By Aliyu Dangida
They said “Opportunity once lost, it can never be regain, there is no time to sleep for those who want to be some where”.
The above statement rightly positioned the
one time powerful council chairman in the early 2000, Gwani Ali Makoda who latter transformed to a super hero and most influential member of Ganduje’s kitchen cabinet within 23 years of participatory democracy. He was first appointed as commissioner of Environment before he was elevated to the seat of chief of staff in the same administration.
Dr. Gwani Ali Haruna Makoda is a local breed intellectual of note, religious, urbane, and an astute political cum business personality that stands tall among his equals. His mastery of
Qur’an put him ahead of others.
His star rose when he was elected as chairman of Makoda local government during the first tenure of Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as one of the youngest and new breed politician courtesy of his father’s philanthropist gesture to the people of Makoda.
Haruna Makoda contested for a second term during Governor Ibrahim Shekarau’s regime as council chairman of Makoda, a tenure characterized by controversy leading to the annulment of his election while serving out his term in office, but effort to returned to power through court yielded no result.
Interestingly, Dr. Gwani Makoda gave up and continue with his business and studies, before he was appointed as Special Adviser on Metropolitan to Kano state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso in 2011.
That elevation by Kwankwaso made him a power broker in Makoda politics at that time, no thanks to his parents background and influence.
Gwani’s calculation has likely thrown him into political purgatory at a time he was holding the position of chief of staff, government house Kano. He became a greatest force to reckon with in the government circle.
Several attempts were made to alert Gwani Makoda on the danger of disassociating himself with his political and close associates, friends and fans but fell on deaf ears.
Instead, he engaged in rivalry with one of his political associates, the present speaker, Rt. Hon Chidari who emerged winner at the just concluded National Assembly elections as Member house of representatives Makoda/Dambatta federal constituency.
It was reported that, Ali Makoda allegedly worked against Hon. Chidari over the seat of Speaker Kano House of Assembly shortly after the then speaker was impeached.
However, trouble began after Hon Chidari won party primary election as Member house of representatives Dambatta/Makoda federal constituency, the seat Gwani Makoda has been eying, this according to investigation provoked the powerful chief of staff he boycotted office for quite some times.
Later, he met with his loyalists of Makoda politics and seek for their support to dump the ruling APC to the opposition NNPP led Kwankwaso to seek for the position of member house of representatives, some followed him while those in the corridor of power denied to follow him.
All efforts by Governor Ganduje, his Deputy Gawuna and other party stakeholders made several plead with Gwani Makoda to come back to APC but he turned down their request, all he need is to contest with Hon. Chidari with the confidence that he will defeat him during the polls.
However, Gwani’s ambition to be at the green chamber to represent the good people of Dambatta/Makoda was scuttled as Hon. Chidari emerged victorious during the election.
The fate of Gwani Makoda is now hanging on the air as he has not achieved his political ambition of becoming MHR and on the part he voluntarily quitted his juicy position as COS Government House.
Now the question is, will Makoda make a U-turn to accept any position or will he stay in the opposition NNPP to wait for their turn come 2027 or 2031? Only time will tell.
