Antagonists trying to bring Adamawa APC into disrepute – Duhu

Dr. Umar Duhu is a former ANPP stalwart and pioneer National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the North East.
In an interview, the APC stalwart provides some insight into the reasons indirect primaries remain the best option for Adamawa state, the seeming wrangling within the state APC, and expresses confidence that both President Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow will return for second term in 2019.ABDULRAHMAN A.
ABDULRAUF reports
There seems to be agreements and disagreement between the APC governor and the national leadership over the mode of primaries.
Why is the APC not working in one direction? There is no rift whatsoever between the APC Governors and the Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomole-led National Executive Committee.
But, I strongly suspect that some folks, who are not in tandem with the expansion and the developmental growth of the party as a truly democratic institution, are certainly those responsible for any noticeable mischief.
Nigerians have been advocating for restructuring, and the APC promised to devolve powers to the federating units.
What the APC, as party in government has done, is to only devolve more powers that are inherent in the National Executive Committee to the state chapters.
But, for the fear of the unknown and in their desire to be mischievous, some antagonists have decided to experiment several modules available to them to bring the reputations of the APC leadership in Adamawa state into disrepute.
The APC national leadership has indeed, adopted best democratic means of dealing with one national political issue by devolving powers to the state chapters.
State chapters are directed to meet at their executive levels and decide on the module they desire to use in the selection of candidates for the 2019 general elections, and based on their individual peculiarities.
In this regard therefore, if loyal and well-meaning party members do not appreciate the stand taken by the APC for being democratic, certainly, they have no conscience to criticise the great democratic APC.
You were part of the people that went round Adamawa and constituted campaign structures for Buhari/Bindow.
What is the yearning of the people towards the 2019 like? The people of Adamawa state and most particularly the people of Adamawa North Senatorial District, shall remain eternally grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC government for bringing the region out of the insurgency quagmire of the 2013 and 2014 under the PDP government, where the entire Adamawa North and some parts of Adamawa Central were completely overran by the Boko Haram insurgents, where our peoples were taking refuge as Internally Displaced Persons in other parts of the state and beyond.
Today, the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari has not only liberated all the captured territories, our citizens have returned to their localities and many had cultivated their farmlands for three year running.
It is instructive to relay to all the message of the people of Adamawa North Senatorial District, and indeed, most parts of the state.
And the message here is that Adamawa North Senatorial District Area is a nogo-area for any other political party except, the APC.
Any party that wishes to take its campaign to Adamawa North Senatorial District will be doing so at its own peril and will be responsible for all the damning consequences.
I want to also advise the PDP which carelessly ceded our territories to the Boko Haram, to thread with caution, as they will not only be disappointed at the polls in 2019, but will be compelled to pay dearly for their inactions, which caused lives and properties of millions of Adamawa citizens and beyond.
To cut the story short, Adamawa state is no-go-area for the PDP and its affiliates.
APC remains the party to beat in Adamawa and Nigeria, for a longer time to come.
President Buhari’s in-law has purchased nomination forms to contest the 2019 gubernatorial election in Adamawa state.
What’s your take on this? This is democracy in action.
Modi, as he is popularly called, has the right to aspire to any position he so desires in the land.
What is most paramount is the electorate, who have the legitimacy to decide the fate of any candidate who is best to fly the APC flag in 2019.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla (Bindow), the performing governor has done significantly well towards improving the lots in critical infrastructures, which have serial multiplier effect on the entire economy of Adamawa state and the lives of the citizenry.
These strides, aside other developmental efforts, stand in for the victory of Governor Bindow in Adamawa state at the party’s primaries and the general elections.
In this regard therefore, Governor Bindow is never perturbed by either Modi or any other APC members willing to contest the primary election along with him.
It is on record that the people of Adamawa Central have been agitating for power shift to their Senatorial District, and the best option to achieve this desire is to heed my advice and again, support Governor Bindow for 2019.
When Governor Bindow completes his tenure in 2023, His Excellency and all the critical stakeholders in Adamawa North will support power shift to Adamawa Central.
But, anything short of this understanding, ‘In Sha Allah’ in 2023, another son of Adamawa North could still take over from Governor Bindow for continuity and sustainable development to rebuild the insurgency ravaged part of Adamawa state.
Your state chapter of APC adopted indirect primaries.
What is the faith of the governor now that Buhari’s in-law has purchased his form and took a picture with the President? Yes, the Adamawa state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, during its extraordinary state meeting held in Yola on September 3, 2018, unanimously agreed to go for indirect primaries.
This is not without considering all the prevalent circumstances the Adamawa people find themselves.
In Adamawa North Senatorial District, there are still prevalent flashpoints for the insurgency.
In that regard alone, no sensible leader will compromise the lives of his citizens over any political exigency.
Secondly, as we are talking, there is no one member of the APC in Nigeria who has a valid APC membership card, but a membership slip.
Preceding this period, several assumed members of the APC, have printed uncountable numbers of APC membership slips preparatory to causing mischief at any primary election that would be conducted through direct means.
In that regard also, it has become absolutely impracticable to go for any direct primaries under such circumstances.
Opting for indirect where there are only recognised party members, is the best option and the Adamawa state APC leadership under Alhaji Ibrahim Bilal has settled for and all patriotic party members / leaders, should agree and obey.
There appears to be serious division in Adamawa APC.
What will this portend for the 2019 general elections, especially now that the opposition parties are also strategising? There’s absolutely no problem whatsoever in the Adamawa APC.
The party is intact and vibrant.
Anyone dissatisfied with the setting and programmes of the party is doing so for selfish reasoning

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