They are attention-seeking political traders – Governor
As the Bola Ahmed Tinubuled team forges ahead in its reconciliation of warring parties within the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), a faction of the party in Kaduna state, yesterday, queried Governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged antipeople and anti-party activities, among others. Besides, the faction, led by Shuaibu Inuwa Wada, also slammed an 18-month suspension on the governor’s political adviser, Uba Sani.
Also ‘sanctioned’ were the Commissioner for Finance, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, and the acting state secretary of the party, Yahaya Bab Pate, for activities it described as “inimical to the interest of the chapter.” But the governor, in a witty reaction, described Wada and his group as political traders seeking attention of Tinubu’s reconciliation team.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, the factional leader of the party, said the suspension of the trio of Sani, Pate and Kwari “is with effect from February 12, 2018.” “The governor earned the query due to his anti-people, anti-party activities and inhuman policies. El-Rufai is expected to respond to the query within 48 hours,” he said.
Wada also announced the “relocation” of the state secretariat to 11, Sambo Road, Ungwan Rimi GRA from its current location on Ali Akilu Road near Lugard Hall roundabout. According to him, Pate was suspended “for always taking unilateral decisions and conclusions and issuing directives to the local government, ward and individual members of the party in the name of the decisions of the state executive council of the party or state working committee.”
“In the real sense, he (Pate) was carrying out the biddings of Uba Sani, an aide to Governor ElRufai. His actions were adjudged to have compromised the party constitution, thereby disrupting peaceful, lawful and efficient organisation of the party in the state.
“Suleiman Abdu Kwari, ElRufai’s Finance Commissioner was suspended for 18 months for undue interference on issues within the scope of state, local government and ward organs of the party which tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and effi cient organisation of the party with reference to his Sabon Gari local government and Bomo ward of the same Sabon Gari LGA.
“He was also adjudged to be disobedient and negligent in carrying out lawful directives of the party,” the official said. The Wada faction of the APC is recognised by the party’s national body in Abuja. “Mr. Sani was never a member of party until recently that the state embarked on continuous membership drive that he picked his membership card, early this year.”
“The activities of Uba Sani have inflicted incurable damage to the party. For this reason, he has been suspended for 18 months.” Calls and text messages placed to the trio of Sani, Kwari, and Pate by our reporter were unanswered.
The chairpersons of the APC in the six local governments that make up Kaduna Central Senatorial district, recently endorsed Sani to run as senator for the zone. The six local governments whose APC leaders endorsed the endorsement are Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Giwa.
The APC chairman of Kaduna North local government area, Musa Sheriff , said their decision was based on “the positive contributions by Sani to the affected local governments, including securing jobs for the youth.”
El-Rufai fires back
But in a reaction, the governor described it as a “sham and laughable.” In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, he called the action “rascally,” saying the senator representing Kaduna North, Suleiman Hunkuyi, “is the man behind it.”
The statement read in part: “The APC Government of Kaduna state has boldly lived up to its manifesto commitments and principles to the people. In this work, it continues to enjoy the firm support of the APC State Executive which is united, and committed to the hard work of bringing sustainable change.
“The government appreciates the support it has received from the party in executing policies that stand up for the right of ordinary people to equal opportunity.
That support was vividly demonstrated as the government took drastic action to ensure that only qualified teachers teach the children of the poor. “Governor Nasir Ahmad ElRufai is proud of his record in achieving unprecedented level of capital spending in the state, direct job creation, doubling school enrolment and doubling internally-generated revenue.
“The governor has no doubt that the people of Kaduna state have seen who was committed to building schools, roads and hospitals, and bringing investors and will make the right choice in their own interest. The political was based on “the positive contributions by Sani to the affected local governments, including securing jobs for the youth.”
El-Rufai fi res back But in a reaction, the governor described it as a “sham and laughable.” In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, he called the action “rascally,” saying the senator representing Kaduna North, Suleiman Hunkuyi, “is the man behind it.”
The statement read in part: “The APC Government of Kaduna state has boldly lived up to its manifesto commitments and principles to the people. In this work, it continues to enjoy the firm support of the
APC State Executive which is united, and committed to the hard work of bringing sustainable change. “The government appreciates the support it has received from the party in executing policies that stand up for the right of ordinary people to equal opportunity.
That support was vividly demonstrated as the government took drastic action to ensure that only qualified teachers teach the children of the poor. “Governor Nasir Ahmad ElRufai is proud of his record in achieving unprecedented level of capital spending in the state, direct job creation, doubling school enrolment and doubling internally-generated revenue.
“The governor has no doubt that the people of Kaduna state have seen who was committed to building schools, roads and hospitals, and bringing investors and will make the right choice in their own interest. The political
