Sambo, who was sworn in on May 29, 2007 for his first term in office, is not likely to influence the political arena for the 2011 presidential election, and this gives Jonathan an opportunity to run for president if he so desires.
Already, Cairo Ojuogboh, his special assistant on National Assembly matters, hinted on Wednesday that there was a consensus that the president should run in 2011, and he was going to do so on the platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). A high profile vice president could put him in the background but with Sambo, those who want Jonathan to run could continue unhindered.
Before Sambo was eventually picked, some high profile officials had been frequently touted and screened by the State Security Service (SSS). They include Yayale Ahmed, secretary to the government; Aliyu Gusau, national security adviser, and Muktar Shagari, deputy governor of Sokoto State. Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna State and currently a senator had also been screened and recommended by the northern caucuses in both chambers of the National Assembly. Any of these individuals would likely be seen as presidential front runners.
Makarfi had campaigned in 2007 for the PDP presidential ticket before the party decided to give it to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Also, Gusau has been frequently mentioned as a presidential hopeful since 2007 when he made a feeble attempt to pick the ticket of the PDP. He was then national security adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Another factor that worked in favour of Sambo is that his fellow governors endorsed him. At a meeting governors held with Jonathan on Wednesday night, the state chief executives resolved that the Kaduna State governor was their choice.
Namadi Sambo
Given the prominent role governors have come to play in governance since Obasanjo asked them to nominate one of their own for the 2007 presidential race, it was unlikely that Jonathan would treat with levity any recommendation made by the governors. If he is desirous of running the 2011 presidential race, he will benefit from the cooperation and understanding of the PDP governors.
The northwest zone of PDP had wanted to produce the vice president as compensation for losing the presidency with the death of Yar’Adua and also for geo-political balancing. With the Sambo pick, that has been satisfied. Born on August 2, 1952 in Zaria, Kaduna State, Sambo graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a degree in Architecture. He was commissioner for agriculture for three years, and later commissioner for works, transport and housing before running for the 2007 governorship election.
Sambo’s record in Kaduna State in the last three years, includes the famous security outfit operation ‘Yaki’ that has virtually wiped out armed robbery in the state; launching of an urban rail transit programme, building new huge water works in Zaria and two other towns, building the brand new Millennium City on Kaduna’s eastern wing, as well as building 1,000-bed ultra-modern hospital in the new city.
On Tuesday afternoon, he had led a large delegation from Kaduna State, which included all its powerful political actors, as well as traditional rulers and clerics to visit Jonathan at the State House. They condoled with him over the death of Yar’Adua and also congratulated him on his assumption of office. Afterwards, Sambo had a private meeting with Jonathan, and it is believed that it was at that meeting he was intimated of his choice as the new vice president.
An entrepreneur, he owns three companies, namely Coplan Associates, a firm of architects and engineering consultancy; Nalado Nig. Ltd., specialising in energy, water supply and waste disposal, and Manyatta Engineering Services Ltd., which supplies hospital equipment and airport maintenance.
From BusinessDay (by Max Amuchie; friday, 14 May 2010)
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