Mama Taraba, Bindow dump Atiku, pledge support for Buhari, APC

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November 29, 2017 at 10:56AM
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Wale Akinola

- The minister of women affairs, Aisha Alhassan and the governor of Adamawa state, Jibrilla Bindow have dumped their political benefactor, Atiku Abubakar

- Atiku had on Friday, November 24 dumped the ruling APC for yet-to-be announced party

- The duo, therefore, pledged their loyalty and support to President Buhari and APC

The minister of women affairs, Aisha Alhassan and the governor of Adamawa state, Jibrilla Bindow, who are strong allies of the former vice president Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, November 28 met President Muhammadu Buhari separately and pledged their allegiance to the president.

Daily Trust reports that Atiku, who is their benefactor resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, April 24 and is said to be poised to join the opposition PDP.

NAIJ.com gathered that it was being speculated that the duo might follow Atiku to his new party.

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Though Alhassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba declined comment on Atiku’s defection from the APC when approached by reporters, the Adamawa governor said he would not quit the ruling party.

Credible sources in the APC, according to Daily Trust, said the minister had assured Buhari of her absolute loyalty.

The minister met Buhari after she, alongside other cabinet members, attended the launch of the policy framework and national action plan for preventing and countering violent extremism.

The sources, according to Daily Trust, said that the minister had opted to remain with President Buhari and APC, despite her benefactor Atiku Abubakar’s defection.

One of the sources said the minister, in what could be seen as a twist, had assured President Buhari of her loyalty and support beyond 2019.

But one of our source, a top official of the ruling APC, said, “She pledged her loyalty to the president (Buhari) and that she would not follow Atiku back to the PDP.”

Efforts to reach the minister proved ‎abortive last night as she was not picking her calls.

She did not also respond to text messages sent to her phone. However, the Taraba state APC chairman, Alhaji Sani Chul, told Daily Trust last night that the minister would not follow Atiku.

Another source who also craved for anonymity, said the minister’s new disposition was not a surprise.

“We are really happy with her decision, it is clear that she has seen some changes in the areas she complaint about in recent past if there are any. Yes, there were issues in APC like in any other party but clearly we are better.

“And most importantly, it is the minister that should be congratulated because by her action, she has extended the lifespan of her political career; she would have a lot to gain in the APC than in PDP.

“Following Atiku to PDP or whatever party would be a sui*cide mission for her; Atiku had globe trotted from one party to another, all in a bid to become president and Nigerians would not gamble with their future.

“Power belongs to God and you can’t get it by force; he too should have persevered in the APC to see what God has in stock for him; we earnestly congratulate Mama Taraba for making a tough but wise decision to remain in APC,” he said.

On his part, the Adamawa governor said as a founding father of the APC, he would remain in the party for the rest of his life, stressing that he has no reason to leave the party he helped to build.

Addressing State House reporters after meeting with Buhari, Bindow, who is the governor of Atiku’s home state, said the former vice president remained his respected father.

The governor noted that he was at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to brief President Buhari on the security situation in Adamawa state.

Asked whether he is likely to pitch tent with Atiku who left the APC last Friday, the governor responded: “First of all, the former VP is more than matured enough to decide whatever he wants to decide for himself.

“As far as I am concerned, I am one of the founding fathers of APC when I was in the Senate with the current Senate President. We were the ones that worked very hard to ensure all members of the National Assembly that we agreed to move to APC and we did. So, I don’t see any reason why the house I helped to build I will leave it, I am in APC for the rest of my life, period!”

On what becomes of his relationship with Atiku, the governor said: “Not only Waziri, every elder in Adamawa state as far as I am concerned I regard them as my parent or my father. So, Waziri (Atiku) remains somebody I respect as a father or any other elder in the state.”

He emphasised that Atiku’s defection would have no political implication in Adamawa, saying, “Well, APC is strong; we have 25 members of House of Assembly. 24 out of 25 in Adamawa state House of Assembly are APC, all the three senators are APC, all the House of Reps including Adamu Kamir who had moved to APC. So, we are strong and will continue to be strong.”

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Bindow said he was “fortunate enough” to have been the first governor that had “a very rare opportunity” to endorse Buhari for a second term “because as far as we people of the northeast are concerned, we will remain loyal to our president who is highly committed to the fight against insurgency in the northeast, we will remain loyal to our president.”

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that a vote of confidence was passed on President Muhammadu Buhari and Adamawa state Governor, Muhammadu Bindow, by stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamawa chapter, on Saturday, October 21.

2019 Presidency: Nigerians reveal why they prefer Atiku to President Buhari - on NAIJ.com TV

Source: Naija.ng

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Mama Taraba, Bindow dump Atiku, pledge support for Buhari, APC
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