Even as there can be nothing wrong in endorsing a candidate, the reputation of the person making the endorsement matters.
Its surprising how SU President, Faruk Barade who wasn't cool with the endorsement of his then opponent, A.A Funtua by the former SU President, Shehu Kalgo now feels it is okay for him to endorse or annoint a candidate.
Barade clinched the position of the SU Presidency against a candidate who is more familiar -and probably, more deserving- with the position. While a lot wondered how the popular A.A Funtua lost to a candidate who many would say came from nowhere, even though he came from somewhere, it's just a simple Nigerian-Politics formula.
Even though an amateur, Barade learned and understood how Nigerian -more especially Sokoto- politics works. Give them something and they will vote for you -- some politicians used that to dominate their territory for more than a decade. And it worked for them!
No one freaked out when unprecedentedly in UDUS a SU Presidential aspirant campaigned with gifts (Hand fans and Cups). Instead, like in Major Elections, Danfodite-Nigerians voted for a candidate with gifts at the expense of another with experience.
If in the last two years, Maibasira had endorsed any SU aspirant, his candidate will definitely win because at that time most students will not even oppose him running for a second term --if possible-- and that is because of the tremendous work he had done.
Like Barade last year, many students are also not cool with the endorsement of a candidate.
The fear of many is that the welfare of students will be stagnant or even deteriorate in the hands of a Barade-endorsed candidate who will likely follow the foot-steps of his predecessor.
Aluta Last Born may find it difficult to garner support if Barade is his God father, but may be lucky to clinch the position if he happens to have an unpopular contender.
This article was first Published on GAMJI PRESS UDUS in February, 2020
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