2023: Amid same APC faith feuds, Sule battles disloyal appointees

Indications have emerged that concerns over the same-faith presidential vote passed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) could have repercussions for some state sections of the party, particularly in the geopolitical zone of the center- north.

For example, concerned about the subdued grumbling and apparent disloyalty of his appointees, which could be interpreted as possible clues to anti-party activity, the Governor of Nassarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, addressed a strict warning to his political appointees. In a meeting with all his appointees at Government House on Monday, the visibly enraged governor told about 200 political office holders that they had only two options: resign or stay loyal! It has been established that since APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu chose fellow Muslim Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 general election, most political appointees expressed reservations about the feasibility of Sule's candidacy for a second term. Apart from the issue of the presidential ticket of the same faith, the Nassarawa State APC branch had been embroiled in a crisis of confidence among party stakeholders since Senator Abdullahi Adamu became the national chairman of the party. There were small talks of the governor's support for Senator Tanko Al-Makura against Adamu, before the consensus favored the incumbent national president and pitted him against Senator Adamu. Some in the current administration suspected a scheme against Sule's second term was brewing when former Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) National Secretary Labaran Maku suddenly returned to the main opposition Democratic Party. popular (PDP). It may be recalled that Maku served as Deputy Governor of the State from 2003 to 2007, during Senator Adamu's second term as Governor. Maku's move to the PDP has sparked speculation that Adamu, who served two terms as governor on the PDP platform, may be plotting to make things difficult for Governor Sule for backing Al Makura during the protest. of the position of National President of the APC. Although the Hon. David Umbugadu landed the PDP governorship ticket from the PDP, fears remained that with Maku, who contested Nassarawa's governorship on the APGA platform defecting to the PDP, Governor Sule would face a daunting task in defeating the combined forces of the PDP. This precarious situation has been aggravated by the Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket pushed by the APC, especially since the electoral population of Nassarawa State is split between Christians, Muslims and animists.

Speak Tough However, in a bold move to show he is in charge and play the incumbent's power, Governor Sule has summoned his lieutenants to a meeting at Government House. Choosing his words carefully to mask the threatening tone, the Governor remarked that while he had no intention of firing anyone, he was taking the opportunity to call on the affected appointees to change their ways and be loyal to his administration or resign.

He denounced the level of acrimony existing between the various levels and the cadre of political appointees, pointing out that it has become necessary to convene the meeting, because "this administration will no longer tolerate a situation where appointees work against each other. running from each other". other." While noting that it has become apparent that some of the political appointees do not see themselves as part of the administration, the governor denounced the fact that some of his appointees give their loyalty to others in outside the government. His words: "I don't want to fire anyone. I believe it is important to ask people first, out of respect, either to change their ways of being loyal to the government, or to leave the government." "What a reasonable and honorable person will do, if I'm not loyal to someone, I have nothing to do for that person. If you don't think your loyalty is to the government, be a human being and quit. The Governor also addressed the controversial issue of the emergence of the party's presidential candidate, Senator Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, as well as the ongoing exercise of continuous voter registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He revealed that some of them in the Northern Governors Forum have opposed previous attempts to produce a northerner as the APC presidential candidate to ensure that power shifts to the South. Governor Sule said the governors took a stand after seeking advice from party leader President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the Chief Executive of Nassarawa State, President Buhari has said that he is only interested in a democratic process that...