*Deputy Gov Durkwa Weeps As He Loses Grip Over Constituency.
by: Ali Musa Biu – Maiduguri
The battle of supremacy between incumbent Deputy Governor of Borno State, Usman Mamman Durkwa and his potential successor, Umar Usman Kadafur may have been settled in favour of the later with last wednessday’s open rejection of Usman Durkwa at a rally in Azare, headquarters of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.
Durkwa who had held the politics of Hawul by the jugular, using crude force, intimidation, blackmail and thuggery had his ego bruised when the crowd St the rally which he mobilized told him to his face that he is no longer relevant.
The crowd at every turn of events echoed that they prefer Umar Kadafur as Deputy Governor as as opposed to Durkwa’s dictatorial tendencies.
Durkwa who had earlier mobilized mercenaries from Maiduguri to subdue Kadafur’s supporters was disappointed when the crowd that followed Kadafur to the rally chased away the mercenaries and shouted him down, when he attempted to address the rally.
Our correspondent who was on the entourage of Governor Kashim Shettima and the APC Gubernatorial candidate in the state, Professor Babagana Umara Zullum, reports that Usman Durkwa openly had planned to embarrass the guests during the rally, but his plans were cut short when Governor Kashim Shettima, apparently relying on intelligence reports, shelved the rally earlier slated for Tuesday evening. The rally which eventually held on Wednesday witnessed some form of apathy, even as the public seemed to have realized that they were being taken for a ride, and turned against him.
Eye witness accounts have it that the Deputy Governor openly wept after the rally over his humiliation, even as reports filtering in indicate that he may be plotting to engage in anti party activities.
Sources informed our correspondent that he may have perfected plans to work against the Governorship candidate and his running mate, Professor Babagana Zullum and Usman Kadafur, the Senatorial candidate, Mohammed Ali Ndume as well as the House of Representatives candidate for Askira/Hawul Federal Constituency, Dr Haruna Mshelia.
It may be recalled that Usman Durkwa has until the incident insisted that he is the authentic running mate to Professor Zullum, even when the name of Umar Usman Kadafur has been published by INEC, as the running mate.
In apparent lamentation over his failure to secure the position, couples with his sudden loss of popularity and dethronement as the political leader of southern Borno, he was said to have broken down in tears.
Not even the consoling remarks by Governor Kashim Shettima at the rally for him to take it as a sportsman could pacify him.
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