By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress APC in Bauchi State Comrade Aliyu Ilelah has stated that only self centred politicians who are enemies of Tinubu’s victory in 2027 General election will oppose Governor Bala Mohammed defection to APC.
Ilelah flanked by hundreds of his supporters stated this on Wednesday while addressing reporters in Bauchi, shortly after a caucus meeting of APC stalwarts led by Senator Samaila Dahuwa representing Bauchi North. They opposed the move to accept Bauchi Governor into the APC ahead of the 2027 election.
Ilelah alleged that the action of the caucus was born out of bitterness and self centredness in order to achieve their personal interest rather than the collective success of the APC in 2027.
“It is disrespectful to the leadership of the party and Mr President because while the President and the APC national leadership were busy reaching out to the governor, the so called caucus on the other hand are busy closing doors against Governor Bala Mohammed when the party is not their own ” he said.
Ilelah alleged that many of them are busy body politicians serving their personal interests, saying that some moved from one party to another after they lost their primaries while some defected from PDP to APC without consulting anyone.
He warned the Caucus not to endanger President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid because of self-serving and politically suicidal decisions of a few people so called the Caucus .
Ilelah said that majority of APC supporters in Bauchi state who want to see the victory of the party during elections wants the Governor to join the Party.
“ We have endorsed President Tinubu’s second term bid and by paradox, we ae opposing the decision of few caucus who have decided to block a sitting governor who can be one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu strongest electoral assets not only in Bauchi State, but in the nation as a whole”.
“Any Political Party the Governor is defecting to, he is coming with not more than one million people including state commissioners, local Government Chairmen advisers, supporters and well wishes. No sane politician will ignore a single vote that can lead to the victory of his party in the poll”.
” The decision of the Caucus has exposed the growing disconnect between the so called caucus and the people which automatically disconnects them with the President’s national vision. Any political strategy that alienates Bauchi”s sitting governor is short-sighted and dangerous to the party’s national interest” he said.
He said that under Tinubu, Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented political inclusivity, citing the alignment of governors from Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano,Adamawa, Taraba Plateaus and many states as examples of the President’s bridge-building strategy.
Ilelah described the caucus actions as a dangerous contradiction that questions their political maturity and loyalty to the President and national leadership of APC.”
He appealed to the governor as a matured Politician to be patient and join the APC where majority of the members means well for the Party, adding that Bauchi State is ready to give him a rousing welcome.
