Dr Jamil Isyaku Gwamna and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State has been touted by residents of Gombe as the needed catalyst for APC’s victory in 2019.
Residents of Gombe expressed optimism in separate interviews. They noted that Gwamna had built a political structure across the state that was fit for a governor, adding that such structures would entrench APC as the party with the highest supporters in the state.
Dr. Mohammed Tukur, a political analyst and an educationist who lives in Gombe Metropolis lauded Gwamna’s sincerity, saying it was transparent and attractive to attract people.
According to him, politics is about garnering supporters through proven integrity from the way one relates with the grassroots. He commended Gwamna has done well in that regard.
“When you have that kind of transparent integrity as a person, getting unrepentant supporters will be easy. Gwamna has been tested and the people are clamouring to make him governor.
“So he has the governor-kind-of-support in Gombe State as a whole. This is a development that will give APC the added advantage to victory in 2019.
“If you add the supporters of Gwamna to those of Senator Danjuma Goje and Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, the vote will be too massive for any party in the state to compete.
“With the enviable track record of Gwamna, it was a mistake for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to have denied him its ticket. Gwamna’s open declaration of working to ensure victory for APC in Nigeria and Gombe should not be taken as gimmick because Gwamna is a man that keeps his words,’’ he said.
Gwamna recently declared his total support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 bid and Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, APC gubernatorial candidate in Gombe State.
A PDP delegate of Tangale descent who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the majority of the Tangale /Waja had decided to turn in their votes for the APC for two reasons:
“The people of Tangale are going to vote APC because Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo reneged on his promise to Gombe South and also denied the most credible candidate the chance he deserved.
“It would have been difficult for APC to win Gombe South if Gwamna was elected but with Senator Nafada, I will rather vote for APC because of Gwamna, as I did vote for him during the primaries,’’ he said.
Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, a rice farmer who lives in Kumo Metropolis said he had been a direct beneficiary of Gwamna’s benevolence like many others especially the youths and so he owed much to the Sardaunan Gombe.
“The people at the grassroots have come to love Sardaunan Gombe for whom and what he has been to many especially the youths and you know good-news needs no advert.
“We will see the gains of the APC when campaigns start and Sardaunan Gombe makes any request, the response from his supporters will be massive,’’ he noted.
