By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
A Bauchi based political pressure group known as APC Young Leaders Coalition has strongly condemned the harassment of Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar that occurred in Bauchi last Friday.
Tuggar was in the entourage of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima who was in Bauchi for the turbaning ceremony of the state former governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN) as the first Makama Babba in the hierarchy of Bauchi emirate council.
The group who stated this In a press statement signed by its Chairman Musa G. Khalid, expressed concern over the alleged harassment on the minister by a top official of the Bauchi state government in the pretext of showing loyalty to his master the Governor where there was exchange of words.
“We, the APC family in Bauchi State, are peace-loving and law-abiding citizens. However, we will not tolerate any unnecessary provocation because we cannot be deterred by threats or intimidation.We strongly condemn the recent incident and do not wish for its recurrence”
“We are calling on the Bauchi State Government to focus on addressing its issues with the EFCC and allegations of financial misappropriation and desist from intimidating our party.Any attempt by PDP agents to malign or attack the reputation of any APC chieftain will henceforth not be tolerated”
“The coalition sees this incident as unbecoming within the hierarchy of those government officials who are expected to lead by example. For a Bauchi state government official to harass a minister is the height of disrespect that has ever happen in the political history of the state”
“Brigandage or animalistic behavior of this sort definitely need to be investigated to determine the motive to which the act was perpetrated in order to find a solution, thereby forestalling such actions in the future”
“This action has reflected poorly on governance of the state as well as the democratic norms and values which will have negative consequences on the electorates and the generality of the people of the state “
“To this end, there is the need for the political parties and the critical political stakeholders to have a meeting and thoroughly discuss issues of such magnitude ahead of the forthcoming electioneering campaigns otherwise politicking in Bauchi state stands to be bleak”
“The round table discussions among politicians of the divides should also culminate to the possibility of tendering an unreserved apology to the ministry while charting a mutual way of politicking without bitterness.
On the other hand, the coalition is very much concerned with the non-challant attitude of the PDP officials who were alleged to have ignited the fracas which culminated to the harassment on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi”
“It is glaringly clear from the report of the incident that a top official of the Bauchi state government physically harassed the Minister in the presence of the Vice President who is not happy about the incident.The Vice President was said to have warned the Bauchi government official against his actions and advised the PDP both at the state and national level to take appropriate measures against the incident or even punish him”
“Unless the PDP take disciplinary measures against it’s officials by putting it’s house in order, this scenario will possibly escalate to something entirely different.
As a coalition, we see the PDP officials as very rude in their actions as regarding the incident, because the minister and the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed have been long time friends, only for a political quack to exhibit such ugly behavior to mar thier relationship”
“If our politicians at home have resorted to playing the politics of rudiness and bitterness, what will happen if they find themselves elsewhere in a political expedition, is this how they willl behave.We want this ugly scenario in our game of politics to be nipped on the bud and chart a way forward for the progress and development of our dear state” The statement read
The coalition warned the Bauchi State Government (PDP) and its officials to desist from actions that may undermine the dignity and respect of APC members and stakeholders,saying that such conduct could lead to unnecessary escalation.
It stressed that while the APC and its members remain committed to peace and stability, they will not tolerate any form of insult or disrespect directed at party stakeholders in the state.
