BEVERLY HILLS, November 24, (THEWILL) – As the Borno State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begins preparations for the 2015 governorship election in earnest, a group within the party, Senator Ali Sheriff Vanguard, has called on the party leadership to opt for a consensus candidate.
This, according to the group, is in view of the large numbers of aspirants already jostling to fly the party’s flag in the election.
The group sad its advice became necessary in order to pick a candidate that will be acceptable to all and by so doing break the pattern of the party coming second during elections in the state since 1999.
The group therefore suggested that Mala Sherrif, the younger brother of a former governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, would fit in as a consensus PDP governorship candidate.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the group, Babagana Modu, secretary, Abubakar Gulumba, the group said Mala could easily tap into the goodwill of his brother across the state to win election for the party in the state.
According to the statement, “As supporters of our great leader, grassroots politician and former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, we advise all Borno PDP governorship aspirants to step down and adopt the younger brother of our dynamic leader, Mala Sheriff, as the party’s consensus gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 elections.
“This is in the interest of party cohesion and to compensate our esteemed party members for their loyalty since 1999. Mala Sheriff as a former Commissioner of Finance is a tested and trusted hand who can deliver Borno state to the Peoples Democratic Party. In addition, being a younger brother to the former governor is a plus, as he will benefit immensely from his brother’s eight- year rule as governor.”
The group also said: “The likes of former Presidential Liaison Officer, Kashim Imam, Gambo Lawan, former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministers Mohammed Abba Gana and Ibrahim Bunu, Mohammed Kumalia and former Works Minister Sanusi Daggash are nothing, but, dead woods who have lost political relevance.
“These individuals cannot deliver their wards, not to talk of their household to the party. The stakes are high for Borno in this elections, as we cannot afford to lose out bearing in mind that Senator Sheriff has promised to make use of his closeness to the Boko Haram leadership to end the insurgency if a PDP government is voted into power in Borno State.”
According to the group, “It is only Senator Ali Sheriff who has the financial muscle to bankroll the elections single handedly. This is because no one within Borno PDP has the kind of resources available to the Senior Sheriff nor his network of loyal supporters across the length and breadth of Borno state.
“Adopting Mala Sheriff as the consensus candidate will put an end to the infighting within the party. This infighting has caused the party the governorship elections three times. This is in line with a popular saying that once beaten, twice shy. Borno PDP cannot allow itself to be beaten the fourth time having been beaten twice.
“We believe the people of Borno have suffered enough that rallying round Senator Ali Sheriff as the political messiah is the answer to a new and prosperous Borno state.”
