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Tag: atiku

  • Atiku condoles with victims of Boko Haram attack in Konduga

    Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress Atiku Abubakar condoles with the victims of Boko Haram suicide attack in Meshimari village in Borno state.

    “It is with a very heavy heart that I find myself having to offer my condolences to the families of the victims of the suicide bombing in Meshimari village in Konduga local government of Borno state.

    “May Almighty Allah grant the victims al-jannah firdaus and give their survivors the fortitude to bear their loss.

    “I commend the gallant men and women of the Nigerian military, who have been our line of defence against those who seek to violently impose their way of life on us.

    “Finally, I call on all Nigerians to be prayerful and vigilant as our nation goes through these challenges.”

  • Mama Taraba + Baba Adamawa – Buhari = 2019 election [2] – Etakibuebu

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    This page ended last week with introduction to the anticipated Principalities and Powers; with absolute dominion over the Nigerian political terrain, which Baba Adamawa [Atiku Abubakar] must overcome if his long trek to the presidency in 2019 would not be another big mirage. Our major responsibility today is to identify these Principalities and Powers, and try in evaluating the possibility of Atiku Abubakar overcoming them in his “voyage of discovery” to the villa.

    Normally these principalities and powers ought to be having their siesta for now as 2019 seems to be too far to be debated, in the thought of our favoured Nobel Laureate; Wole Soyinka. He was quoted, a few days ago, as saying that it might be too early to delve into the politics of 2019 when much is yet to be accomplished in terms of achievable profits of governance for now. He was equally quoted as doubting the sanity of those who may want to nominate Muhammadu Buhari for the presidency contest in 2019, given the terrible health challenge the man is currently undergoing.

    Wole Soyinka spoke very well but to the extent of displaying naivety about the modus operandi about Nigerian politicians. The man is too much concerned with his literary work to understand that in Nigeria, preparation for the next election [which is four years constitutionally] starts on the very day politicians are sworn into office.

    Another thing he did not care to know is that every Nigerian politician is an accomplished magician. Being magician is the only reason why “talented” Nigerian politicians could nominate an incarcerated prisoner, serving in Agodi prison, to run for the office of the Senate of the federal Republic, won the election, sworn-in as a Senator, appointed as Chairman of a lucrative Committee of the floor of that hallow chamber and he would be signing resolutions of the Chamber while still in prison.
    It was a feat that had played itself out before in the 6th Senate. Nobody should ask me for names. For verification, just check on those “first class” Senators from the South/West. If that was achieved without ado in the past, there is no reason why a higher version of such cannot be enacted between now and 2019. It is a feat that El Rufai; the Kaduna State Governor will perform with ease. For him [El Rufai], it does not matter anything if President Buhari is sick or not, it does not even matter if the President’s doctors sanction his participation in the rigour of political electioneering or not, it is a fate accompli for Buhari to run for the presidency in 2019, as long as the powerful deities from the north approve it.

    His winning the race, that is if he runs, is also a foregone conclusion. Opinion of Mama Taraba [Aisha Alhassan] on this matter is not needed, not in the classroom of the BUHARISTS adequately being coordinated by those Hynes, Jackals, Tigers and what-have-you in the Lion’s animal kingdom. Lest l forget, the news is already out that the Kaduna State All Progressive Congress has nominated Muhammadu Buhari and El Rufai to run for the presidency and governorship [of Kaduna State] respectively. With this announcement, Wole Soyinka must have another opinion on the possibility of Buhari running for the presidency in 2019 or not. Let us move ahead with the discussion by categorizing the principalities and powers Atiku Abubakar and Mama Taraba are likely to confront on the road to Abuja.

    Number one of such obstacles is former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo is from Owu, Egba of Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. Within the Yoruba tribe itself, it is an accepted fact that the Owus never forgive [Owu ti n’ki dariji]. If this is a fact, Obasanjo will do everything possible for his former second-in-command never to get any closer to becoming the president of Nigeria. He said the other day that “I am still laughing” when somebody asked him about the chances of Atiku Abubakar gunning for the presidency. He may even want to laugh louder this time around about a likely failure of Baba Adamawa, though he is not God. I am of the opinion that Atiku knows this.

    Number two may be Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the APC. Though thoroughly “down-graded” by President Buhari and his “inner-room cabinet” in the management of the ruling Party [APC], Asiwaju Tinubu may still want to cast his lot for a “lively dog than a dead lion” for one or two reasons. If Buhari runs again, he is most likely to tag along with Professor Yemi Osibanjo [for now the Kaduna Mafia understands the calamity of rejecting the candidature of the erudite professor, who is not only representing Bola Tinubu, but most importantly, representing the Obafemi Awolowo’s dynasty of the Yoruba race].
    The political acumen of Bola Tinubu [he is complete in political wizardry] would tell him to run with the “lively dog [Osibanjo] than a likely dead lion [Atiku]” and once such decision is taken, the whole of the South/West would vote Buhari back to power. If the truth must be told, there is not one politician that controls the politics of the South/West with such absolutism as Bola Tinubu does. The man understands the politics of stooping to conquer and he is ready to deploy it at any time.
    Another reason why Bola Tinubu may not be too much at home with Atiku Abubakar for the contest of 2019 would be the fact that both came together through political exigency in 2011 when the latter [Atiku] defected from the People Democratic Party to pick the presidential candidature flag of the Action Congress [a political party Tinubu put together single-handedly]. That relationship, if we may recall, bred more suspicion and apathy than unity of understanding between the two politicians. Bola Tinubu may not have forgotten that era and it might not therefore foster any unifying relationship for a continuation of cordiality to be contemplated.

    Number three on the line of obstacles for Mama Taraba and Baba Adamawa would be the People Democratic Party as an entity. It will be recall that as of the time Atiku Abubakar walked out of the Party [PDP] in 2014 [with what they called new-PDP] to form the APC, that would be his second time of decamping from the Party he helped to formed around 1998/1999. Yes, in politics; which is a game of manipulation and permutation, oddities sometimes can become the key to open the door of success but how much of confidence-building Atiku Abubakar’s “going and coming” would enjoy in the inner-circle of the PDP this time around remains much to be seen. It might not be too much of a palatable news for the “political predators” inside the PDP to accept Atiku back wholeheartedly [and offering him the opportunity to fly the presidential flag] without some cosmetic window dressing with the garments of deceit.

    There are other obstacles awaiting Mama Taraba and Baba Adamawa on the route to Aso Rock in 2019. Let us meet here to conclude the evaluation next week, by the grace of God.
    Godwin Etakibuebu, a veteran journalist, writes from Lagos.

  • Controversial comments: APC to send delegates to Atiku, might impose sanctions

    Controversial comments: APC to send delegates to Atiku, might impose sanctions

    Sequel to his alleged investments in the party and presidential campaign funds of President Muhammadu Buhari at the 2015 polls and his subsequent sidelining in government, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has perfected plans to send delegates to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to verify and investigate his claims.

    The party noted that all members of the party contributed to its candidates wining the elections at all levels and nothing was expected in return since they were only rendering services in the interest of the nation.

    It noted further that if Atiku was interested in the 2019 elections, he should wait till then to contest rather than making comments that can put the party in a chaos.

    The Organising Secretary of the Adamawa State chapter of the APC, Ahmed Lawan, who disclosed this, said, ‘’Plans by the state working committee to wade into the issue have been delayed by the participation of some members of the state exco, who travelled to Saudi Arabia to observe the hajj.

    “ Some of our members, including the chairman of the APC in the state, are on hajj; we are only waiting for them to return and we are going to discuss this issue. Definitely, our meeting is going to dwell on Atiku, perhaps we may form a committee to reach out to the former vice-president to ask him what his grievances are. Definitely, if there’s anything we can do as a party at the state level, we will do,” Lawan said.

    The party, according to him, has ways of dealing with any of its members, and if it finds sufficient grounds, especially with the rumours associated with the former vice-president, the party will not hesitate to take action.

    While dismissing reported cracks within the party, he said the party was however worried by recent utterances credited to the former vice-president, including his remarks that the party abandoned him.

    “The utterances of the former vice-president only portrayed him as a man whose sole motive for contributing to the success of the party is to profit from it, whilst it ought to have been selfless. We all sacrificed, nobody wanted to get something from it. If you want to contest, you wait for 2019 to test your popularity. If you are very popular, the people will listen to you and vote for you. There’s no need for any utterance which is capable of portraying the party in bad light. We are very surprised that the former vice-president came out to say the party didn’t reward him, which is like saying the party didn’t reward him enough. We all sacrificed, nobody did it because we wanted to get something out of it.”

    On the mode of the planned meeting with Atiku, he said, “When our committee meets him, if definitely what he’s saying is against the party, the party is going to take action on it; but if he lodges his complaints and the party feels there’s merit in what he’s saying, then definitely the party will look into it.

    “But for now, we are waiting for the members of Exco to come back. We will summon a meeting and then take a decision,” Lawan said.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former Vice President has however indicated his interest in the 2019 Presidential elections when he said last week that he will corruption and Boko Haram insurgence better than the incumbent administration is doing.

  • Atiku comments: We did not ask Alhassan to resign – APC

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it did not request the resignation of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Jumai Aisha Alhassan over her controversial comments declaring support for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

    This was revealed by the spokesperson of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi on Friday.

    He also said that her appearance at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, on Thursday, was not on summon.

    The minister, who had been in the eye-of-the-storm over her comment on her choice of presidential aspirant for the 2019 election, had a closed-door meeting with the party’s leadership at the secretariat.

    She had reportedly said that she would support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if he showed interest in the 2019 presidential race, explaining that the man had been her “godfather’’.

    The comment drew the flak of APC stalwarts, who dubbed it anti-Buhari and anti-party, saying she was disloyal and should resign or be sacked.

    At the end of the “meeting’’, which lasted about two hours, Alhassan, a former senator, was said to have avoided media enquiry on her mission at the secretariat.

    Abdullahi told the newsmen in Abuja that the minister had just a meeting with leadership of the party, but “was not asked to resign her position as may be speculated’’.

    ‘’No, that did not come up, what we said was that we understood the context in which she said what she said.

    ‘’But, it was an act of indiscretion for someone occupying the position she is occupying in the party to make that kind of statement,’’ he explained.

    However, a source close to APC leadership confided that leaders at the meeting expressed shock and bitterness over the minister’s comment.

    According to the source, the minister was told that the party can no longer trust her.

     

  • Atiku comments: APC questions Alhassan

    Sequel to her comments declaring support for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan on Thursday appeared before the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    The Minister met the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun with the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

    Although details of the closed door meeting were not made public, it was learnt that the Minister was given an opportunity to explain herself in the light of the recent controversy generated by her media comments.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Alhassan had last week openly declared her support for Atiku, a development that has sparked several reactions amongst the political class.

     

    Details later…

  • Alhassan, Minister who wants Atiku as president attends FEC meeting with Buhari

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha Alhassan who earlier declare her support for the presidential ambition of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday attended the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister had last week openly declared her support for Atiku in 2019 while insisting that President Muhammadu never said he will re-contest as president.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the meeting holding at the Presidential Council Chamber, started at exactly 11:00 am with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and other cabinet members also in attendance.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the presence of Alhassan, who was rumoured to have summited her resignation letter to President Buhari attracted the attention of the photo journalists in the chamber.

    The action of the journalists might not be unconnected with the minister’s recent remarks on 2019 presidential election.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Alhassan, who led a delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) team from Taraba State to Atiku later told the BBC Hausa Service categorically that she would dump President Muhammadu Buhari under whom she is recently serving as minister for Atiku should Buhari show interest in contesting the 2019 presidential elections.

    Alhassan who spoke in native Hausa language in the video told Atiku: “Mr President, our father, Nigeria’s president for 2019, God willing, in your presence, today are your people who have been placed under your care for forever.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Alhassan’s statement has since sparked reactions amongst other cabinet members who saw Alhassan guts as an act of disloyalty to her present leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had called on Alhassan to resign as minister for declaring that she would not support Buhari in 2019.

    “The minister is entitled to her opinion, but I would have saluted her if she had resigned her appointment because she cannot blow hot and cold at the same time,” Amosun said at a recent book launch in Abeokuta.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that El-Rufai in his reaction said he was not surprised at the minister’s outburst because she has never supported President Buhari from the beginning. He noted that the APC leadership had earlier warned President Buhari not to appoint Alhassan as minister.

    Meanwhile, the former Vice President had also accused President Muhammadu Buhari of sidelining him after riding on his back, influence and money to become president in 2015.

  • 2019: Tender your corrupt evidences against me now or shut up forever, Atiku blasts critics

    2019: Tender your corrupt evidences against me now or shut up forever, Atiku blasts critics

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised his self-righteous political enemies to either prove his alleged corrupt activities or mind the skeletons in their own closets and keep quiet.
    The APC Chieftain also said that he would fight corruption like never before if he is given the opportunity to preside over the affairs of the country.
    Atiku Abubakar made the charge at a facility tour of the new ultra-modern Yaliam Press Limited in Jabi area of Abuja on Monday.
    In a press statement released by his media office in Abuja, the former Vice President said, “It is sickening to continue to regurgitate allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office.”
    He added that people who have no initiative, personal resourcefulness and ideas about wealth creation, always assume that a man cannot build himself without stealing.
    According to him, “People who are bereft of ideas about entrepreneurial spirit always think that everyone else is a thief just like them.”
    He added that it is morally offensive for people who despise honest labour to become judges in the courts of public opinion.
    The Waziri Adamawa explained that though he has not been convicted of corruption by any court in the land or elsewhere, his political enemies have been parading a fake morality to fool gullible Nigerians.
    “Despite previous desperate efforts to link me with corruption, the William Jefferson trial in the United States ended in 2009 without indicting me or linking me to corrupt activities,” he said.
    Atiku, who was responding to the welcome address by the Chairman/CEO of Yaliam Press Limited, Yahaya Ali Amfani, recalled that he had pasted a reminder at his bed rest during his training as a Custom Officer that he (Atiku) would retire from any agency if he had not attained the headship of the place at the age of 40.
    Atiku said that he was only able to attain the position of Deputy Director before his exit in 1989 to chart a career in business.
    Atiku told the management and staff of Yaliam Press that he retired from the Customs Service with untainted record, and that if anybody has evidence that he stole a kobo at the Customs or during his tenure as vice president, such accusers should come forward or file a petition against him.
    Atiku said he didn’t become a Vice President in 1999 as a pauper because he has been a successful investor throughout his retirement life.
    “If Atiku is a thief merely because of his resourcefulness and successful investments, my political enemies should tell Nigerians the sources of their own stupendous wealth,” he added.
    He charged the management and staff of the company to manifest the values of honesty, hard work and diligence, attributes, he said stood him in good stead during his years as a public servant and entrepreneur.
    The former Vice President said he is well equipped to fight corruption because of his vast experiences both in the public and private sectors and his ability to build a team capable of accomplishing the task.
    “I will shock everyone because I believe that I will fight corruption like never before,” he said.

  • Atiku campaigned against Buhari, contributed nothing to his campaign funds – APC chieftain

    Atiku campaigned against Buhari, contributed nothing to his campaign funds – APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Deputy Director of the Buhari Presidential Campaign Council, Mallam Mohammed Lawal has said former Vice President neither supported President Muhammadu Buhari nor contributed to his campaign funds in 2015 as he (Atiku) earlier claimed.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former Vice President last week complained that President Muhammadu Buhari used his influence, wealth and other resources to emerge president but since sidelined him in the scheme of running the affairs of the country.

    However, in his reaction, Lawal, a director on the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC), said Atiku remained bitter for losing the presidential ticket to Buhari.

    Lawal said: “We know that right from the time Buhari was sworn in, Atiku started plotting to cause problem, to ensure that this administration does not succeed.

    “During the campaign, he granted an interview to BBC and said he was sure APC would not win the presidential election.

    “He was making preparations that if APC did not win, he will go back to PDP and get the ticket after ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s projected exit in 2019.

    “Immediately after the presidential primaries, Atiku left the country. He did not come back. All along, while we were prosecuting the presidential campaign, Atiku was not in Nigeria. He did not participate in the presidential campaign.

    “After the presidential election, he came to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and left the country. He is complaining now that he was not contacted.”

     

    He added: “I served as a Deputy Director at the Presidential Campaign Council.

    “ I knew all the intrigues. Atiku fought Buhari tooth and nail. He was extremely unhappy about the loss of presidential primaries.

    “He did not campaign for Buhari during the election. He even refused to contribute any money. He promised to campaign and to contribute to the campaign. He did not contribute anything meaningful.

    “ Let him say how much he spent. How much did he claim he spent? Is his money more important than his appearance at the campaign? He spent all the money he thinks he has to ensure that Buhari did not win.

    “People are not foolish. He told the BBC in 2015 that he was sure that Buhari was not going to win. So, will somebody who did not believe in the party’s candidate spend anything?”

    Lawal noted that despite Atiku’s complacency to achieving his presidential mandate, Buhari has been fair to him.

    “And out of magnanimity, Buhari’s first outing from Abuja, after winning the election, was to attend Atiku’s daughter’s wedding.

    “There are many Atiku loyalists in this government and he is saying that he has been sidelined. She (Women Affairs Minister Aisha Alhassan) and other Atiku loyalists were given appointment because of Atiku. They know themselves. And Atiku is saying nothing has been given to him. At least the principal appointment given to Atiku went to Aisha as the Minister of Women Affairs.

    “To be candid with you, Atiku started fighting Buhari since 2015. They just came out now because they were choked up; they did not get any reaction from him. They thought he was going to start fighting, abusing and dealing mercilessly with the opposition in government.”

    On the comments of the Minister of Women Affairs, Lawal said she ought to have resigned her appointment.

    He said: “When Atiku was having problem with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, did any of his boys attack Obasanjo? Why is she doing it now? If there is any political saint in this country, Buhari is number one. If there are other saints, Buhari is the most pious political saint in Nigeria.

    “If she is the daughter of Atiku, as she is claiming; if she is Mama Taraba, as she claims to be, let her resign and go and work for Atiku. Atiku is free to contest; she is free to campaign for anybody.

    “As for the President, he knew when she gave Aisha appointment that she is a political ally of Atiku and we were not surprised.

    “We are in government; we know about their machinations, meetings in order to discredit this government. It started after the primaries and shortly after the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari. We know what they have been planning underground. Recently it choked them because the President refused to answer or react to all their mischiefs.”

    Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Atiku Media Office Mr. Paul Ibe, said on Sunday that in spite of Atiku not accorded the respect he deserved, the former Vice President worked “harder for Buhari’s victory.”

    He said: “Lawal was not in the position to say that Atiku did not contribute to Buhari’s campaign. Those in the position knew what transpired. It is not the truth. I remember that I was a Deputy Director in the Presidential Campaign Council.

    “The ex-Vice President contributed his resources, time, counsel, and ideas, including the media resources which played a crucial role. Even after the election, when the media team met with the President, he acknowledged the role of the media unit.

    “After the election, Atiku Media Office became the temporary shelter for the presidential campaign media personnel.”

    He added: “Atiku was not accorded the respect he deserves as a major stakeholder during the campaign.

    “He was not even aware of the campaign itinerary. If you didn’t invite a leader for campaign, will you expect him to be there?

    ”When they realised what was happening, the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, went to the former Vice President who said he was being excluded and there was a promise that they would not sideline him.

    “By coincidence, we ( his aides) also went to meet with Atiku. We asked: ‘Are we to withdraw because you are being excluded,’ But Atiku told us: ‘You are on a historic national assignment; what you have started, you will finish.’

    “So, after the meeting with Amaechi, the ex-VP went full blast into the campaign. He said he did it in the best interest of Nigeria. It is not about Atiku; it is about Nigeria.

    “Everything Atiku said I stand by it.The ex-VP has not been plotting against this administration. He is a democrat who has been giving advice to make sure the government succeeds.”

  • I stand by my comment that Buhari-led administration sidelined me – Atiku

    Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has said he stood by his comment that the President MuhammaduBuhari administration has sidelined him.

    Atiku said this in a statement by the Head of the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe.

    Ibe said, “His Excellency, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar stands by what he said. There is no point beating about the bush, how can anyone equate a private meeting with a meeting of party organs?

    “When was the last time the party organs held any meeting? Has the Board of Trustees or what they call the Elders’ Council been inaugurated? When was the last time stakeholders and party leaders invited him to a meeting? The Wazirin Adamawa spoke as a lover of this country, democracy and the party.

    “People who are not too conversant with history as far as democracy is concerned in this country may cast aspersions on the former Vice- President for stating the obvious. The party should do the needful.”

    Atiku had stated that the All Progressives Congress has sidelined him since the President came into the power.

    This was after the minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan publicly drummed support for him as President in 2019.

  • Atiku lied, Buhari never sidelined him – APC

    Atiku lied, Buhari never sidelined him – APC

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied claims by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar that he was sidelined by President Muhammadu Buhari despite contributing immensely to his emergence in 2015.

    The allegation by the former Vice President was debunked by the North West Zonal Vice Chairman of the party, Inuwa Abdulkadir.

    Abdulkadir also cautioned members of the party to be careful of their public utterances and not hide under the guise of freedom of speech to undermine the party or bring the party and the leadership to disrepute.

    Abdulkadir who was reacting to the statement credited to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he has been sidelined by both the President and the party describe the statement as an “unguided statement” which should not be coming from a statement of his repute.

    Abdulkadir who spoke with selected newsmen at the APC national secretariat on Friday also said that the Minister of Women Affairs was practically blackmailing the President with her statement which has attracted public comments in recent times, pointing out that while she was entitled to her own opinion, she was morally bound to either keep quiet or resign from the government, rather than creating the impression that things were not working well within the government.

    He said the former Vice President gave the impression of failure on the side of both the party and the government formed by the party, pointing out that as a statesman who contributed to building the party, statements of fact was expected from him.

    He said: “Atiku Abubakar is a very important member of this party. He is one of the leaders of this party and I have no doubt about his contribution to building this party. He has also added value by his personality during the last election

    “People of such statue and reckoning in this country, particularly being a former Vice President, of this great nation, he has attained the position of a statesman and what we expect from him is nothing less than that. By virtue of former his office and his age, he is qualified to be a statesman.

    “But when you reach that statue and age there are certain things you have to come to terms with, most important of which is to exhibit a high sense of decorum in your conduct. What I mean is that you have to guard what you say, how you say it and when you say it because what is expected of you as a statesman is nothing but factual.

    “Secondly, the majority of the people look up to you to provide leadership in the sense that from what you say people can learn a lot.

    “Of recent Atiku has made some statements to the effect that or create an impression of the failure of the party and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. At that level, good party members, especially of his status should not be seen to be making such public statements even if those criticisms are factual, whereas in this case some of these statements were misleading and incorrect.

    “These statements give an impression as if there is a crack in the house and in the party or that the party is not doing all that which it ought to. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have been here to respond to certain statements because as leaders, we shouldn’t be seen as joining issues in the public domain. But since he has made a public statement, the public is entitled to get the other side or be told the truth.

    “Yes, Atiku like many others made certain contributions in the 2015 elections and in building the party. But the bigger picture which he gave is not correct. I know that in the North West zone which I represent, we had eight presidential campaign rallies and Atiku did not attend any.

    “Yes, he added value by his personality, but there are so many other members of the party, who made financial contribution and added electoral value. North West is the most populous zone in terms of the APC membership and in terms of electoral victory, not only to the president, but we have seven state governors and 20 out of the 21 senators in the zone are from the APC.

    “I think we are critical and major stakeholders in this party. So one of the reasons why I am making this statement is to calm our members in these states and not to be distracted and that APC is well on ground as all efforts are being made to solidify those gains and we shouldn’t be distanced by such unfortunate statements which are suggesting that the party is neglecting a particular person or group persons.

    “Some of these things are processes and you don’t expect everything to happen at the same time. More importantly, there should some decorum in what we do. People who have attained those high privileged positions should know that they have attained certain status in the society and so, they cannot afford to talk anyhow.

    “On the issue of consultation by the Mr. President, though I don’t work in the Villa, it is an open secret that whoever visited the president is no longer a secret. Whoever is meeting the president of Nigeria more than 20 people will know and the information will be shared.

    “As a matter of fact, several times, Atiku Abubakar has visited Mr. President and what they discussed, we don’t know but we know that he has visited. I am sure he is not just there to greet him. Those two leaders will meet without discussing one thing or the other.

    “On party meetings, I know that immediately after the convention where Buhari was nominated as the party flag bearer, there were a number of leadership meetings which he participated. Also, there were formal party meetings, some of which were held in the Villa and he was present.

    “There were some meetings here at the National Secretariat including two NEC meetings which he attended and other functions of the party. So the claim that the party only met once is not correct.

    “On his criticism of the President in the area of security and the fight against corruption, I want to say that if you critically listen to what he said, you will discover that it is not correct because we know where we were in 2015 and where we are now especially in terms of security and what the situation is now.

    “This is just a sign of caution. As a party, we caution our members from making unguarded statements that are capable of ridiculing the leadership of the party and the leadership of the government formed by this party. I think that we as a party, we will not relent in our effort in installing discipline and ensuring decorum among our members.

    “We should always remember that this party is an institution and it is not a personal enterprise belong to one person, a group of persons or a class of people. It has its own rules and regulations. People should not hide under the freedom of speech to undermine the party or bring the party and the leadership to disrepute. We all appreciate the efforts of members of this party in producing the president.

    “So, the party has a duty to ensure that party members e committed to the party and its principles. APC respects the right of all its members and the citizens from this country to make constructive criticism and we embrace such.

    “At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure that those privileges, those rights being exercise by the members does not encroach into the reputation of the party or the party as an institution.”

    Speaking on the statement credited to the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Abdulkadir said the action of the Minister could be interpreted to mean that she was either blackmailing the President or boxing him into a corner.

    He said while she was entitled to her opinion, she is morally bound to resign her appointment if she is not satisfied with events in the cabinet, pointing out that her statement were suggestive of things not working well within the cabinet.

    He said: “People have rights to express their opinions and express their views. But those rights are morally suspended if you found yourself in a situation where you find yourself as a member of the cabinet or as a member of the party.

    “There are certain things that are expected from you because it sends wrong signals of your commitment to the party as well as the person you are serving. However, some of these things are within the discretion of the Principal of that Minister who is the President.

    “The situation is that her statement is capable of creating an impression that even at the cabinet level, things are not well. As far as the party is concerned, everything is well in terms of the cabinet. But there is personal responsibility on that minister to do the right thing.

    “As a leader and somebody who has accepted to serve in a government formed by the party, the right thing to do if you think otherwise is to honourably quit. What we have right now is a situation of blackmailing the President or boxing him which will not be accepted by the party.

    “These two issues have come to the public domain and it is part of our responsibility as leaders of this party to ensure that the current things are known and to correct whatever wrong impression that would have been created.

    “You are making such suggestion in respect of your principal in public, this is something that she can discuss with her principal to express to him so that he (President) will know her position. And if you feel like it should be public then you are saying that I’m no longer comfortable with this situation, if this situation should continue I’m not comfortable with it.

    “Whether Buhari has said that he will recontest or not is immaterial, what is material as serving Minister should not be seen to be making public statement that suggests that they are not on the same page with the team because she is a more member of a team.

    “In order places, the right thing is for her to resign, that she can no longer continue to be in this thing because my spirit ir my thought is not in conformity with this team, so we can no more work together. She is entitled to that. So, you can not you eat your cake and have it, that is the situation.

    “As high as that office is people resign and leave on principle that if not that I’m a member of APC I would not have accepted to serve but I’m not convinced still, so I think giving an opportunity to somebody else I will support him not you”.