It is now abundantly clear to keen political observers, that General’s Ali Gusau and T.Y. Danjuma have so far been the oldest political kingmakers on the Nigerian political space. They seem to be the most influential twins on Nigerian democratic space even today.
Gen. Gusau
It is fast becoming a living reality in this age, that two Nigerian army generals, namely General Ali Gusau and Theophilus Danjuma share a lot in terms of the political control of their respective States.
To be, sure, General Gusau has been instrumental to the emergence of Zamfara State governors since the emergence of democratic governance in the country.
With a very towering political influence, some analysts consider him the final decider of who governs Zamfara State. It has become a political tradition that a governorship candidate has no choice than to either join forces with Gusau or lose his election. Some say it has more to do with the kind of goodwill the General has built over the years at the local and international level. It has become so risky to quarrel the man on grounds of political control. At some point, the Zamfara State political calculation became more relevant with the involvement of the General’s son as deputy governor. The recently-defeated incumbent, Hon Bello Matawalle, had a spat with General Gusau’s son and Matawalle saw to the inglorious exit from office of the young Deputy Governor. Thereafter, Matawalle made comments that some believed were deliberate attempts to dare the godfather of Zamfara politics. Analysts made the prognosis that General Gusau would hit back with greater ferocity. And he did. The incumbent governor was somehow thrown out of Government House, Gusau, in an election that took pundits by surprise. Now, a certain Dauda Lawal, former banker from Gusau’s PDP, is set to take over as the new governor of Zamfara State.
General T.Y Danjuma
Gen T.Y is one of the most politically-active retired Generals in today’s Nigeria. His political activism is reflected in his open funding of candidates for various offices: from presidential to governorship. He was reported to have provided continuous funding by way of contribution to the electioneering campaigns of President Muhammadu Buahari, especially in 2003 and the year 2007. He has bankrolled governorship candidates on several occasions in Taraba, mainly Jukun Christians. Some disagree with what seems to be his obsession with Christian governorship candidates, but the man has remained undaunted in his single agenda of Christian candidates.
Even Garba UTC, the only Muslim governor in Taraba’s recent democratic history did not last long on the Taraba political firmament.
It is now abundantly clear to keen political observers, that Generals Ali Gusau and T.Y. Danjuma have so far been the oldest political kingmakers on the Nigerian political space. They seem to be the most influential twins on Nigerian democratic space even today.