By Yunusa Abubakar
The Rise of a Movement Beyond Politics in Nigeria’s complex and often turbulent political landscape, few figures have managed to transcend traditional political boundaries to inspire a movement that resonates with people across diverse backgrounds. Kudla Milnda Satumari, popularly known as Haske (Hausa for “light”), is one such figure.
For close political watchers and analysts, not necessarily in Borno South Senatorial district or Borno state but in Nigeria at large, must have studied the fact that Haske is not just a person in a political party but a movement.
No longer just a politician or a stakeholder in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Satumari has become the embodiment of a burgeoning movement that is redefining political engagement in Nigeria. His influence, rooted in a deep commitment to service, inclusivity, and transformative leadership, has galvanized a network of supporters who are tactically embedded across communities, making the Haske Movement a force to be reckoned with.
For those who love data, and are always ready to speak from the angle of credible engagement and even in providing credible, people centered-opposition can access from the records of the two past elections that, Haske scored almost the same number of votes on record (based on what the INEC is able to report after the monumental rigging above the card reader in favor of the ruling party, 2019 and the BVAS, 2023). Meaning, his organic supporters, who are not shifted by any form of hardship, distortion, or misinformation by hirelings.
These are more are the reasons, while many of his supporter are staying in the PDP and continuing with their bid to unseat the ruling party in 2027, many others have moved to the ADC to continue standing for the movement without doubt and occupy sensitive positions with tact deploying the people centered leadership he has stood for, a move the new coalition have not grasped yet.
These strategic moves by his supporters to infiltrate the ADC must be an art of mastery, just as some are deeply embedded in the ruling APC, who are ardent believers in the Haske movement.
A quick discussion with few of the core grassroot politicians who are part of the Haske movement, opined that they are part of the movement anywhere they are.
Some of them said, “Haske has done to us as our parents should, and even more in many instances, he treated us with respect, took us as his equal, and supported our dreams in businesses, education and careers, healthcare, therefore; anywhere we are, we will protect interest.
Haske’s political track has evolved into something far greater - a movement driven by the people, for the people.
Unlike traditional politicians who often rely on party machinery or personal charisma, Satumari’s appeal lies in his grassroots approach and unwavering dedication to addressing local issues.
The reason, many are so confused with his silence over the coalition, while some associates of his are identifying with the ADC.
They are not loyal to the leaders of the coalition in the state, who in the real sense are just Abuja politicians with less grassroot presence.
If these people feel they are strong politicians, and feel they can do more, why did they fail after the gang up to collect the ticket from Haske in 2023?
“The struggle for power and control as seen by the promoters of the ADC in the state doesn’t in anyway shakes the Haske movement, in facts Atiku Abubakar has higher regard for Haske as politician in Borno state, because most of them were never original members of the PDP” as opined by one those who recently decamped to the ADC, adding, “If the presence of those feeling they are heavy weights leaving the PDP it would have shown in variance of the election results of 2019 and 2023, rather all remained the same because or organic support of the Haske movement.”
Haske seems to be stable, serene and strategic rather than being loud, he doesn’t engage in politics with thuggery and personality attack, many took this for granted, but it’s a potent weapon of success for him.
The state of affairs…
One discovery worth noting is that, most of the key leaders of the new coalition movement in the state were all members of APC until recently, namely, Alhaji Kashim Imam is a national figure in APC.
He enjoyed the PDP, before his voyage to APC, and was also made by the PDP as he was twice the PDP candidate in Borno state 2023 and 2007, losing both times to Sen Ali Modu Sheriff of ANPP.
Alhaji Idris Mamman Durkwa, contested senatorial primaries of 2023 in APC, and joined the PDP after the failed primaries. Hon. Fali Wabulari was a former State assembly member in Borno state House of assembly, representing Askira Uba LGA, he is still a member of APC as he has not yet registered as member of PDP in his ward - Uba till he joined the coalition.
Alhaji Umar Nasco contested for the gubernatorial primaries in Borno state under APC and was never member of the PDP and cannot be referred to as PDP stakeholder in the first place. The only member and key stakeholder of the PDP who joined the coalition as stakeholder is Hon Nicolas Msheliza.
He was also coming from ACN, who has now left for the coalition, his reason of leaving is based on the possible miss-out leadership control in the state, LGA - Hawul are saying he has not been to the LGA for any of the past two election cycles of 2019 and 2023, and still they were able to maintain near same figure of winning margin over APC and other parties that participated in the last elections.
Sen Ali Ndume rode on the same structure of the party in 2011, having fallen out with then Executive Governor of Borno state, Sen Ali Sheriff. The protest votes from PDP, Borno south translated into producing and sending him to the senate against all the schemes of the governor.
The current strength….
There are several key leaders and stakeholders of the PDP who are still intact and doing their best to redefine the political fortunes of PDP in the state and the country, and are very much ready to take over power in 2027 as it was done in 2023 but for the IENC, Security forces and Courts collaborations that facilitated the rigging of the elections against the people.
These include, Hajiya Maryam Inna Chiroma, a former minister of Women affairs, the leader of the party in the state and former candidate of the PDP in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Mohammed Imam, Sen Mohammed Sanusi Dagash, a former senator of Borno north and former minister, Barr. Mohammed Wakil, former majority leader of the House of Representatives and former minister of power. The former senatorial candidate of Borno south in 2019 and 2023, and current member representing Askira Uba/Hawul federal constituency, Hon. Dr Midala Usman Balami, who is currently the only visible member of the National assembly from the state, is still with the Peoples Democratic Party.
More so, Mohammed Ali Jajari, the PDP candidate in the last 2023 governorship election is also still very much in the PDP in addition to most of the candidates of house of representatives and state assembly. Indicating that, the state PDP is still in good form to take on the ruling party and the coalition.
Haske did not believe in coalition of this kind, where every one is struggling for power and control, making the whole arrangement looks like “we vs them” kind of politics, he believes in collaboration between like minds and people with similar quest for people-centered leadership and evidence-based political for leadership with a push for sound policies, with equal, fair, and level playing field in order to put forward credible men and women of character, competence and capacity for sound and monitored deliverables.
This has confirmed the suspicion that some key supporters of the Haske movement joining the new ADC’s coalition are doing so tactically and calculatedly representing their movement as mastery in the quest for 2027.
Despite its momentum, the Haske Movement faces challenges in Nigeria’s polarized political environment. Borno’s historical dominance by the APC and its predecessors, coupled with allegations of electoral manipulation, have hindered Satumari’s senatorial bids.
Yet, his resilience - evidenced by fulfilling promises despite electoral losses - has only strengthened his movement’s credibility, a challenge the members are saying, they will surmount with the new call for electoral reform to strengthen credibility, fairness and electoral justice in the ongoing call for the amendment of the 1999 constitution, where the citizens of Nigeria are saying enough of the courts doing election for us, the process must be changed to meet credible standards.
As the 2027 elections approaches, the Haske Movement is poised to play a pivotal role.
With supporters embedded across Nigeria, Satumari’s vision of a reformed, equitable, inclusive, youth driven and people focused democratic attributes could reshape the political landscape as new young men and women are keying into the movement to inspire others and aspire to lead; having watched closely synergy and collaborative nature of the Haske Movement as a beacon of hope in a nation seeking transformative leadership.
Abubakar is a journalist and Political analyst
