- State demands two ministerial slots
- Wants party loyalists considered
- Ex-deputy governors kick, decry exclusion from APC NEC meeting
The choice of one minister-designate from Kaduna State for the Federal Executive Council expected to be inaugurated soon is threatening to tear the ruling All Progressives Congress apart in the state.
Many demonstrators from the state stormed the national headquarters of the AlPC on Monday to demand that President Bola Tinubu should add an additional ministerial nominee to the slot of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Chanting solidarity songs and displaying several banners that read, “Mr President, please respect other APC families in Kaduna State” and “Mr President, give Kaduna people their democratic dividends,” the protesters insisted on having the National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, address them.
Addressing journalists at the secretariat, coordinator of Kaduna APC Patriots, Gandu Yusuf, said aside from repaying the votes from the state with two ministerial nominees, the president must also endeavour that only those who genuinely worked for the success of the party should be considered.
Yusuf also stressed that the 40 per cent votes the president garnered from Kaduna were from a combined effort of party loyalists and certain chieftains from some opposition parties.
He said, “The selection of former Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai for ministerial position in the state was incontestable due to his performance evaluation. It is however going to be catastrophic for the party to maintain only one family for state and federal appointments, more so without considering major contributors in the political success. All the APC members in the state can testify to the major contributors to the success of the party in the state as it is widely acknowledged.
“This group is therefore objecting to any new ministerial nomination outside those that have contributed immensely and glaringly to the success of the party in Kaduna State especially during the presidential and governorship elections. Now that Malam Nasir El-Rufai could not make the ministerial list, we urge you and the Governor of Kaduna State to consider advising Mr President to consider the state for a second ministerial position for a balanced proportion status.
“We are all aware that our party could not secure any of the three senatorial seats in the state and could only win four out of the 16 National Assembly positions in the last elections for obvious reasons. But for alliances and genuine cooperation between Senator Uba Sani, co-contestants during the primary elections and some members of other political parties, we were able to secure up to 40 per cent votes for the president as well as securing the governorship ticket and also getting 22 number of seats out of the total of 34 seats for the state assembly.”
While receiving the demonstrators, Ganduje reassured them that their demand would be conveyed to the president.
“We thank you for coming and appreciate that you were very orderly. I listened to your speech with keen interest trying to find out where you are heading to. But throughout your speech, I observed you harped on capacity. You were requesting Mr President to also nominate one of you from Kaduna and did not mention any geographical region from your state.
“And you remember Mr President said his cabinet will be a government of national competence, not a cabinet of geographical location. Thank you. We will convey your request to Mr President,” he stated.
Also, the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria has called on Ganduje to amend the party’s constitution to include their members ahead of the next meeting of the National Executive Committee.
The 60-member delegation of former deputy governors made the call when they visited the national headquarters of the party on a solidarity visit on Monday.
While decrying their omission from the list of dignitaries that turned up for the NEC meeting at Transcorp Hilton two weeks ago, Chairman of the forum, Chris Alozie Akomas disclosed that deputy governors are known to have a massive following in Nigerian politics.
The former deputy governor in Imo State further stressed that their expertise and experience after years of service cannot be wished away.
He said, “Our own interest should be protected. If there is a political party to which you have made contributions you should be carried along when the body takes critical decisions. We still repeat that we take it (former deputy governors’ exclusion) as an omission. You capture Speakers and Deputy Speakers but leave out people that served and represented the whole state; people who carry structures of a state.
“It is not good neither for the Forum of Former Deputy Governors of Nigeria nor for the political party or effective governance. This is because the effectiveness of governance has to do with bringing in cross-fertilisation of ideas. As we said, within the forum of deputy governors, there is expertise, experience, knowledge, and professionalism. That has to be done across boards.
“This issue we raised has nothing to do with the National Assembly. I am talking about the APC Constitution. It is an omission and we are following it up. We don’t want to give it different meanings, because it’s not only in the APC that we have this. But it seems to be more pronounced in the ruling party and we want it corrected. It is a simple thing. There are other issues though. But as you join us for our national summit in October, you will hear more because we are doing this in collaboration with relevant authorities. We have contacted the governors’ forum and are also doing our best to collaborate with the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.”
Reacting to their concern, Ganduje promised to look into the issue, saying he understood their plight having served as a deputy governor.
Ganduje said, “The position of a deputy governor is a controversial one in governance. That’s why God has no deputy. APC as a political party is interested in what happens in government. It’s a two-way thing. We get information from the government and pass it to the people, just as we receive complaints from the people and pass it to the government.
“Everybody is a servant. It is a no-go area. Deputy Governors are being seen as spare tyres. And we all know the importance of a spare tyre. If you don’t need it when you are normal, you will need it when you are in trouble.
“Another problem deputy governors will have to contend with is the issue of sycophancy. When you are walking with a governor and walk side by side to hear him when he talks, sycophants will say you are rubbing shoulders and all that. If you respect your principal by walking behind, sycophants will say you are developing a lukewarm attitude. Therefore you are retreating. Now, tell me which position will you take? It is difficult.”
Some of the former deputy governors on the visit were Abdulmalik Mahmood (Bauchi), Muktari Shehu Shagari (Sokoto), Pauline Tallen (Plateau), Ali Abubakar Jatau (Borno), Eze Madumere (Imo), Moses Alake Adeyemi (Oyo), Abdullahi Tijani Gwarzo (Kano) and the National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Sulaiman Argungu (Kebbi).
In another development, Ganduje has urged members of the Kano State House of Assembly to support and collaborate with Governor Abba Yusuf, regardless of their party affiliations.
Ganduje gave the charge when 14 lawmakers from his state paid him a solidarity visit at the national headquarters of the ruling party in Abuja on Monday evening.
Ganduje charged the delegation of visiting Kano lawmakers to look beyond the destruction of his legacy by a vengeful successor and give his government all the needed support for the sake of peace.
He said, “The state governor is of a different political party but I want you to know that the whole essence of politics is the development of the people. I urge you, irrespective of the different political parties, to cooperate with the state governor for the development of Kano State.
“That does not prevent you from maintaining your position as members of the state assembly; it does not stop us from working together to have a government of APC in Kano State. What is most important is for the people of Kano State to get the dividends of democracy.
“I want you to work peacefully with the government in Kano state and I assure you that we will provide you with all encouragement so that we get more and more members of the state assembly and also until we get a governor of our party.
“I was not surprised when I learned you were here to see me on a congratulatory visit. I salute you so far for your contribution to the development of democracy and in particular your critical development of Kano State.
“I congratulate you on winning your elections and also for helping Mr President to win his election. Mr President has shown so far that he takes Kano State seriously by appointing a Deputy Senate President from Kano, two ministers designate, even a member in charge of appropriation and to top it all the national chairman is from Kano.
“So, you can see that Mr President takes Kano seriously. This is because he knows if you are looking for votes during the election you can come to Kano,” Ganduje said.
