By: Luka Binniyat

We were attacked, maligned, and labelled enemies of Southern Kaduna by ordinary and high ranking PDP members of Southern Kaduna simply because we stood by Jonathan Asake of the Labour Party in the 2023 Kaduna governorship race. We figured that if we pooled our voting strength in the 12 LGAs that make up Southern Kaduna and convinced our allies in other parts of Northern Kaduna, that it would be an easy sail to victory – a position I still hold till date. But it was like sticking one’s bare hands in a tropical bee hive. Even the church, except very few courageous clergy, mounted insidious campaigns against us.
The hostility was so intense that some PDP members would have gladly seen Asake hanged if they had their way. The chief allegation was that Asake had collected money from Mallam Nasir el-Rufai at certain night, to split the PDP vote and pave the way for Senator Uba Sani’s victory.
Uba Sani was regarded as a ‘monster’ in the mold of his mentor – Nasir.
Many swore that they had a video recording of where Asake was collecting the money in sacks that night at Government House. But they never ever produced it. But the rumour was cancerous enough to pull down Asake from a hero status to a fiendish betrayer and hypocrite.
Many were ready to do anything to ensure Hon. Isa Ashiru of the PDP won instead. Everyone was sure to have a piece of the pie under Ashiru – it didn’t matter whether they’d be crumbs – at least we had deputy Governor (my respectable elder brother and gentleman, Dr John Ayuba). APC was sure to lose and the good old days of the PDP would return for the “Chop-I-Chop” syndrome that el-Rufai had turned to “I chop-you-die” malodrama.
Because Nasir had only picked from among us those he could use (especially against us) and allowed them whatever portion of the cake, we are not sure of.
el-Rufai’s body movement didn’t even suggest that he was interested in anyone of the PDP from SK to join his party or government, going by his actions and crude utterances.

Our political class, spoilt by the perks of 16 years of uninterrupted PDP rule home and in Abuja, were not used to that kind of exclusion and accompanying hunger. Those who felt that their stomachs couldn’t bear the pangs hunger, dropped their principles and honour early enough and joined el-Rufai who, as far as SOKAPU was concerned, was superintending over a Fulani genocide against our people at that time. And they incurred very unkind tongues of the former colleagues, who labelled them as “enemies.”
As far we are concerned, Ashiru of the PDP truly won the 2023 gubernatorial election and with a good margin too. His victory was too obvious. His inability to fiercely fight for his mandate two times in a row (2019 and 2023) will forever remain one of the political puzzles of our time.

Then Uba Sani came in as Governor.

Today, in a dramatic twist, the same PDP stalwarts and their followers who branded Asake a traitor have themselves abandoned the PDP for the very APC and Uba Sani they once wove all kinds of terrible ideas about. Ironically, they all cite almost identical reasons for their defection.
As far as these ‘repentant’ former PDP men and women are concerned, the APC and Uba Sani have undergone Transfiguration. Not everyone in Southern Kaduna thinks so.

Yet, Asake – the supposed Southern Kaduna betrayer remains steadfast in his position and is notably absent among the new converts who now describe the APC as a political paradise and Uba Sani as a saint.
Not one of them has offered an apology to Asake or to those of us who stood by him.

Truly, this is the strangest political drama I have ever witnessed.

For all, I care, I wish it turns out well for SK and for Kaduna state.

• Luka Binniyat from Zamandabo Village of Southern Kaduna