem, but was quick to add that they knew who they needed and who to be voted for, at the election.
“In politics, we know that anybody can aspire and contest, but we know who we want and to vote for. So the people’s choice shall certainly emerge victorious, by the grace of God.”
The Director – General (DG) Muritala Campaign Organisation, Yusuf Adam Dangara Gwagwa in an address treated with a wave of hand what he described as purported discontinuation of Hon. Usman Murtala Karshi from the race. Describing the rumour as unfounded, he confirmed that the leadership of the Gwandara nation and other stakeholders in AMAC and environs have unanimously selected him. The DG however wondered how can a person who has received the blessings of his, due to his rare quality would turn round to discontinue from the race. This, he maintained, was a falsehood. Assuring the public that the Yamarayi and his supporters are on the ground, the DG however says whoever wants to aspire has the right to do so, but was quick to advise such person(s), to either join the winning team or stand to lose at long last.
In his own humble opinion, the APC Secretary in Jiwa Ward of the FCT, Yahaha Bako said that “since all the stakeholders, including the former governor of Nasarawa state, Umar Tanko Al – Makura who is currently representing his zone at the senate gave nod to Hon. Usman Murtala Karshi, let all hands be on deck to ensure that he is delivered.”
Assuring the people of AMAC and all his supporters that he is still in the race and would deliver, if elected, the aspirant himself attributed his selection by the leaders of Gwandara nation and other stakeholders to his decision and acceptance to voluntarily step down twice for the incumbent AMAC chairman when they all aspired last time.
Throwing more light on his choice by his people, the aspirant said: “Not only the central body, it started from the community. The youth, the elders and the stakeholders within and outside the community selected me for the position.”
On his call to his people, he said, “My call to them is that destiny can only be delayed, but can’t be denied and I want them to be patient. Three, five years ago, I was looking for this position, but I stepped down for someone. Maybe that was the reason why they called me to come out this time around. So if you can’t make it today, you can make it tomorrow. I urge them to come together for us to make it, because with unity, we shall make it, by the grace of God.”
When asked if he thought that the Gwandara could still make it, due to the way things have been going, the Yamarayi said that by the grace of God, they could still make it, adding that the voice of the elders are the voice of God, even as he said that he has been the Supervisory Councillor for heath and environment and that of education too. He said as the Supervisory Councillor for education, students, according to him, were getting scholarships.
“When I was at the helm of affairs in education, then health and environment in AMAC, students were getting scholarships, which has since stopped; in environment and health we: initiated environmental garden; were able to initiate public toilets and maintained sanitation to avoid open defecation, among others.”
Calling for the rule of democracy to be strictly adhered to, he said that the executive chairman of AMAC and the new aspirant were Gwandara sons, whom he believed won’t work against the decision of the elders, youths, stakeholders of Gwandara nation and that of other people from the area council, just as he also called for peaceful election and campaign, devoid of violence and imposition of a leaders to the people.