Rabiu Omaku
The Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has opened up that he has no grudges against his successors, The former Governor of Nasarawa State and embattled and resigned National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the immediate past Governo of the State, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
This reaction was made by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Comrade Peter Ahemba during a Press Conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Press Centre in Lafia, The Nasarawa State capital.
The SSA buttressed that the relationship between the two former Governors and the Chief Executive, Abdullahi Sule is a genuine relationship, Adding that the Governor did not plot the resignation of the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the defeated Senator Nasarawa South, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura from returning for a second term as Senator.
According to him”, His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule submitted the names of three ministerial nominees. That is Al-Makura and two others”.
Saying Governor Abdullahi Sule has limited power to make, his predecessor a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The SSA to Governor Sule described the purported report by a national daily that Governor Abdullahi Sule Plot for The Removal of APC national Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, and the defeat of Umaru Tanko was meant to retire them from active politics ignited mixed reactions and sympathy.
“This story reported by The Sun Newspaper was mischievous and quite unfortunate meant to cause a rift between the peace-loving stakeholders of the ruling party in the State”.
“The attention of His Excellency, Engineer. Abdullahi Sule, Governor of Nassrawa State, has been drawn to a media publication in one of the national dailies with the headline: “How Gov Sule Plotted the Exit of Adamu, Al-Makura in Nasarawa Politics”.
Ordinarily, the Governor would not have bothered responding to this mischievous publication, its potency to cause unnecessary friction between the Governor and the two political leaders in the state, if not addressed, has made this reaction pertinent as it will go a long way in putting the issues raised in their proper perspectives.
To start with, it is public knowledge that Governor Abdullahi Sule, in the belief that respect and support are reciprocal, has remained consistent in his support to his predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in all his political endeavours, including the 2023 Senatorial election which he re-contested.
Even though the election went the other way round, the Governor as a Democrat had no choice but to accept the outcome of the election, and good enough, Senator Al-Makura, in the same manner, demonstrated an uncommon spirit of statesmanship by voluntarily withdrawing the matter at the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal where he had filed a petition challenging the outcome of the senatorial election which the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, citing his desire for peace and a united Nassrawa State”.
Recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) requested all Governors of the APC control States to submit three names each, for him to consider one out of the names and nominate/appoint as Minister and Senator Al-Makura’s name featured prominently on the list submitted by Governor Sule to the President for Nassrawa State.
It is a known fact that the appointment of Ministers is solely the prerogative of Mr. President to consider and appoint whoever he wants from each State as a member of the Federal Executive Council, and Governor Sule’s powers to determine who is appointed a Minister is limited. This is a fact everyone, including the author of the ill-intended publication, should know.
On former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, the immediate past National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), whom the author of the media publication also tried fruitlessly to tell his readers where and how Governor Sule has done anything to undermine the former, it is also pertinent to state that Governor Sule has no hand in the political squabbles that led to Adamu’s resignation as National Chairman of the APC.
It is rather mischievous for anyone to insinuate and or accuse Governor Sule of being responsible for the internal disagreement among members of the National Working Committee of the party that led to the voluntary resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu. The unfortunate development has nothing absolutely to do with the Governor. It is on record that Governor Sule was the first APC Governor to openly declare support for Nasarawa State to have a National Chairman of the ruling party and worked relentlessly for its realization.
Again, when there were agitations in some quarters for the ousting of the National Chairman early this year, Governor Sule stood firm against the move, without minding the implication on his re-election bid. How then will the Governor turn around to destroy the house he contributed immensely in the building?
Governor Sule has continued to accord tremendous respect for the founding fathers of the State, including the duo of Senators Al-Makura and Abdullahi Adamu for their role towards the progress and development of the State and will not look back in this regard. He has no reason whatsoever to work against the interest of any of them as the author mischievously wants members of the public to believe. As a matter of fact, Governor Sule as a devoted Muslim does not plot the downfall of anybody.
The good thing however, is that members of the general public, particularly the peace-loving citizens of the State are much aware of the persistent moves by conflict merchants to cause disaffection between the Governor and the two political leaders of the State. We wish to advise such individuals to rethink as the Governor and the two former Governors are inseparable.
We equally urge the duo of Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, whom Governor Sule holds in high esteem to be wary of mischief makers and disregard the said publication in its entirety as it has no iota of truth. It is baseless, unfounded, and failed attempt by enemies of the State, to cause unnecessary acrimony between them and the Governor”. Said Comrade Peter Ahemba, The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs.
