Babangida dissociate self from Kano political gathering …Says visit is for Son’s Wedding

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By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
Immediate past Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has dissociated himself from any link with a group politicking and groundswelling ahead of 2019 general elections.
Dr. Aliyu who has since leaving office retired much to a private life, said in a statement that political jobbers and rumour spinners linking him to any planned pseudo political meeting in Kano were on their own.
Against speculations that he was hatching a template for the 2019 Presidential elections, Dr. Aliyu said the insinuations were baseless and speculative.
The former Governor said what has been on his mind of late was the issue of his son’s wedding slated for the ancient city of Kano. He explained that his planned visit to Kano this weekend was not for any clandestine political meeting but for his son’s wedding solemnization.
The former Governor’s first son, Ibrahim Babangida Aliyu is taking a wife from Kano this weekend.
The statement noted that as a former Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has reached out to many of his political associates across party lines, the business community, friends and associates to rejoice and soliderise with him and his family adding that the planned visit to Kano is not intended to be a political gathering nor should it be misconstrued as such.
“Dr. Aliyu has extended invitations to friends and associates, erstwhile colleagues and aquintances from across the country including notable personalities like the former Vice President, Atiku Abubarkar and the former Speaker, House of Representatives, now Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Tambuwwal among many others who are expected to grace and bless the occasion.
The statement expressed dismay at the sudden coloration of the planned wedding by persons it described as political jobbers and spin doctors who have gone to town with the news about Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu being “expected in Kano state this weekend for a high level political meeting”.
The news about the former Governor’s meeting in Kano have gone viral and many people, especially amongst the political class have been insinuating that his mission is political and not for his son’s wedding in Kano.
The statement said it would be most unfriendly and unreasonable for the former governor to hide his son’s wedding from his friends and associates by masking it in secrecy.
“How reasonable would it be for the former Governor to be in Kano without informing the host Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and host of other notable personalities” the statement asks.
The statement revealed that many people amongst them politicians, aware of the wedding have indicated interest to attend and to fraternize with the family. It therefore cautiined those insinuating and reading political undertones for the former governor’s planned visit to Kano to be mindful of their comments.
“There is nothing like political distractions against the President Muhammadu Buhari led government” the statement reiterated.
The statement reads in parts; “my attention has been drawn to a rumor alleging that I am convening a political gathering in Kano ahead of 2019 Presidential election. I am only working on my son’s wedding plans scheduled to hold this Saturday in Kano” it said.
“I have only extended invitations to friends and associates as it is customary in our society. There is no political undertone or coloration to my mission to Kano as is being insinuated”, the statement pointed out.
The statement added that those behind such rumours do not have the interests of the country at heart. It said it is unfair for anybody to wrap around false claims on a harmless, social event as marriage and link such events to any political issue.
While insisting that, reading political undertones to every social gathering involving politicians will not augur well for the present day Nigeria, the former Governor said the task of building Nigeria should involve every patriotic Nigerian just as he urged citizens to always eschew political, ethnic or religious differences.
Dr. Aliyu noted that what Nigeria requires now was the concerted efforts by all and sundry to wrestle the country out of its present economic challenges.

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