By ANGO DON BALLY
Former Commissioner for Water Resources under former Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and current Stakeholders Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jema’a Local Government Area, Hon. Edward Percy Masha has signalled his interest for the race of Kaduna State Party Chairman seat in the forth coming party Congresses.
Hon. Masha, a former Special Adviser to Minister of Finance in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, made this known in a post made in a PDP WhatsApp platform, now gaining massive circulation on social media titled: “Considering a Clarion Call to Contest for The Office of The State Chairman of Our Great Party”, obtained by The News Icon.
In the four paragraph post, Hon. Masha said he was motivated to seek to lead the party in the state following “inundated calls from individuals and groups across the State to throw my hat in the State Chairmanship contest of our great Party,” noting, “I can no longer pretend that I didn’t hear them.”
In this respect, he stressed, “I am embarking on wide-ranging consultations across the state to share this vision with my friends and leaders across the state and my immediate constituency.”
“Kindly note that as I embark on these consultations, to share this vision, I would like to have a one on one discussion with you for your invaluable counsel”, he explained emphatically.
While thanking his supporters across the state for their “attention, advice , guidance and prayers” as he go about “this task”, he assured of his readiness to pilot the affairs of the main opposition party by injecting new ideas to consolidate on its wining ways in the state.
According to the time table released by the PDP headquarters at Wadata House, Abuja, State Congress are scheduled to take place on 13th July, 2024, but Kaduna was not included in the 17 states and FCT that election would take place.
The State Congress will be preceded by Ward and Local Government Congresses earlier in June 29 and 6th July respectively.
The next party chairman would take over from the outgoing Chairman, Hon. Felix Hassan Hyat whose eight-year of two terms is expected to round up later in four months time – September.
Hon. Edward Mash who is a banker by profession, holds the traditional title of Magajin Garin Nyenkpa, is touted by party supporters as a grassroots political strategist and mobilizer with a cult-like solid support base, especially in his Jema’a council home front and a host of admirers across the state, even beyond party lines.
He was once appointed as member of the State Caretaker EXCO in 2020; was Zone 3 campaign Coordinator of Kaduna State 2023 Governorship Candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan and was also the Chairman, Planning Committee for the PDP 2023 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s visit to Zone 3 in December, 2022.
Some party supporters while throwing their weight behind his aspiration, say aside exuding the requisite capacity to deliver; having paid his dues; coming with diverse wealth of experience, he is a man of mixed/all seasons-the youth, young, older and New Age (IT) generations.
While some see in him a diehard and committed party man who has paid his dues since joining the PDP from 2000, they stressed that he has served, have been mentored, still being mentored and also mentoring the youth and young class himself. Others see him at 56 as a bridge between the young and older political class in terms of engagements, confident building and trust, which tendency, they say has the potential to attract more of the youth and young into active inclusive party politics.
Majority of the commentators expressing support in most of the social media platforms, especially the youth and young class, say he is trustworthy, level headed and accessible base on their engagements with him when given an assigned task that involves them.
While he undertakes his statewide consultation leading to making his formal declaration for the race, inner sources within the party have hinted to The News lcon that among others also eying the party’s Chairman seat include the outgoing State Secretary, Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu Wusono (from Igabi LGA in Zone 2), who is just bidding the right time to make his intention known.
Former Kaduna State Deputy Governor and former State Chairman of the party, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga in a recent interview with journalists in Kaduna, (attended by The News lcon), said Zone 3 will seek to retain the Party Chairman seat as it shall be given the offer or right of first refusal.
But when asked if his position will not affect the political calculus that any zone that produced the party Chairman, has technically nocked out itself from the 2027 Governorship race, he said 2027 was still far to discuss which zone to produce the Governorship ticket or not, adding: “When we reach the bridge or time, the party will decide on which zone to take the shot.”
Meanwhile, as other party big wigs gear up to slug it out for the party Chairman seat and other key Sate Working Committee (SWC) positions, Wadata House, Abuja is expected to announce the date for Kaduna State Congress anytime soon.
An inside source revealed to The News Icon that Wadata House, Abuja will mostly likely announce August for Kaduna State Congress.
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