MAKARFI, SAMBO 
SEAL SHAKY TRUCE.    Why the Deal May Flounder

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

When Desert Herald first reported the emerging political feud between Governor Namadi Sambo and his predecessor, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, in May 2008, the paper was widely criticized for imaginary reporting and for bringing an issue that presumably never existed. The paper stood by its report and even did a follow up thereafter. Although our report was later confirmed by ...

When Desert Herald first reported the emerging political feud between Governor Namadi Sambo and his predecessor, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, in May 2008, the paper was widely criticized for imaginary reporting and for bringing an issue that presumably never existed. The paper stood by its report and even did a follow up thereafter. Although our report was later confirmed by the two political gladiators of Kaduna politics in 2009 when reconciliation effort was first initiated, peace and genuine reconciliation were not achieved by the two feuding political camps due to what political pundits described as irreconcilable political interests and the handiwork of sycophants, who are benefiting from the lingering feud, to ensure that such move never succeeds.
An authoritative source close to both Senator Makarfi and Governor Sambo confirmed to our reporter that despite the political jamboree at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House last week to finally reconcile the two politicians, who are nursing one political ambition or the other come 2011, by the National Peace and Reconciliation Committee of the PDP under the chairmanship of Senator Ike Umaru Sanda Nwachukwu and under the watchful eyes of Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje, political relationship between Senator Makarfi and Governor Sambo remains fragile.
According to our source, due to several political factors with specific reference to activities of those that are benefiting or hope to benefit from the feud, coupled with the political ambition of their cronies and the need to re-strategize for possible domination of the system in 2011, both Senator Makarfi and Governor Sambo may engage in strong political intrigues of bargaining to have their own in strategic positions, particularly in electoral positions in 2011.
Desert Herald can confirm that the current political arrangement did not favour the political interests of Senator Makarfi. Most of his key loyalists are said to be either not in the system or have shifted their loyalty to the Namadi camp. Prominent among those that have shifted loyalty to Governor Sambo include the Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honorable Ahmed Hassan Jumare. The Kaduna Speaker was known as a product of Senator Makarfi's political empire. He was elected twice as the Chairman of Makarfi Local Government on the influence of the former Governor. Senator Makarfi also reportedly blocked the chances of more qualified politicians and supported the current Speaker to win the House of Assembly election. Inside sources told Desert Herald that their relationship has gone sour due to what pundits described as Jumare's blind loyalty to the incumbent governor.
The reconciliation followed series of nocturnal meetings in the last three weeks between PDP stakeholders loyal to the two feuding political camps. Although no decisions were reached on how to accommodate the interests of Makarfi loyalists that are aspiring to contest for one political office or the other in 2011, the reconciliation ceremony, which was made public, is considered as a milestone in cementing the sour relationship between Governor Sambo and Senator Makarfi.
A reliable source within the government circle confirmed to Desert Herald that the political atmosphere in the State is giving the entire stakeholders, particularly those in the corridors of political power that are nursing political ambitions, a source of concern, hence the renewed urge to close the gap before the 2011 election.
The recent happenings in the polity, which have raised concern among politicians, especially governors that are loyal to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua like Governor Sambo, about their political future, is also said to be a contributing factor.
Before the latest development, which is expected to last till the 2011 election, both Governor Sambo and Senator Makarfi belong to separate political camps at the national level. While the Kaduna helmsman found loyalty in President Yar'Adua and was at one time reportedly lobbying to marry one of the President's daughters, Senator Makarfi's relationship with Yar'Adua reportedly suffers a setback because of his loyalty to Chief Obasanjo.
With the emergence of Acting President Jonathan in-charge, Makarfi's influence, according to pundits, will reemerge and he is likely to play a key role in the PDP politics of 2011, hence the need to reconcile with him. It's an open secret that many governors rely solely on incumbency factor to win a re-election; but with the current development some of the governors are not wiling to take any chances. The use of a carrot and cajole political stratagem to swing the institutions that have active roles to play in elections has seen many of them winning elections without corresponding votes. The strategy has also made it difficult for any opposition to make any headway.
But considering the outcome of the last three elections conducted by INEC, a warning signal to prospective riggers that electorates are now more informed on issues of election has been sent. That was why, according to an informed source, Arch Namadi Sambo's camp was said to have been jittery and decides to extend olive branch to Senator Makarfi. The reconciliation, which took place at the Government House, was attended by virtually all PDP political heavyweights in the State.
Karl Marx was in many respects the most influential political theorist of the 19th century. He sought to combine factual analysis and political prescription in a thorough survey of the modern political and economic system. He agued, “the history of all hitherto existing societies is the history of class struggle,” and that liberal governments and ideology were merely agents of the exploiting owners of property.
Although no comments were made by either side as at the time of filling this report apart from the press statement issued to journalists, which encourages regular meetings between the two camps to ensure that the two political gladiators are appearing regularly at public functions and to ensure that their internal problem is kept away from the media, bearing in mind that Kaduna is a media center and that such issues can easily be bombarded by the press, pundits say if other critical issues of political interest are not genuinely and sincerely addressed, reconciliation will be impossible to achieve.
Keen political observers of Kaduna politics also believe that with the sensitive issues yet to be tabled before the Makarfi camp, it will be difficult for the two camps to align together. A political analyst, Tijjani Mohammed, told this reporter in an interview that “the rules of permanent interests in politics will come to play on both sides. On the other hand, there are those who will not want the reconciliation to work because of their political interests and benefits.
He described Husseini Jalo as one of those who may not subscribe to any peace deal with Senator Makarfi and his camp. Jalo, a Special Adviser to Namadi on political matters and who also doubles as the state vice chairman of the PDP, was hitherto a crony of Makarfi but parted ways with the former governor when he (Jalo) was sacked as the executive secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and later arrested by the EFCC. Makarfi was the one that nominated Jalo to the position when Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar was sacked on account of his loyalty to the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Jalo was popularly accused to have contributed to the lingering political crises between Arch Namadi Sambo and Senator Makarfi due to what observers describe as his political vendetta against his former boss. They said if Jalo can go against Makarfi no matter his offence to him considering the political favours and privileges he (Makarfi) accorded him against popular wish, the same awaits Governor Sambo whenever he is not in position of authority.
An inside source who pleads anonymity narrates to Desert Herald what transpired between Arch Namadi Sambo and Hussaini Jallo during one of the previous meetings on how to mend fences with Makarfi. He told this reporter that “When His Excellency informed his close aides who include Umar Sani Decat; the Chief of Staff, Audi; the PPS and Jallo on his plan to open a line of compromise, Jallo bluntly told the governor that it will not be in his best interest.  I have not personally confirmed but one of those that attended the meeting told me that it was then that Jalo revealed to Namadi that Makarfi actually planted him in his cabinet to scoop on what is happening and report back to him. That it was his refusal to play along that line that made Senator Makarfi to be angry with him”.
Another reliable insider also spoke in that regard. He said before the recent reconciliation move, Senator Makarfi demanded that Jalo be removed from the cabinet before he will agree to reconcile with the Namadi camp. Although Desert Herald could not authenticate most of the claims as at the time of going to press, this paper can however confirm that Jalo has not yet reconciled with his hitherto political godfather, a situation which raises concern about how sincere and how far can the reconciliation between Namadi and Makarfi go.
Desert Herald further gathered that another person whom Makarfi is not happy with is Sani Umar aka Decat. It will be recalled that throughout the eight years of Senator Makarfi's reign, Sani Umar was not given any political appointment. His efforts to contest for the House of Representatives were truncated allegedly by Makarfi on two occasions. As soon as Arch Namadi emerged, he appointed Sani Umar as the DG Media. This, according to a source, did not go down well with Makarfi, who considers him as a novice and somebody that will likely use his close relationship with the governor to mislead him and cause confusion. Despite the fact that his official schedule only involves activities of the media, Umar Sani is widely considered as one of the power brokers of the Namadi administration that has the unofficial powers of determining issues of governance or those the government will patronize. He is unarguably the most overbearing and powerful media aide Sir Kashim Ibrahim House has ever produced. It's based on the inability of Namadi to check the excesses of a few of his aides that unofficially constitutes decision makers of the cabinet, which pundits believe was a major political suicide that may bring efforts to reconcile the two politicians to hit brick wall.

Consequently, the recent media onslaught on the activities of the government despite massive allocation of funds to the office of Umar Sani was also attributed to the lack of professional quality and lack of human relations of Namadi's media aide. This, pundits believe, is therefore embarrassing the government on many issues including the contents of press releases issued out. Despite the Media tenterhooks, the 11 point agenda has not been able to address most of the critical areas that need attention. Lack of monitoring machinery, accountability, commitment, discipline and the roles played by the sycophants made it difficult for Arch Sambo to achieve his desired plan and vision in the 11 Point Agenda. 
It would be recalled that the silent crisis began immediately after Namadi's cabinet was constituted. Problem started to emerge on perceived one-sidedness on the composition. Another bone of contention by then was the zoning of the party Chairman to Zaria, which Senator Makarfi was alleged to have been against. Before the current Chairman of PDP, Suleiman Ya'u (Sa'in Jama'a) was nominated, it was alleged that Makarfi was said to have personally agitated for a member of the State Assembly from Sabon-Gari Local Government to resign and take up the chairmanship. Thirdly, most of the 'Makarfi boys' around Governor Namadi were asked to support another candidate from Lere Local Government. The plan was to put so much pressure on the Governor to reconsider the Zaria option. This is another issue that may likely hinder any reconciliation move because the Makarfi camp will think that Governor Namadi is only interested in using them to achieve his second term bid and thereafter revert back to status quo. Some analysts believe that Namadi is only playing dead in order to save his skin. Whichever way it goes and whatever transpired in the dark room of politics in the state, time shall tell.
In the true graphical analysis, Makarfi factor cannot be ignored in the State. But if Makarfi has been the main political issue in Kaduna State since 1999, he has also been the main man with the most political baggage, baggage that was described as his "dominating" role and over-ambition, ignoring the theory of wear and tear.
By and large, what perhaps will determine the sustainability of last week's reconciliation between Senator Makarfi and Governor Sambo is the ability to reconcile their political interests and how best to deal with issues of political sycophancy. The PDP structure in Kaduna State is currently dominated by Governor Sambo's loyalists. A close associate of Senator Makarfi told this reporter that for the reconciliation to last, the current political equation that systematically went against the political interests of the former governor should be restructured and that there must be a political balance in terms of appointments and opportunity to carry the party's flag in 2011 between supporters of the two political camps.
He said the reconciliation between Governor Sambo and Senator Makarfi may not last if the governor's political camp insists on having everything. “The current structure is aimed at making Senator Makarfi politically irrelevant and weak. So even if Sambo will support his political ambition, Makarfi will not be comfortable because he has strong political base and structure to be able to maintain relevance in the system.
“Makarfi's demand is not much. He has built the PDP in Kaduna more than anybody. He single-handedly supported and ensured the emergence of Sambo as governor. As a politician, you know it is natural for him to look beyond 2011 and to ensure his relevance in the system. The current structure is not in his political interest and I assure you that if Sambo secures his second term, nothing and nobody will stop him from manipulating the PDP after his second term. Makarfi is not alone. He has a political base and he will naturally ensure that he is not undermined politically,” he confided.
Beyond the issues of reconciliation, key political loyalists of Senator Makarfi are also accusing Governor Sambo of giving out so little in terms of government patronage. They said only few cabals are running the affairs in Kaduna and that the governor did very little to assist the developmental initiatives embarked upon by the former governor.
However, considering what the state and local governments received as statutory allocation, coupled with the massive amount of loan Governor Sambo secured in less than three years, pundits say it will require a miracle for the incumbent governor to win second term in a transparent election even if he finally succeeded in negotiating other political interests with Senator Makarfi.
Similarly, Governor Sambo's critics opined that despite the billions that were claimed to have been spent in the Education and Health sectors, and for the provision of security through Operation Yaki, commensurate results are yet to be achieved in all major sectors.
Governor Sambo will also answer and may have to convince the electorates when the time comes about the real dividends of his numerous foreign trips, his total expenditure as a result of such trips, the success or otherwise of his much publicized 11 point agenda, his controversial handling of the Local Government Joint Account, alleged questionable expenditures during the KADA Games and how billions of naira were allegedly spent for publicity blitz through the media.