State Coordinator for Fintiri Ambassadors, Mohammed Tijjani Raji, has said over 23,000 members of the group have concluded plans to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Labour Party (LP) in Adamawa state.
In a statement in Yola at the weekend, Raji said the group took the decision haven failed to get any benefit from their unrelenting support for Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
He explained that the Fintiri Ambassadors is a group that was formed to propagate, create awareness of what the governor is doing in the state, and campaign for him in his bid to return as governor in 2023.
He stated that this may not be feasible for the governor because he has failed many party loyalists and stalwarts who paved way for him to emerge as governor.
The coordinator disclosed that the group rigorously worked for Fintiri in 2019 on assurances of helping them and being part of those that will benefit from the government, regretting that none of promises has been fulfilled.
According to the statement, signed by the group’s coordinator, Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Bello Yarima, and the organising secretary, Mohammed Adams, the group has, at least, 1,500 members in each of the 21 local government areas of Adamawa state.
They said Labour Party has gained momentum and acceptance as a result of their governorship candidate, Mallam Mustapha Umar Madawaki (Otumba)
“The governorship flag bearer of the party, Otumba, is the most qualified to be the next governor of Adamawa state in 2023”, they averred.
They lamented that over the years they have been supporting the election of Fintiri, using their hard-earned money and resources only for the governor to turn his back against them after winning the election.
“We decided to join Labour Party because of its candidate, he is an intellectual that Adamawa will be glad to have. He is a knowledge-based, vast in leadership skills that can liberate our state.
“We’ve lost confidence in the Fintiri administration. God knows we diligently supported him and he promised us heaven and earth when we form the government, but nothing good has happened. No.
“We the Fintiri Ambassadors are now dumping PDP, we will be migrating our loyalty to Otumba and the Labour Party.
“Despite our loyalty to him for many years, none of us can boast of anything tangible, we served him and nothing in return we are paid for. This is one of the many reasons we are leaving him, the PDP for Labor Party,” Raji said.
In a reaction, the organising secretary of PDP, Alhaji Hamza Madagali, said the Fintiri Ambassadors was non-existent.
He said Governor Fintiri is talented, a political wizard that his reelection bid was secured with the true mandate of the Adamawa people who believe in his excellent performance in the state.
