Asake: What are Southern Kaduna Political Elites Afraid of? -By Steven Kefas

Feelers from the grassroots in Southern Kaduna reveal that the masses who have always been at the receiving end on both bad and good government policies are happy and already dishing out supports to the Labour Party Gubernatorial candidate, Jonathan Asake. On the other hand, the political elites from the area seems uncomfortable and working tirelessly to dissuade the masses from supporting Asake, a fruitless effort if you ask me.

In my previous article titled, 'Crucify him! Crucify him!!", I had opined that Some self acclaimed political juggernauts from Southern Kaduna with zero contribution to the region in the past had declared Asake persona non grata and were willing to go to any length to stop his gubernatorial ambition.

What these politi-preneurs (political businessmen) don't know is that the power of the people is bigger than the people of power and recent events have continued to prove so. Jonathan Asake is gaining more acceptability not just in Southern Kaduna his birth place but also up north, across the Kaduna river.

It is even alleged in some quotas that these political businessmen of Southern Kaduna extraction have been promised juicy political positions and deals by the PDP in exchange for votes from the region. This, if true invariably means that it is about their selfish interests and not the collective interest of the people of the area. If it were to be about the people, we would have seen signed political agreements telling the people of Southern Kaduna what they stand to benefit from the PDP in very clear terms.

The failure of the APC in the last 7 and a half years has given the PDP the delusion that they are the best option come 2023 but the emergence of the Labour party and it's very credible candidates at the presidential and gubernatorial elections in Kaduna has dealt a serious blow to such delusion.

Yesterday's endorsement of Peter Obi by former president Olusegun Obasanjo has further strengthened the chances of the labour party. Nigerians have tasted both the APC and the PDP in the last 23 years and can tell that even though the PDP is a lesser evil compared to the APC, both have nothing to offer in the building of a new Nigeria and a new Kaduna state where equal rights and justice will guide government decisions and policies.

In conclusion, we must know that the fight against Asake's ambition is not based on his capacity or credibility but based on the desires of politi-preneurs from Southern Kaduna to remain relevant beyond 2023 at the expense of the masses who have been exposed to  frequent mass killings in the last 7 and a half years. The southern Kaduna people must wise up and take their destinies in their hands and ensure that these businessmen do not use them to negotiate for their bellies. We must also remember,l that these political businessmen do not live in Mallagum, neither do they live in Kufana, Chikun, Gora Gan, Jagindi, Chawai or any other community prone to attacks. They live in Kaduna city, Abuja and Lagos and therefore have nothing to lose if we all make the wrong choice come 2023.

Jonathan Asake for now is the only realistic hope of a better Kaduna state come 2023.

Steven Kefas writes from exile...