Wadada’s choice splits Governor Sule, Al-Makura
• Nasarawa South declares support for ex-IG The endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada and his presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the preferred governorship candidate of the All Progressives
• Nasarawa South declares support for ex-IG
The endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada and his presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the preferred governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa has pitted Governor Abdullahi Sule against his predecessor, Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura.
Al-Makura, who is Northcentral Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors for the re-election of the president, said he read about the Nasarawa West senator’s endorsement by Sule in the newspapers.
He felt that the governor ought to have consulted and took him into confidence being a major stakeholder in Nasarawa State.
The former governor urged politicians to exercise caution and avoid actions that could violate electoral guidelines ahead of the APC primaries.
Al-Makura spoke with reporters in Lafia at the weekend. He expressed concern over recent political developments in the state, particularly the issue of early endorsements.
He described as premature the recent pronouncement by the governor, regarding a preferred successor, warning that such a move could undermine due process within the party.
According to him, the APC has yet to commence the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms, stressing that any endorsement at this stage amounts to “jumping the gun” before the formal process of producing aspirants begins.
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Al-Makura said: “While it may be the governor’s personal decision, it is rather too early. The electoral process is in stages, and we are still at the point where individuals are indicating interest.”
Al-Makura further advised leaders to emulate the leadership style of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he said is anchored on the rule of law, discipline, and respect for internal democracy.
But former Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Muhammad Adamu who is aspiring to pick the APC ticket has rejected such endorsement by the Governor and vowed that he will meet Wadada at the primaries.
Arguing that the governor has only one vote just like any other person.
The ex-IG said Sule’s actions violated the guidelines of the party and the electoral act, therefore he is going to continue his mobilization ahead of the primaries.
He appreciates his supporters and assured them that, he will clinch the party’s ticket at the primaries, noting that he has gone round the state soliciting for support and that support has been positive by the good people of the state.
Sule defended his position through Senior Special Assistant on Media, Ali Abare. He reminded Al-Makura that he learnt such skills from him, noting that he did no wrong by following what he called “state tradition”.
He said: “With due respect for Senator Al-Makura’s person, and his place in the history of this state, we are duty-bound to set the record straight.
“It is important to recall that the very process Senator Al-Makura now appears to criticise is the same process by which Governor Sule came to office.
“Senator Al-Makura himself, in an interview to mark his 70th birthday, disclosed for the first time why he opted for Sule as his successor over his close associates who had also indicated interest.
“He made that choice; he exercised that right as the then leader of the party. Nobody questioned him for it. Nobody told him it was too early.
“Even before him, former Governor Abdullahi Adamu picked the late Aliyu Akwe Doma as his preferred successor. This is a well-established tradition in Nasarawa’s political history.
“Governor Sule is simply following that same tradition, only in a more open and transparent manner than has ever been seen before in this state.
“The process lasted over a year; involved wide consultations with investors, youth groups, women’s organisations, traditional rulers and party officials across all three senatorial zones, and covered all 14 APC governorship aspirants, met both collectively and individually.
“This is not the conduct of someone who woke up one morning to impose a candidate. This is careful, deliberate leadership.
“We also wish to remind the public of what Senator Al-Makura himself said at an earlier APC stakeholders meeting in Lafia.
“He assured that he was convinced Governor Sule would choose his successor in the best interest of the state, that Nasarawa South would support that decision, and he called the governor a gentleman who would do what is right.
He urged the entire party to rally behind whoever Sule selected. Those were his own words. It is therefore surprising and regrettable that he is now raising an alarm over the very decision he pledged to support.”
“It must also be stressed that the term used is ‘preferred aspirant,’ not candidate or flagbearer. A primary election still lies ahead. The governor has said clearly that he came in through free and fair primaries and will conduct the same.”
I’ve capacity to handle post-endorsement issues, says Wadada
The anointed candidate said he has capacity to manage those opposing his choice as the APC standard bearer.
He told reporters yesterday in Lafia that he will sort out his differences with the former IG Adamu, who has vowed to contest the primaries with him.
Wadada said: “The former IG who says he will go into the contest to the end, don’t forget, he is my brother, my elder brother who has always respected me as his younger brother, and I always respect him as my elder.
“The game is on, we shall go to him, we shall talk to him, and if it’s destined by God that we end up in contest, he is going to pray for his younger one to go ahead.
“So, whatever you see happening is all part of the game, we should not indulge in insult, abuse because we need each other, he is my brother; we will cross the bridge when we get there.”
According to him, he has no issue with any of the leaders or stakeholders in the state.
“There is nothing like alignment and re-alignment; whatever you see leaders doing up there - be careful, what you see outside may be different from what is obtained inside. So, we are all in it together and we shall get there united, cohesively and respectfully”, he said.
He appreciated the other aspirants, who have agreed and step down their ambition in respect of the governor’s declaration and promised continued engagement.
Also yesterday, youths, women and stakeholders of Nasarawa South Senatorial district have unanimously declared support for the former police boss.
They also threw their weight behind Tinubu’s bid to retain his seat.
The zone made the declaration in Lafia at a mega rally to drum support for the president and the IG.
Director-General of the Adamu Campaign Organisation, Musa Useni said the zone has accepted after due consultations to support President Tinubu and Adamu, noting that their combination will address security challenges in the state and develop other sectors of the State economy.
The former IG appreciated the youths, women and stakeholders of the zone for finding him worthy of the support and assured them that he will not withdraw from the race and leave the party.
“I came, I saw people that love me and are standing behind us all the time because they have seen ongoing hypocrisy which we will not agree to,” he said.
He registered his dissatisfaction with the governor’s declaration.
“When somebody announced his preferred candidate, he has the right to choose whoever he wants but he doesn’t have the right to say his preferred person is for the government of Nasarawa State. That aspirant is only for him like everybody who have his choice of candidate,” he said.
