A faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna
State known as ‘APC Akida’ yesterday said the state Governor, Mallam
Nasir El-Rufai, lacks the moral standing to criticise President
Muhammadu Buhari.
The group also accused the governor for the
lingering crisis bedeviling the state chapter of the party, alleging
that he has remained obstinate in spite of all efforts to resolve the
issues.
Addressing a news conference, the Chairman of the group,
Dr. Matamaki Tom Maiyashi, maintained that El-Rufai’s memo which
described the president as a failure was out of disrespect, adding that
he rode on the integrity of the president to become governor.
“This
memo he sent to the president, in our view, is total disrespect,
discourteous, and it is shocking that El-rufai will write this type of
memo to the president.
“After all what he is doing in Kaduna, there is no story to tell anybody.
“So
far, what we can see are gutters being dug all over the place, and I
wonder whether that should be the mark of progress or development of our
state,” Maiyashi said.
He alleged that El-Rufai is more guilty of the accusations levelled against the president in the memo.
Maiyashi
said: “Here (in Kaduna), when we said he should correct his actions and
pay attention to the things that will enhance the dignity and happiness
of our people who gave this mandate to our party, he said we should go
to Kufena hills, jump and commit suicide. How can that sort of person
think that he has the moral pedestal to correct the president?
“We
think this is distasteful, it’s disrespectful, it is arrogance. If he
really wants to change the president, he should change himself. Charity
should begin from home and he should know that he is benefiting from the
integrity of the president, otherwise he wouldn’t have been governor.”
The
factional leader regretted the crisis rocking the state chapter of the
party which, according to him, has lingered for too long, blaming the
governor for frustrating efforts by the national leadership of the party
to resolve the problem.
He said the North-west zonal Chairman of
the party, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, and a reconciliation committee set
up by the national secretariat headed by Governor Aminu Masari of
Katsina State to help resolve the crisis could not achieve results.
“But as things stand, El-Rufai is still obstinate, and he does not want to cooperate with these organs set up by the party.
“We are calling on the national headquarters of the party to intensify its commitment to resolving this crisis.
“We
are calling on the governor to, in the name of God and in the interest
of the people of Kaduna State, save the party from this crisis because
it is portraying the state and the party in very bad light.
“We
don’t want this crisis because it is hindering the progress of the party
and we want the party to have an image of honour and respect as we
march towards 2019 so that even if the governor wants to contest again,
it is that image that he is going to benefit from,” the group said.
Maiyashi
was flanked by some prominent members of the faction – Senator Shehu
Sani, Ambassador Buba Galadima, Alhaji Yaro Makama and Hon. Isah Ashiru
among others.
But, the Special Adviser to el-Rufai on Political
Matters, Mallam Uba Sani, has said the state chapter of the APC has no
faction.
Sani said those criticising the government are looking for settlement.
“Some
people are issuing statements to the media about a faction. The meaning
of a faction in a party is when you have elected officials of the party
coming out to disagree with the position of the party.
“But when
you have the entire executive of the party in the state from the local
government level to the state, working together without problem, you
cannot say there is a faction.
“Like any other state you could
have members of the party who probably are used to the old system where
you will go to the media and disagree with the government and the
government will call you and settle you.
“In this government, we
will not accept that. The governor made it abundantly clear that he will
not settle anybody who disagrees with him as a person. You can accuse
the government but we will not loose focus of serving the people” he
said.
He said the caucus meeting discuss extensively about the
progress of the party in the state and how it can improve on its
performance.
“I can assure you that we have only one APC in Kaduna
state, that is why we have no any descending views either from the ward
or local government,” he added.
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