Buhari throws his weight behind brother-in-law for Adamawa governor who promises to turn it into Lagos

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has thrown his weight behind his brother-in-law Mahmood Halilu who is seeking to become the next Adamawa State governor by backing his bid to become the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Mahmood, the younger brother of Hadjia Aisha Buhari, the president's wife, has already launched his campaign and intimidating electronic billboards announcing his campaign have flooded the state capital Yola. However, his candidacy comes with problems as the declaration sets him on a collision course with the Adamawa State chapter of the APC which is backing incumbent Governor Jibrilla Bindow, who wants to run for a second term.

Popularly known locally as Modi, Mahmood, who was conferred with an honourary doctorate degree in business administration by Crescent University, Abeokuta is relying on powerful forces in Abuja to clinch the ticket. However, if he is imposed on the APC, there are fears that Governor Bindow may then defect to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), taking along many local members with him.

Yesterday, President Buhari posed with Mahmood in an apparent endorsement of his candidacy. Speaking after picking up the form, at the state secretariat of the APC in Yola, Mahmood vowed to develop Adamawa State and make it another Lagos economically if he was elected governor.

Mahmood said: “The roads the present state government is known for had been built by multinational companies that left Adamawa businessmen out of contention. We will make this state greater.

"We will develop Adamawa through the provision of infrastructure and the development of human capital and natural resources to look like another Lagos. The state is too endowed with necessary resources to lag behind in development indices.”

Other candidates said to also be interested in the APC's governorship ticket apart from Mahmood and Governor Bindow include former gubernatorial candidate Marcus Gundiri, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Senator Ahmad Abubakar Mo’Allahyidi. According to local sources, all attempts to convince Mahmood to shelve his governorship ambition has so far failed, which is certain to create a counter-reaction.