By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
As political streamlining continues across the country in preparation for 2019, Honourable Aliyu Bala Ahmed Tafida, Watawalin Nassarawa a political juggernaut from Nasarawa State has dumped the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The two time aspirant for House of Representatives for Nassarawa/Toto Federal Constituency of the state said among other things that his reason for defecting was the unjust treatment meted to him by the ruling party in the state. Ahmed Tafida, a founding member of former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) in the state said his decision was to pitch his tent in party where internal democracy will prevail in electing people in party primaries.
Sources close to Watawalen Nassarawasaid that efforts to persuade the grassroots politician to rescind his decision was unsuccessful as he insisted that his contributions to the success of the APC both at state and federal levels were not appreciated and recognised. Many political associates of the politician spoke with journalists on the development said that Tafida’s leaving the party at time could be devastating. Coordinator of Tafida campaign organisation, Ibrahim Adamu Yunusa said that the level of cool headedness and opened handedness of Tafida that has been the driving force for APC in the state will be greatly missed. He disclosed that the display of philanthropy and magnanimity of Tafida gave the APC an edge over other parties in the past.
A statement from office of Tafida campaign organisation said that the grand finale of event will hold on 10thMarch, 2018 at Buba Ahmed Land opposite Kofa Kudu Nassarawa State. according to the statement, “Special guests expected at the occasion are national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Secondus, chairman Board of Trustee of PDP, Senator Walid Jibril and that of Nassarawa State chairman of the party, Hon Francis Wogu and PDP chairman of Nassarawa Local Government, Alhaji Isa Ewa and other national, states and local government officials of the party”.
Speaking on the development, a supporter of Tafida who decline his name in print because of his love for the ruling party said that the exit of the grassroots politician is big blow to the party in the state. He explained that when they advised Tafida to leave the party when he was short changed at the primary of the party prior to the 2015 election and subsequently when in 2016 on demise of his contender, he declined and worked conscientiously for the success of the party in the state. He further explained that to unseat a party which ruled the state over 12 years was not an easy task but the effort of Ahmed contributed immensely for what the APC is enjoying in the state today. He advised APC stalwarts in state to prevail on Aliyu Bala Ahmed Tafida to backpedal on his decision. He added that if Ahmed takes his magic wand to the PDP, the APC will certainly have a herculean task to retain the state in 2019. He confided that what the party did to Tafida at primary of the party for the 2015 election and again when the winner of that primary died two about a year later, was the height of injustice. He said that his exit from the party at this time is because of his Father Alhaji Bala Ahmed and the former vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, he added.
