From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has denied allegations that he plotted the exit of two former governors of the state, Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Umaru Al-Makura from the state’s political terrain.
A recent publication by one of the national dailies accused the governor of plotting the exit of his predecessors, Sen. Adamu, the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Sen. Al-Makura, who could not return to the National Assembly for the second time and could not secure a ministerial slot under the President Bola Tinubu led government.
Speaking at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Lafia, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Public Affairs, Mr. Peter Ahemba, urged the duo (Adamu and Al-Makura) to disregard the publication in it’s entirety as it had no iota of truth.
According to him, the said article was baseless, unfounded and a failed attempt by enemies of the state to cause unnecessary acrimony between the governor and his predecessors.
Ahemba said: “The attention of His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, Governor of Nasarawa State, has been drawn to a media publication in one of the national dailies with the headline: ‘How Gov Sule plotted the exit of Adamu, Al-Makura in Nasarawa Politics’.
“Ordinarily, the Governor would not have bothered responding to this mischievous publication, but its potency to cause unnecessary friction between the Governor and the two political leaders in the state if not addressed, has made this reaction pertinent as it will go a long way in putting the issues raised in their proper perspectives.
“To start with, it is public knowledge that Governor Abdullahi Sule, in the believe that respect and support are reciprocal, has remained consistent in his support to his predecessor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in all his political endeavours, including the 2023 Senatorial election which he re-contested.
“Even though the election went the other way round, the Governor as a democrat had no choice than to accept the outcome of the election and good enough, Senator Al-Makura, in the same manner, demonstrated an uncommon spirit of Statesmanship by voluntarily withdrawing the matter at the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal where he had filed a petition challenging the outcome of the senatorial election which the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, citing his desire for peace and a united Nasarawa State, among other considerations as what informed his decision to withdraw the matter.
“Recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) requested all Governors of the APC controlled states to submit three names each, for him to consider one out of the names and nominate/appoint as Minister, and Senator Al-Makura’s name featured prominently on the list submitted by Governor Sule to the President for Nasarawa State.
“It is a known fact that the appointment of Ministers is solely the prerogative of Mr. President to consider and appoint whoever he wants from each state as a member of the Federal Executive Council, and Governor Sule’s powers to determine who is appointed a Minister is limited. This is a fact everyone, including the author of the ill-intended publication should know.”
On the immediate past National Chairman of APC who was also a former governor of the state, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the SSA explained that Governor Sule had no hand in the political squabbles that led to his resignation as national chairman of the party.
Ahemba therefore said that it was
mischievous for anyone to insinuate or accuse Governor Sule of being responsible for the internal disagreement among members of the National Working Committee of the party that led to the voluntary resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
“The unfortunate development has nothing absolutely to do with the Governor. It is on record that Governor Sule was the first APC Governor to openly declare support for Nasarawa State to have the position of National Chairman of the ruling party and worked relentlessly for it’s realization.
“Again, when there were agitations in some quarters for the ousting of the National Chairman early this year, Governor Sule stood firm against the move, without minding the implication on his re-election bid. How then will the Governor turn around to destroy the house he contributed immensely in building? ,” he added.
The SSA assured that the Governor will continue to accord tremendous respect for the founding fathers of the state, including the duo of Senators Al-Makura and Adamu for the roles they have played towards the progress and development of the state.
Ahemba, therefore called on the public, particularly the residents of the state to disregard the said publication, while assuring that the Governor and the two former governors will continue to work together for the growth of the state.
