Why I can’t dump Buhari for Atiku – Bindow

The Adamawa state Governor, Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow, has explained that he has no reason to dump the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress for the Peoples Democratic Party which currently has former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in its fold.
He made the clarifications following his rumoured plan in the media to defect to the opposition party.
Bindow was reported to have purportedly given the PDP conditions for returning to the party.
Debunking the insinuations yesterday in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Macaulay Hunohashi, the governor said, he has no plan to join the PDP or any other political party.
Bindow said, besides remaining steadfast in the bid for President Buhari’s re-election come 2019, he is fully committed to the APC ideals.
His loyalty to APC and the Buhariled administration, Bindow said, is unshakable, adding that “it will be obtuse for anybody to believe such false defection plan reports, which is clearly intended to malign him and cause mischief.” The governor said, “Over the last three years, we have shown commitment to the yearnings of the good people of Adamawa state to improve their standard of living through progressive implementations on agriculture, health, education, peace and security, water supply, youth and women empowerment as well as infrastructural development.
“And what is especially pleasing for me is that the people of the state recognise and appreciate our efforts to make Adamawa a better place for them, and therefore they have supported this administration in every way possible.
“At the national level, President Muhammadu Buhari has done tremendously well for this country in security, economy, fight against corruption, employment, health, education and infrastructural development.
“Like I have said many times in the past, President Buhari is the best thing to happen to this country.
He means well for Nigeria, he is passionate about this country, he is trying to get a great future for Nigerians, so what reasons do I have to defect?” Bindow further stressed that the reports were plotted by some politicians who desperately want him to join the opposition, and called on them to dump the opposition parties and join him in APC as they are so fixated to be in the same party with him, saying: “they are always welcome to join me in the APC.” Also speaking, the state organising secretary, Ahmed Lawal, described Bindow as the most loyal member of the APC in Adamawa state, recalling that the governor was the first Senator to join the APC from the PDP over four years ago.
“His transparency and accountability to the people of Adamawa state on how financial and material resources were expended as well as the distribution of projects across the state, is almost perfect.
No governor has done so much for Adamawa like Bindow has in three years.
“Come 2019, the party and the people will ensure that this true democrat returns as governor of the state with a landslide victory,” he assured.
Party alienating core members -Lasun In a related development, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yussuff has expressed concern over alleged alienation of some APC members.
He disclosed that many of those alienated were grassroots politicians, who at one time or the other, had made sacrifices for the party.
Yussuff who is representing Osogbo/Olorunda/Orolu/Irepodun Federal Constituency at the lower chamber, spoke with journalists in Osogbo, Osun state capital at the weekend.
He cleared the air on the insinuation in some quarters that he was planning to leave APC, saying “as far as I’m concerned, I’m still in APC and I’m not planning to leave the progressive party.” The lawmaker restated his readiness to support the party and ensure its victory in the September 22 governorship election in the state, stressing that “irrespective of what happened, we are going to work for the party.” Reacting to the circumstances that surrounded the direct primary of the party, Lasun said he was not aware of any reconciliation committee, saying before, during and after the 2019 elections.” He further advised Nigerian pilgrims that the gathering of worshippers from all over the world on the plains of the holy Mount Arafat, offers a rare opportunity for them to intensify prayers to Almighty Allah to resolve the economic and security challenges facing the country.
He said: “Today our country is passing through a difficult phase of nation-building occasioned by economic challenges, rising insecurity and threat to our corporate existence as a nation by uncertain political atmosphere by actions of selfish politicians.
“It is therefore not only advisable but necessary for our pilgrims to seize this rare opportunity the Arafat Day offers to say prayers for our nation to overcome these challenges, and that we as citizens should rededicate ourselves to the service of our country.
” He further called on Nigerians at home to also join in the prayers on the Arafat Day as Muslims believe that wherever you are on this special day, if you supplicate to the Almighty, He will answer the prayers.
“Let Nigerian Muslims in Saudi Arabia and those at home devote this day for seeking Allah’s intervention to restore peace in the troubled parts of the country, help our economy to recover, help the leaders to deliver on our promises and solidify the unity and stability of our country so that individual citizens can realize their genuine hopes and aspirations “, he stressed.
Saraki however advised the pilgrims to continue to conduct themselves in good and orderly manner, while also complying with all laws, regulations and directives by the Saudi authorities aimed at making the remaining period of the hajj exercise hitch-free.
“nobody has reached out to me as party after the primary.” He said: “We are in the position to support the APC and not about the candidate.
I thank all my supporters who stood by me despite the persecution during and after the primary.
We would do our best to ensure that APC wins the coming election in the state.
“Nigeria should be aware that a lot of party chieftains are being alienated today.
I’m not guaranteeing any party, but we hope that party members will put what happened in the primary behind and work for the victory of the party.” He had, during a meeting preceding the primary election, noted that the capacity of APC has been reduced to half in Osun state, warning the national body of the party to beware of actions that could further tear the party apart.
Speaking as one of the aspirants at the party secretariat in Osogbo during a meeting with the primary committee, Lasun expressed his dissatisfaction with the step taken by the national leadership of the party to use direct primary system.
When asked if he had officially congratulated the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, he said, “I’m not in the position to congratulate anybody.
When I became Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, nobody in the party or government congratulated me.”

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