The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has denied speculations in some quarters that he has hijacked the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying he cannot hijack what he already has.
Just last week, the Tudun Wada Ward Executives of the APC in controversial circumstances, suspended the senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sani, for alleged anti-party activities.
But an aide to the senator alleged that those who suspended his principal were doing the bidding of Gov. El-Rufai, whose policies and programmes have been strongly criticized by Senator Sani as pro-elitist and anti-masses.
Reacting to the speculations, the Political Adviser to the Governor, Malam Uba Sani, said the Kaduna APC is one big happy family, with only “a few persons” opposed to good governance in the state kicking against Mr. El-Rufai’s policies and action since he assumed office.
“They are only exploiting their access to the media to seek to manipulate people. They have already failed because more than 99 per cent of APC members in Kaduna State remain solidly behind the programmes and policies of our beloved Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai”, he stated.
On claims by some members of the party that Gov. El-Rufai has hijacked the Kaduna APC, Mr. Sani described such claims as “mischievous and frivolous”.
According to him: “How can you hijack what you have? The APC in Kaduna State remains one big happy family under our very hardworking and intensely innovative governor. Members and the entire leadership of the party have severally reiterated their confidence in the governor and have endorsed all his policies and programmes. Let me clarify that Malam Nasir el-Rufai is not the governor of only members of APC in Kaduna State. He is the governor of all the people of our great state irrespective of political, ethnic, tribal, social and economic persuasions and aspirations”.
While revealing that Governor El-Rufai consults with members and leadership of the APC before key decisions are taken, the political adviser insisted that “the people claiming that he has hijacked the party are just a very few selfish and self-seeking persons who want the status quo of looting and thievery to continue at the detriment of the overall wellbeing of the state and the citizenry”.