By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi
As the whistle for 2023 electioneering campaigns is about to be blown by the electoral empire, political mudslinging, machinations and gimmicks have started to occupy the political space with the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government in Bauchi and its All Progressives Congress (APC) opposition in a battle of electorate control.
The ruling PDP government in the state under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed has at a recent official function, claimed to have the former APC governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, his former deputy, Arc. Audu Sule Katagum and a host of other past political appointees now in its tent ahead of the 2023 elections
This claim was however, debunked by disciplines of former APC governor, Abubakar, when they said, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement and a footage from Bauchi, Azare, and Darazo under a purported committee featuring Arc. Audu Sule Katagum (former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State) as the convener and a number of few person”.
A press statement signed on their behalf by Hon. Isa Musa Matori, noted that the former APC deputy governor and his likes in a footage going viral on news media claiming to be working for the former Governor, urged his supporters to vote for PDP and its Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.
The statement said, “Though we are not holding brief for the former Governor, but as APC members who had similarly worked with His Excellency, M. A. Abubakar as Governor, we feel duty bound to react to the false claims therein and caution faithful party members to stand against that”.
Matori described the machinations by those he termed as political jobbers and scavengers to demean the former governor as contractors who were commissioned to work against the emerging victory of the APC and its candidate, Amb. Sadique Baba Abubakar in the 2023 elections insha Allah.
“His Excellency, M.A Abubakar as we all know, is still a member of the All Progressive Congress; he has neither denounced nor has he defected his membership of the party as stated in his radio programme on the 27th July, 2022 disputing rumour of his defection”.
Hon. Isa Matori described former governor, M.A Abubakar as a reputable lawyer, undoubtedly submissive to the party’s constitution and other relevant statute documents regulating behaviour and conducts of members, and is not the type that would reduce himself to anti-party behavior and a life similar to that of a political jobber or a scavenger.
“The former deputy governor, Arc. Audu Sule Katagum and his cohorts on such dishonorable political voyage must not continue with the task they are doing for PDP, but must not work at destroying the party that brought them to political limelight from oblivion”.
Hon. Isa Musa Matori queried, “How soon has the former deputy governor forgotten the way APC was robbed of its victory in the last general election (2019) by PDP? Has he also forgotten how silly the former governor was ridiculed and insulted during the last general elections by the present government of PDP by their characteristics manner of reckless and unguided utterances of perceived political opponents?
Disciplines of former governor Abubakar therefore said that as APC members who worked relentlessly with him and added value to governance during his time, they would sun or rains remained in the party as the spirit which Abubakar preached and still living with.
Matori, while reiterating their unflinching support and commitment towards the success of the APC and its gubernatorial candidate, Ambassador Sadique Baba Abubakar, explained that constitutionally, every citizen can belong to any political party of his/her choice, but for anyone that chooses to be a merchant of divisibility in a political party, must not do so through deceits and falsehood.
Meanwhile, a mammoth of supporters of former governor, Muhammad Abubakar have debunked the insinuations that his supporters in the state should vote the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 elections and incumbent Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.
Supporters of the former governor comprising special assistants, senior special assistants, special advisers, commissioners and other political appointees have disassociated themselves from the fake news item being circulated in social media that they were solidly in support of the PDP state governor.
The APC supporters in a crowded gathering at the state secretariat of the party in Bauchi, said they absolved themselves from APC dissident members who out of self-aggrandizement or centredness pitch tent with the opposition PDP for paltry or scarcities of the party.
“We would not be cajoled or flattered by those APC dissidents who prior to the 2019 elections engaged in anti-party activities that eventually culminated to the stealing of our party mandate by the PDP”, reiterating their support and loyalty to the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Ambassador Saddique Baba Abubakar.
