Date: 2013-11-07

We have been reading and hearing about the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) led by its interim national Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and former Lagos state governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu travelling around the country trying to woo the G7 governors into its fold.

The leadership of the APC had visited Adamawa state to woo Governor Murtala Nyako and we all know what happened. The Adamawa state governor spoke about his interest and passion, he was confident and focused.

Among the gladiators of APC that visited him, he himself stands as a gladiator. But the question raised by many concerned Kwarans is, what is the interest of the Kwara state governor and what is his passion?

The APC leadership also visited Jigawa state to woo Governor Sule Lamido, and of course they needed to if they want to stand any chance to woo the G7.

While at Jigawa state, we all saw the wooing process, the exchange of words and show of competence. The calmness and coordinating skills of Lamido was self evident. No wonder he has been pointed as a possible presidential material. Again, where is the competence in Governor Ahmed? Where is the skill and what is the target?

Kwankwaso doesn't need any introduction, though, he his not aspiring for any position yet, but he is one of the most vocal of the G7 governors who has continued to speak about their cause. The APC leadership had also visited him to be wooed, and at the event, General Muhammed Buhari expressed his admiration for the action governor who has been identified as a performer and a disciplinarian per excellence. If Governor Ahmed cannot free himself from the bondage of helplessness and powerlessness, what can he contribute to the struggle of the G7?

Unlike others, Rotimi Amaechi stands apart and his peculiar case put him in a position more like a golden son. Amaechi was and is still being tormented, persecuted and abused, violated and cursed, accused and victimised, intimidated and deprived of all rights known to be enjoyed as a governor. He was prevented from entering his official residence, his security guards were withdrawn, his state security is being handled by an alien first lady in partnership with a misguided police commissioner just to mention but few, but despite all these, Amaechi stands tall above his enemies. I used the word enemies because it is appropriate. An enemy wants you dead, which is what they wanted for Amaechi. He wants you disgraced, so they want for him, he wants you mocked and embarrassed, that is their effort against him, but despite all the efforts and plots against him, Amaechi stand a hero.

Living up to this standard, the Rivers state governor showed why he his a symbol of courage and boldness when the APC leadership stormed Rivers state to woo him few days ago.

While showing understanding, he matched it with style and the ability to convince even a dumb mind why he his Amaechi the gold. What can Governor Ahmed show us?

After the event in Rivers state, many were expecting the APC leadership to storm Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Wednesday to woo the Kwara state governor after the news broke out, but I concluded that, Ahmed cannot be wooed.

The only reason for my conclusion was that, the authentic leader of the Kwara state Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki wasn't in the state, and until our mini-god arrives or gives his go-ahead, no wooing can take place and to the admiration of all, the only name that surfaced at the wooing scene yesterday was the name of the son of the late Kwara strong man.

I reasoned that, no reasonable party would woo Governor Ahmed, it is as good as wooing an empty basket, it would leak.

The only wooable person in Kwara state is Bukola Saraki, until he his present or gives his go-ahead after an internal approval with the APC leadership, no wooing can take place in the state.

The simple truth is that, APC may have governors to woo in the other G6 states, but as far as Kwara state is concerned, they can't woo the governor, I repeat, Governor Ahmed cannot be wooed.

Even as the APC leadership came to woo Governor Ahmed, the name of Bukola Saraki surfaced more often than the Governor's name and at the end, only the latter would determine the direction.

It should be recalled that, when the APC leadership wanted to go to Jigawa state, the governor didn't wait for approval from anyone, he simply confirm the presence of the APC leadership and gave his sincere position. When they arrived for the wooing, no other name surfaces apart from the Governor and the Jigawa state people as the decision makers, but when it comes to Kwara state, the reverse is the case.

The situation is the same in Kano and other places where the APC leadership had visited. Even in Rivers, we saw the dancing in confidence; we heard the bold declaration of hope, systematic mobilization of the people and inspirational motivation of minds by Amaechi, but what action do we see in Kwara by the governor?

Note please, all these other states also had people who helped their governors emerge, but that doesn't take away their role of governance and being the number one citizen of the state. Again, this confirms the report of a magazine, which described Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed as the most powerless governor in Nigeria.

We all saw how the Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido moved with ease and confidence in the midst of Buhari, Tinubu and Akande. This is a man who by himself is already eyeing the presidential seat and advocating for true democracy. What can intimidate him in the midst of these figures coming to woo him?

Again, what can intimidate Rabiu Kwankwaso in the personalities of the APC top wings? The only person likely to be intimidated in the G7 is the Kwara state governor who by himself feels too under qualified to be a governor. For God sake, Rotimi Amaechi stood up to the president in demanding what is right, but our governor is contented with being helplessly helpless.

If Bukola Saraki can intimidate Governor Ahmad to this extent, of course, everyone can intimidate him including this writer. In a nutshell, let the wooing process continue as we watch the scene to behold in Kwara state.

Let me conclude by giving Governor Ahmed a simple unpaid for advice. It is better to be a proud citizen than a helpless governor.

It is normal for someone to help someone achieve a feat, but it is abnormal to surrender one's self to helplessness. A popular quote states that, you can only help someone get a job, you can't help him do it. Not surrendering one's self to helplessness doesn't mean disloyalty; it only means you are being a person who has certain rights and duties. Let Governor Ahmed be a human and step up to his duties as governor before his too late, history would never forget. You may correct me if am right.

By Abdulrazaq O. Hamza wrote from Ilorin.