‘Only second term for Buhari would guarantee APC’s survival’
Shuaibu Abubakar Rahama is a former deputy speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, and now the deputy chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. He, along with some members of the National Assembly, has been suspended by the state chapter of the party for alleged anti-party posturing. In this interview, he expressed fears that the party at all levels was creating more enemies for itself instead of consolidating on its gains.
Over two years in power, there is no love lost among stalwarts in Bauchi APC, with many of you suspended. How can this be resolved?
The manner in which we were allegedly suspended is saddening because there was no cogent reason. Besides me, the state treasurer had been sacked from the party. Comrade Abdullahi Orlando, who was a gubernatorial candidate, has also been sacked. Senator Ali Wakili, representing the Bauchi South senatorial district; Aminu Tukur, who is a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly; and Rep. Ahmed Yerima, who is a member of the House of Representatives from Misau, have been sacked. There are many others.
Who sacked you?
They said it was the so-called state chairman of the party, Ahmed Uba Nana.
On what grounds were you sacked or suspended?
He simply lacks leadership prowess to carry everyone along in line with the dictates of the party’s constitution. He is licking the boots of someone in order to be seen to be loyal at the detriment of the survival of the party. I’m really afraid that the APC is heading to oblivion in Bauchi State, because of widespread disaffection.
It was alleged that I and Hon. Harsanu Guyaba had a meeting with ex- Governor Isa Yuguda; and we wondered what kind of meeting they were referring to. We were asked to face a panel under Senator Mohammed A. Mohammed, which concluded that there was no basis for our suspension. I was, therefore, recalled, but Guyaba was sacked from the party. However, few weeks after I was recalled, something happened and I was once again suspended.
What happened?
They said I wanted to instigate religious violence, simply because I said the Governor Mohammed Abubakar-led administration should be fair in the distribution of hajj seats to all religious organisation. I made the observation because one of the groups was not considered during the distribution and they approached me; and I made case for them. That was all, but the state chairman later called a meeting and said I should be suspended because I was inciting hatred against the government.
I personally wrote more than 30 petitions. In fact, the national deputy chairman of the party, Sen. Lawan Shuaibu, had written a letter to our state chairman, in which he reminded him that in line with APC’s constitution, he had no power to suspend or sack anyone, but he flagrantly failed to comply.
But do you think it’s possible
for your chairman to be acting alone?
I always wonder… It’s mindboggling because many of us believe he’s just acting someone’s script, and unless something urgent is done, this problem will be the Achilles heel of the APC in Bauchi. There’s a radio programme, ‘Taskar APC’ in Bauchi, which is being sponsored by the party. Uba Nana is always sponsoring thugs to use the programme and discredit party faithful, especially senators and members of the House of Representatives.
What you said is not correct. The speaker is the number four citizen in Nigeria and his vantage position should be a plus for Bauchi State. The governor should have cooperated with Dogara to attract more dividends of democracy. He should not see him as a foe. If the speaker is from another state, the story would have been different.
Don’t you think respect begets respect?
Who told you that the speaker, or any of the National Assembly members, is not respecting the governor?After all, between the governor and the speaker, who is more politically strategic? I can assure you that if not for Dogara, the APC would’ve been extinct in Bauchi.
What kind of reconciliation are you talking about? We’ve not been approached by anyone, and we are certain that the truth will come to the fore very soon.
Why are you people avoiding the governor?
Nobody invited us for any truce or meeting. There’s no letter of formal invitation to suggest that the governor extended hands of friendship to us. In fact, despite a directive from Abuja, the APC in Bauchi has refused to reverse itself on the suspension and sack of some of us.
Have you people approached the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun?
There was no serious move to resolve the crisis.
What of the Senator Chris Ngige-led reconciliation committee?
Well, you’ll be amazed when you look at the report of the Ngige committee because there was no reference to the fact that our suspension or sack from the party was illegal, or that we should all be recalled as a starting point for reconciliation. We strongly believe the committee was not in Bauchi for the APC as a family, but to do the bidding of some powerful forces.
Now, what’s the status of the APC in Bauchi?
It’s in disarray. There’s no sense of belonging; no sense of direction, and this is a disaster. You will understand what I’m talking about when it comes to next election. Uba Nana only succeeded in destroying the solid foundation of the party.
Don’t you think the problem is not peculiar to Bauchi?
Yes, it’s true. There are issues all over - Kogi, Kaduna, Kano and many states, but I have a special attachment to Bauchi because it’s my state and I don’t want the APC to die under our watch.
The truth is that the APC has been overwhelmed by crisis, and this is unfortunate. Something urgent must be done to salvage it. There’s lacklustre at all levels.
Do you think the issues would be resolved ahead of 2019?
The APC has lost its steam and it would’ve been history if not for President Muhammadu Buhari. He’s the last man standing. We should all continue to pray for him for a second term; that’s the only guarantee for the survival of APC.
What do you think about APC’s public hearing on restructuring?
I see the whole thing as misplacement of priority. The APC has no business junketing from one place to another over restructuring because that should be the responsibility of the National Assembly. What we expected is for the party to articulate its position and encourage the Senate and House of Representatives, who have the mandate, to hold public hearing on the matter and amend the laws.
Our leaders in the party should be seen to be concentrating on resolving our internal wrangling to remain a party to beat in future elections. The APC is really sick and its members in many states are in disarray, but it seems our leaders are not aware of this. This is the time to prioritise and redeem the pledge we made to the electorate. We will definitely hold our leaders responsible if our party fails in future elections.
The APC has lost its steam and it would’ve been history if not for President Muhammadu Buhari. He’s the last man standing. We should all continue to pray for him for a second term; that’s the only guarantee for the survival of APC