Translated From Hausa to English by TRUTHS FINDER
By Ahmed Ilallah
Rt. Hon. Ahmed Garba MK is the fourth State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State, having been elected last week.
It may be recalled that Hon. Ado Sani Kiri, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Ringim and Taura, was the first APC chairman in Jigawa State.
After he resigned to contest an election, Malam Habibu Sani Sara took over the position. Later, Hon. Aminu Sani Gumel was elected as chairman. In the latest development, Hon. Ahmed Garba MK has now been elected as the new APC State Chairman.
The question now is: what challenges will the new APC chairman face at a time when members of the party are experiencing internal divisions, while others complain that they have been sidelined in the government they helped to establish?
Although Hon. Ahmed Garba MK is an experienced politician—being among the pioneer members of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, where he began his legislative career at a young age and rose to the position of Deputy Speaker after serving four terms, he has also served as a commissioner and as a Special Adviser to the governor on political matters.
Despite this experience, he may still face several challenges, including the following:
*Restoring Discipline and Unity Among Party Members
One major challenge is the internal division among party members. Some individuals have attempted to draw a line between supporters of the former governor and former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, and others, which has resulted in disagreements and exchanges among supporters of different factions.
*Restoring the Respect and Recognition of Political Leaders
There is significant dissatisfaction among some party leaders and members, particularly those who believe they were part of the movement since 2014 and who struggled to build and sustain the party until now. They feel that the current political structure has sidelined them, while those who did not even know how the struggle began are the ones benefiting today.
*Addressing this concern will be one of the key challenges for the new chairman as he seeks to restore the party’s dignity and the confidence of its supporters.
Restoring Political Respect for Leaders
Politics in recent times has witnessed a decline in the respect accorded to leaders, especially those elected or appointed to positions of authority. Complaints and advice particularly from the youth are sometimes expressed without proper regard for political relationships and etiquette. APC members must therefore understand the importance of maintaining proper political engagement and communication.
*Political Rewards After Forming a Government
Politics is often compared to a collective farming effort: governments are formed through the contributions, sacrifices, energy, health, and even financial resources of politicians and supporters, who expect to benefit from the government once it is established.
Therefore, there must be a clear understanding between the government and the politicians who contributed to its emergence. Those who struggled to build the government should not be abandoned afterward. It would be beneficial for the APC to carry everyone along in recognition of their contributions.
*Managing Social Media Activities
Modern media actors play a significant role in today’s political landscape. However, in many cases some young media activists go beyond acceptable limits, and this can sometimes be exploited by individuals who wish to create jealousy or conflict within the political movement.
Considering their growing influence and the challenges associated with their activities, managing social media engagement may also become one of the key issues facing the new leadership of the party.
