APC’s advocates forum backs Akpabio as ‘natural leader’ in Akwa Ibom

A progressive forum of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) known as APC Advocates Forum has declared that former governor of Akwa Ibom and the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, is the ‘natural leader’ of the party in the state being a serving cabinet member.

The group, however, called on APC’s National Caretaker Committee led by the Yobe state governor to call those sponsoring mischief against the Minister to order, adding that “the political sagacity of the former two-term governor can not be compared to any other person in the state.”

In a statement released to newsmen Monday in Abuja by the national coordinator of the APC Advocates Forum, Barrister Johnson Essien, threatened to expose those behind the crisis rocking the Akwa Ibom state chapter of the party.

The group described as ‘unwise decision’ for some chieftains of the party to contest the natural leadership God has bestowed on the Minister (Akpabio).

“The recent development in Akwa Ibom APC by a segment of the party denying Chief Godswill Akpabio as the leader in the state is unwise despite the natural role nature has bestowed on him as a former governor and a serving cabinet member from the state.

“We, therefore call on Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC National Caretaker Committee to look inward and call to order the enemy within the system causing bad blood in Akwa Ibom APC.”

They described “APC as a body without engine in Akwa Ibom state until Godswill Akpabio joined the fold in 2018.

“During his eight years as Governor of Akwa Ibom, the Hon. Minister changed the face of the State and touched lives like never before – earning himself the sobriquet Uncommon Transformer. On assuming office as Minister, he has been a stickler for performance, committing himself to ensuring the speedy development of the Niger Delta region in tandem with his Ministry’s mandate.”

The statement added that for any leader of the party or aspirant in the state to go far politically in 2023, such a person needs Minister Akpabio.

“We are using this medium to warn the crisis merchants to desist because the Niger Delta Affairs minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio is a force that will decide the fate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.”

No APC supporter defected in Zamfara-Zannan Bungudu

A chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara Sate, Abdulmalik Zubairu (Zannan Bungudu) has described as “politically deceptive” the recent announcement by the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Tukur Danfulani that he received over 1000 defectors from APC in Bungudu constituency.

Zanna who spoke to journalists in Gusau on Sunday said PDP leaders in Zamfara led by Tukur Danfulani are using the tactics of receiving defectors to collect money from Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

He affirmed that Comrade Danda Bungudu is a known card-carrying member of the PDP and ahead of what he described as “film making event of Saturday” the posters of Comrade Danda Bungudu have been in circulation in Bungudu town and environs bearing PDP logo and tags.

He further explained that people like Mainasara Rimi, Nura Umar (NU) Sani Maidala Bela, Alh Yahoo Lawali (Yabo Minister), Kabiru B. Super Kwatarkwashi and Eng. Tsoho Mamman who accompanied Danda Bungudu to government house on Saturday are all card carrying members of PDP and they are known to every citizen of Bungudu local government.

He challenged PDP leaders in Bungudu to deny this claim made by him if they have counter fact noting that Bungudu has always been a stronghold of APC adding that, that political tempo would be sustained.

“There is no APC supporter from Yari or Marafa factions that defect to the PDP. I am a party stakeholder in the area and if their claim is genuine let them publish the names of the 1000 supporters for the entire world to see”.

“The few of them you saw in the picture are already members of the PDP and if they have received 1000 supporters of the APC why can’t they at least published their names for people to see and make judgement”.

Zanna added that, the new PDP Chairman in Zamfara is only playing a game of deceit and this is not politics because you have to be practical as a politician. We challenged PDP to publish the names of these 1000 people if at all they are serious”.

He assured that APC is intact in Bungudu and affirmed that Danda Bungudu and his co-travellers were at the Governor’s residence on Saturday for a monetary mission and asked that they most not hide under the APC before they can get their monetary mission accomplished.

He added that, APC leader in Zamfara Abdulazeez Yari Abubakar is doing well for the supporters of the party and that none would move to the PDP with the state of uncertainty that characterized its political operation.

He advised Governor Bello Matawalle to trade with caution as the majority of those he received as defectors are already members of his party but riding on the political tactics of the PDP Chairman to be extorting money from him.

Zanna also advised the Governor to instead of wasting money in the name of receiving defectors execute some developmental projects that would torch the lives of Zamfara people noting that, in the two years of Matawalle administration people of Bungudu have not benefited from infrastructural projects worth N10 million naira

Over 1000 supporters of Yari, Marafa defect to PDP in Zamfara

Over 1000 supporters of Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa from Bungudu Local Government have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

A statement by Yusuf Idris Gusau, Director General, Media, Public Enlightenment and Communication to the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle indicated that the decampees were received earlier by the PDP State Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani Maikatako and later presented to governor Matawalle at his residence.

Leader of the decampees, Comrade Abdullahi Danda Bungudu said they were at the governor’s residence to register their support as they have already declared their defection earlier at the state PDP Secretariat and were received officially by the state Party Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani.

Comrade Danda further said, the reason why they defected from APC to PDP was as a result of the way and manner the governor handled the security situation in the state and the many laudable projects he is executing in less than two years of his being in office.

He observed that it is on record that before the coming of Matawalle’s administration, Zamfara was in a serious war which almost destroyed it to a failed one as all government machineries were not working .

Bungudu however averred that the vision and foresight of governor Matawalle and his style of leadership changed all that and convinced them to join the PDP from their former political party, APC .

Responding, governor Bello Matawalle said his administration is determined to bring development to the people of the state at all levels with a view of making the state more secured and economically viable.

He further said, as a leader, his primary responsibility is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens including their dignity for upcoming generations.

He assured them of equal treatment in the party and also commended their foresight and positive decision to join his party, the PDP for the purpose of developing Zamfara state.

Matawalle added that with people of their caliber in the party, he is sure that alot will be achieved.

Notable among those who defected were Comrade Abdullahi Danda Bungudu, Alhaji Adamu Abu Samawa and Alhaji Abbas Abdullahi Bela who was the current Vice chairman of APC in Bungudu Local Government.