By Usman Santuraki

The time is fast approaching for the April election, that would ultimately see the emergence of a new person to represent the Adamawa Central Senatorial zone this year.
The person who would occupy the seat that Professor Jibrin Aminu is presently occupying, has to be a person with adorable mien and one, that can deliver the basic democratic dividends to the people.
Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone, is the only zone that has so far, produced eminent sons and daughters that have shaped the destiny of the state on one hand, and the nation in general. Therefore, the politics of the zone is very much sophisticated
and therefore, very cumbersome for one to scale through. As at this time, virtually all the political parties have candidates for the Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone to be at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has the incumbent Chief of Staff to Governor Nyako, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Tukur, the Labour Party has Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo, the Action Congress of Nigeria, has Ambassador Fatima Balla Abubakar, Congress for Progressive Change, has Alhaji Hayatu etc.
These men and woman are people to reckon with in one way or another, within the purview of public life.
Alhaji Bello Muhammad Tukur: He first ventureed into the field of politics in 1999, at the prompting of his mentor, the former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar and later, became the Deputy-Governor of Adamawa State up to 2007 when he left his political God-father and mentor because he lost out in clinching the ticket of Action Congress, to Alhaji Ibrahim Bapetel and found solace in the Peoples Democratic Party when Professor Jibrin Aminu was the link-man, and spite his former boss together with the present Governor Murtala Nyako, who later compensated him with the position of Chief of Staff thereby, making him the defacto chief executive. He suddenly became the closest person to the present Governor, Murtala Nyako.
The greatest albatross of this person, was the attitude he exhibited immediately he become the Chief of Staff with some people feeling uncomfortable. A lot of people had misgiving about the role he played during the relocation of the Main Market to former Falluja, as a Deputy-Governor and Commissioner in charge of commerce before the reconstruction of the Modern Market at the tail end of the Boni Haruna administration.
Alhaji Hayatu Z. Abubakar: He is the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change and formidable ally of the Presidential Candidate of the party of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and was among the first set of people to put the party on a sound foundation when a lot of the people did not believe that within a very short period of time, the party would be a force to reckon with in the politics of the state. Though this was his first time in seeking for a political office, there is the tendency for him to enjoy the support of the peasants who greatly admire General Muhammadu Buhari, during the election. He is an easy -going person that does not have disdain for the people. He is always available to the people and has listening ears.
Hajiya Fatima Balla Abubakar: This is her third attempt in her effort to represent the zone in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. She is a political amazon, who has been on the scene for quite a long time, since the enthronement of the present political dispensation. She was at the verge of clinching the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003, when she was asked by the former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, to step down for Professor Jibrin Aminu. Later in 2007, she was back again under the platform of the then Action Congress, but she was also edged out by the ruling party in the state but got very convincing votes that a lot of people were quite surprised by her performances at the poll. 
She may enjoy the support of the women folks who wants to see that a woman Senator represents the zone this time around.
Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo: He is the candidate of the Labour Party. Alhaji Dahiru Bobbo is a household name among the people of the entire state, not only the Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone. He is a person well respected throughout the state due to his achievements. It is a well-known fact that Alhaji Bobbo, while serving as the Registrar of the University of Maiduguri, saw to the admission of students from the defunct Gongola State irrespective of tribe or religion. Today, most of his students, that passed through University of Maiduguri are occupying various positions of responsibility across the country. A typical example, is the candidate of the PDP who passed out from the University while he was the Registrar of the University.
He also played a crucial role, while serving as the Secretary to the Military Government of Gongola State, through incisive and decisive decisions made towards moving the state forward. He also played a role, that enhances the cordial relationship that existed then, between the government and the civil servants of the state, while serving as the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. This was made possible because of the prompt promotion of civil servants and the constant advice he offered to the government on the need to put the civil servants forward. This has greatly enhance the level playing field that existed between the government and the civil servants until the enthronement of the democratic rule in 1999.
These people are the ones aspiring to represent the Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone during the coming election. It is only time that would ultimately tell who the cap fits.
Usman Santuraki, ia a Public Affairs Commentator, and writes from House No.321 Jambutu, Jimeta-Yola.
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