The death of Governor Patrick Yakowa in Saturday'a helicopter crash in Okoloba community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has inevitably churned up the debate of whether or not the Kaduna State governorship is jinxed.
Kaduna State polity holds the unenviable myth that no pair of governor and his deputy who entered office together have ever finished together.
The first civilian governor of the old Kaduna State, was the redoubtable Balarabe Musa who was forced out of office in June 1981 upon his impeachment by the National Party of Nigeria, NPN dominated House of Assembly. His deputy, Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi eventually finished his term in office.
Alhaji Lawal Kaita of the NPN who won the 1983 gubernatorial election on the ticket of the NPN did not finish his term as he was booted out of office by the military putsch of December 31, 1983.
Alhaji Dabo Lere who was elected governor of the new Kaduna State with James Bawa Magaji as his deputy in 1991 also did not finish his term as he was also booted out of office by the Sani Abacha led coup of November 17, 1993.
At the advent of the fourth republic, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, a former commissioner of Finance during the military regime was elected as governor with the rotund Mr. Stephen Shekari as his deputy. There were suggestions at the beginning of their administration that Makarfi who was reportedly hospitalised for a long period at the beginning of the first term would not last in office. It was then suggested that for the first time, a Christian would govern the state. But the thinking of man was upturned when Shekari died in office leaving Makarfi to build what has been described as one of the best legacies of governance by a civilian in Kaduna State .
After Shekari’s death, Makarfi picked Mr. Patrick Yakowa a former career civil servant turned politician as his deputy. Yakowa finished with Makarfi in 2007 but his bid to succeed Makarfi as governor ran into stormy waters and he ended up continuing as deputy governor of the state under Makarfi’s handpicked successor, Arc. Namadi Sambo.
Sambo’s stewardship of Kaduna was in good progress until the death of President Umaru Yar‘adua in May 2010 when he, Sambo was picked to become vice-president to President Goodluck Jonathan who succeeded the late Yar‘adua.
Sambo’s elevation led to the inevitable ascension of his former deputy, Yakowa to the Government House. It was a phenomenal development for the Christian dominated southern population who for the first time had someone of their faith in control of the state. The appointment of Yakowa’s deputy was reportedly dictated by Sambo. The choice was Ramallah Yero, who was before his elevation, the commissioner for finance in the Sambo administration and before then, accountant and financial director in Samba’s private company.
Could the death of Yakowa have been linked to this seeming myth surrounding the Governor-Deputy jinx? Governor Yakowa was perhaps aware of it somewhere in the back of his mind, hence his dedication to ensuring the unity of Muslims and Christians in Kaduna. He calmed frayed Muslim nerves and kept the Christians in check. He warmed his way into the hearts of the Muslims (some say it was to garner their support against his second term as governor), nevertheless, he seemed to be doing well. . .
. . . Until he got into a MILITARY helicopter with a RETIRED GENERAL, to attend a CIVILIAN engagement in BAYELSA State, which had NOTHING to do with his OFFICIAL duties as governor of Kaduna State.
In the light of the above, one wouldn't be far from the truth to say that he was a victim of his own doing. . .
Who can truly understand the machinations of this world. . . ?
One thing's for sure though: after this tragedy, subsequent governors and their deputies in Kaduna state will rush to seek spiritual fortifications against THE MYTH.
Perhaps now, they would take seriously the warnings of Prophet T.B. Joshua. . .
. . . Perhaps not.
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