Ribadu Declares End of Dynasty Politics in Adamawa
The political landscape of Adamawa State is undergoing a significant transformation, with individual influence and family dynasties losing their once-unassailable grip. According to Mustapha Ribadu, the Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa, the era of "big names" is over, and the people are now focused on a party's ideology and principles rather than the personality of its leaders.
Big Names Fail to Deliver at the Polls
Ribadu supported his assertion with concrete examples from the recent general elections. He pointed to the defections of former Governor Jibrilla Bindow and Senator Aisha Binnani, noting that their departures did not cause a ripple effect within the APC. In fact, many of their aides and political associates remained with the party. The ultimate proof of their diminished influence came at the ballot box, where both Bindow and Binnani failed to win their own polling units, wards, and even their local government areas.
A Shift to Substance Over Personality
This shift, according to Ribadu, is a direct result of the electorate growing tired of political deceit. He highlighted that voters in Adamawa are no longer easily swayed by the stature of a political figure but are instead more interested in the substance and vision of the party they represent. Ribadu cited the case of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose own son and political allies stayed with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) despite his defection, further emphasizing that a "one-man squad" is no longer effective in modern politics.
Looking to the Future: Unity and Good Governance
While acknowledging that the Adamawa APC has its share of "manageable disagreements," Ribadu sees this as a normal and healthy aspect of a large political family. He concluded by stating that the focus should now be on unity and good governance, a message that resonates with the new, independent-minded electorate of Adamawa State.
