By Ude Ogbonnaya Israel
The Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Suleiman has explained his reasons for dumping All Progressive Congress (APC) for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A release endorsed by his spokesperson Abdul Ahmad Burra and made available to Newsmen indicated that Rt Honourable Suleiman in a letter to APC Chairman Guda Ward of Ningi reeled out reasons for his decision.
It read in part, “the Speaker said that due to the factionalization of the Party at all levels in the State with every factions claiming the leadership of the party, coupled with litigations which led to court orders restraining any faction from claiming the leadership of the party, it becomes difficult for him to determine which of the factional leadership of the Party is legitimate”.
It added that this is coming at the heels of many persecution being meted on him and his supporters since his election as Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly in June, 2019 as against the wish of some vested interests in the Party.
The Speaker narrated that; “It’s a well known fact that getting Speakership position has been one of the lifetime dreams of my Emirate, Ningi. People of my Constituency gave me their mandate to represent them and subsequently asked me to pursue their dream of producing Speaker from Ningi. I can’t be bigger than my Constituency and no interest should be superior than that of my constituents. Thus, I pursued the dream of my constituents and as Almighty Allah willed it, we got it against all odds.
“Since my election as Speaker, the Party sidelined me from its activities and meted various forms of persecution on me and my supporters. Despite these, I remained loyal and committed to the Party and continued contributing financially to the Party and attending its functions and meetings even if they didn’t invite me. Sometimes I would only get notice of Party meetings from my Colleagues, but I would still attend.
“It reach to the level that I was removed as the Chairman of the stakeholders of the Party in Ningi Local Government and replaced with someone who barely knows the local government and the Party. Through that, they made sure any Party member loyal to me is edged out from the leadership or mainstream activities of the Party.
“I was called unprintable names by the Party Leaders and Stakeholders for their perception of the harmonious working relationship between the Assembly and the Executive Arm led by His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad as a threat to them, their political ambition and the Party.
“I always tell them, Bauchi State is bigger than any personal interest, unhealthy relationship between the two critical arms of Government would not only halt the development of the State but will affect the well-being of the people and bring instability in the State which will not augur well for all of us. But they ignored this patriotic disposition”, the Speaker narrated.
Rt Honourable Abubakar Y Suleiman further submitted that his move was also faicilitated by a committe he set up to critically weigh his stance and relevance in the Party after which he acted on their recomendation.
“Based on the recommendations of the Committee and due to the prevailing situation and the uncertainties and fractionalizations in the Party, I have formally resigned from the All Progressive Congress alongside my thousands of supporters”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Speaker obtained a membership card of his new Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Guda Ward of Ningi Local Government and pledged to work for the success of the Party at all levels and consolidate on the successes of the adminstration of His Excellency Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammad in the State.
