Abacha set to contest Kano governorship come 2015

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor & Muhammad AbdulSalam

Mohammed Abacha

Kano— The Presidency may have finally cleared the coast for Mohammed Abacha, the son of late General Sani Abacha, to join forces with pro Jonathan supporters and win back Kano State for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, next year.

Competent sources told Vanguard that Wednesday’s withdrawal of the N446.3 billion money laundering charge against Abacha was aimed at giving him a clean bill to be able to run as PDP gubernatorial candidate in the next election.

A close associate of the family admitted, yesterday, that the Abachas were very excited about the withdrawal of the case against Mohammed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, and that he would likely proceed with his gubernatorial campaign programme.

Some well wishers were also said to have stopped by on Wednesday and yesterday to congratulate Abacha and sympathise with him over his lingering trial by the government.

A top source in Kano explained, yesterday, that the......
Presidency, which considers Mohammed Abacha as one of the most influential young politicians in Kano, had primed him to challenge the rising political clout of Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and secure victory for PDP in 2015.

Political structure

The Presidency, it was further learnt, believes that it was the solid political structure put in place by Mohammed Abacha that secured victory for Kwankwaso, who defected to APC last year.

The governor, who is said to be nursing a presidential ambition on APC’s platform, is, however, facing severe opposition from the Presidency particularly, after installing the former Central bank of Nigeria, CBN’s Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as Emir of Kano, against the wish of the Presidency and his party, which reportedly preferred a different person.

The feeling in the Presidency is that with the appointment of the former Kano governor, Ibrahim Shekaru as a minister and the quashing of the charge against Abacha, it would be possible for them to whittle Kwankwanso’s political influence and make PDP take over Kano in the next election.

Campaign posters emerge

In preparation for the takeover of the mantle of power by Abacha, his giant, colourful and intimidating campaign posters have been placed by the side of the Kano State PDP Secretariat along New Court Road, Jedi Jedi Quarters of Kano metropolis in addition to opening of his campaign office along Audu Bako Way, also in the city.

Adorning the big office are the posters of Mohammed, President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

A Kano politician described Mohammed Abacha as someone who enjoys a very “smooth rela-tionship and support of the youths of the town” and also has a deep understanding of the politics of the state.

The politician said: “Let me tell you, the junior Abacha enjoys the support of the people and also has a good working relationship with Shekarau.”