If one wants to put the above title in proper perspective in accordance with the popular saying, one would say that a dog that is destined to loss on the hunting ground would not hear its master’s whistle. This is becoming true about one man called James Faleke.
This is a man who was never known, not even in his local government, before he was picked as running mate to the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 21 inconclusive governorship election in Kogi state, late Prince Abubakar Audu.
Just like former President Goodluck Jonathan was catapulted from small state of Bayelsa to national limelight, Faleke became known simply by that act of being picked as running mate.
Throughout the campaign period, Faleke was still a back-stage actor, just waiting to thankfully occupy the position that God, in His wisdom, was planning to bestow on him. He was a humble and obedient party man back then.
But, the same God, without seeking to alter his destiny, turned the table the way He wished, probably to test Faleke’s faith. And Falake is now fighting anyone, any party, any system to finish, just so that he would be Kogi state Governor; which destiny never prepared for him in the first place.
The fate that smiled on Jonathan and saw him to the seat of Presidency was definable in the constitution, even though some processes were still followed to actualize it. And Jonathan waited patiently, for God’s will to manifest.
But, in the case of Faleke, the constitution never envisaged a situation where a winning candidate would die before the election is concluded, and what would happen to the running mate.
As a matter of fact, the fact that the National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not announce late Prince Audu as the winner of the November 21 election shortly before he gave up the ghost threw not only Faleke into confusion but the nation and more importantly, the party.
As earlier observed, the constitution as it is now, did not indicate how to factor in dead candidate’s running mate, who of course, might have, in most cases, been handpicked.
When it became obvious that the constitution is silent on the issue, even worse, that the INEC guidelines are never in favour of a running mate like Faleke to slip into the main candidate’s position from the out-of-blue, and with time too short to conduct party primary to pick another candidate, the leadership of APC settled for Yahaya Bello.
Bello, to be sure, came second in the validly conducted primary of the party which produced Prince Audu, ahead of the November 21 poll.
It is to be made clear that the INEC recognizes governorship candidate who emerged only through the conduct of primary. And that Faleke did not directly participate in the primary, and therefore, was not known to have scored any vote thereto. Until another law or guideline, in a special situation such as we are contending with is reversed or amended, this is the existing law.
Indeed, APC leadership has even admitted that in the many options that were available to take to meet INEC deadlines and guidelines, forwarding Bello’s name to replace late Audu was the most viable. The party did not claim that it was the perfect arrangement even as it is not spelt out in the constitution.
But, Faleke, who had enjoyed the support of the leadership of the party all along, and who was even present when Bello’s name was announced at the party’s headquarters, threw caution to the wind and developed muscle which he is flexing against the same party.
It is disturbing that when he was asked to continue as running mate, which of course, he was gladly working hard with late Audu to take, Faleke failed to see reason. He organised his supporters, most of who were political thugs, to embarrass the national leadership at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
What example is Faleke showing to the people of Kogi as a man that wants to rule the state? What manner of a man is Faleke that would be so blinded by sharp ambition that he would risk losing everything: the deputy governorship, party membership, respect of reasonable members of the society, and above all, God’s further favours? Or does he even believe in God and what He can do?
One even wonders what manner of Governor he would be for Kogi if, by a stretch of imagination, court declares him governor eventually.
Does Faleke wants to be a governor without a party? The party he had derided and scorned?
Habba Faleke! [myad]
