Though the query and warning letter
emanated from a faction of the party, known as ‘The Restoration APC’ in
the state, its Acting Chairman, Danladi Wada, claimed he is the
authentic chairman duly recognized by the national headquarters of the
APC in Abuja.
Also, the APC slammed 18 months
suspension on the Political Adviser to the Governor, Mallam Uba Sani and
the state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Audu Kwaru, as well as the
Acting State Secretary of the party, Alhaji Yahaya Baba-Pate.
In the letter signed by Wada, a copy of
which was made available to newsmen in Kaduna during a press conference,
the faction stated that the suspension and query of the governor was
with immediate effect.
Wada added that el-Rufai was expected to
answer the query within 48 hours, noting that failure to do so would
attract further disciplinary actions.
The letter was copied to the National
Chairman of the APC, Vice-Chairman, North-West Zone of the party, INEC
Headquarters, Abuja, INEC Kaduna, the State Independent Electoral
Commission, all the APC Local Government Chairmen, Kaduna State
Command’s Police Commissioner, DSS, Kaduna Command and all media houses
in Kaduna State.
The chairman also announced the relocation of the party secretariat to 11B Sambo Road in Kaduna metropolis.
He said the decision to relocate the
party office was approved by the majority members of the State Executive
Committee because the former office was infested with thugs.
Reacting to the query, El-Rufai said, “We are sending political traders into retirement.”
He added that he would not be swayed by the drowning antics of some political traders on the state.
El-Rufai in a statement by his Senior
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, also
warned that “rascally actions being undertaken by these traders in the
hope of getting a lifeline from reconciliation moves would not be
rewarded.”
The governor said, “The APC Government
of Kaduna State has boldly lived up to its manifesto, commitments and
principles to the people. In this work, it continues to enjoy the firm
support of the APC State Executive which is united, and committed to the
hard work of bringing sustainable change.
“The government appreciates the support
it has received from the party in executing policies that stand up for
the right of the ordinary people to equal opportunity. That support was
vividly demonstrated as the government took drastic action to ensure
that only qualified teachers teach the children of the poor.
“Governor Nasir el-Rufai is proud of his
record in achieving unprecedented levels of capital spending in the
state, direct job creation, doubling school enrollment and doubling
internally generated revenue.
“The governor has no doubt that the
people of Kaduna State have seen who is committed to building schools,
roads and hospitals, and bringing investors and will make the right
choice in their own interest. The political traders are also aware that
the people know who is standing up for them.
“The government had been made aware of
the boastful and pompous claims of Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, that
he will change the leadership of Kaduna State in 2019 by installing
himself as governor.
“The desperate senator is seeking a
lifeline, in the vain belief that ratcheting up rascally actions will
bring him attention and relief from the mooted national reconciliation
efforts. Senator Hunkuyi has further illegally created a faction,
headquartered in his house, as a bargaining chip.
“This senator has failed to understand
that you cannot create party executives at your whim. It is the party’s
prerogative to consider appropriate responses to this breach of
discipline. But as a government, we view these actions as the needless
drama of political traders.”
Since the party came into power in May,
2015, it has been enmeshed in crisis, leading to the formation of three
factions of the APC in the state.
They include, the ‘Restoration APC’ led
by Alhaji Tijjani Ramallan and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi; the ‘APC Akida’
led by Senator Shehu Sani and the Chief of Staff to the Senate
President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.
Wada, who belonged to the ‘Restoration
APC,’ was the Deputy Chairman of the party in the state before the 2015
general elections.
He (Wada) claimed the National Secretariat of the party recognized him as the authentic chairman of the party in the state.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the senator
representing the Kaduna North Senatorial District, Hunkuyi confirmed
that the National Headquarters of the APC duly recognized Wada as the
acting chairman of the APC in the state.
In view of the development, Hunkuyi, who
is the Chairman Senate Committee on National Identity Card, said as a
loyal member of the party, he would align with the national leaders of
the party that recognized Wada as the acting chairman of the party in
the state.
He urged all members of the party in the state to comply with the decision of the national headquarters of the party.
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