Aminu Imam
In a recent display of robust democratic engagement, the Kaduna State All-Progressives Congress (APC) Legacy Forum has taken a significant step towards fostering unity, representation, and inclusiveness within the party.
Recall that the Forum, wrote an open letter to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, dated 12 August 2023, over political events in Kaduna State.
The Forum’s open letter to President Tinubu, authored by former Chairman APC Kaduna State Caucus 2014-2015, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, passionately addressed the political events in Kaduna State and called for a renewed commitment to the principles of a people-driven democracy.
The letter, however, generated a response authored by one Bashir M. Sa’idu, of no particular address, whom it referred to as ormer Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufais political thug, which the Forum described as replete with alleged blatant falsehoods and factual distortions that warranted to be exposed as such.
In a rejoinder to a reply to the referred letter, the Forum asserted, among several clarifications on Bashir Sa’idu’s ‘distorted falsehoods’, that the concerns it highlighted in the earlier letter to President Tinubu arose not for the APC but from a genuine desire to strengthen the party and the democratic process.
The letter read in part: It is cheap and shameful for el-Rufais political thug, Bashir Sa’idu, or whoever goes by that name, to claim not knowing that the former governor el-Rufai did lobby vigorously for a position in the Tinubu government.
As earlier mentioned, el Rufa’is eyes were transfixed on either the position of Secretary to the Government in of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu or the Chief of Staff to the President. Neither of the two posts were good for a bootlicker and a serial betrayer in real life. Had he succeeded, he would without a doubt been a fifth column in the Tinubu government.
“Can Bashir Saidu claim not to know that el-Rufai has an eye for 2027? If the answer is YES, then Bashir Sa’idu, who authored it, must be as blind politically. Anyway, records against Bashir Sa’idu showed that he was a dismissed staff at NIMASA. He was also a dismissed civil servant of Kaduna State Government before 2015. If politics and democracy in Nigeria were played clean who would have appointed such undeserved material in the management of State affairs. Hausa proverb says, (abokin barawo, barawo ne which is Hausa translation for A friend of the thief is a thief.
The Forum stated that its leader, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan is a respected figure all across Nigeria and beyond, with an unblemished record of service, highlights the need for unity within the APC, emphasizing that representation should extend beyond a select few.
The Forum’s concerns also centred on the Southern Senatorial zone (Zone 3) of Kaduna State, which has reportedly faced neglect in terms of representation and inclusion. The Forum supported its claims with data showing the recent election results and the disparity in the party’s performance across different zones.
The letter, it pointed out, makes a compelling case for unity, appealing to the President and the National Chairman of the APC for intervention.
The Forum, therefore, prayed that the intervention of the President and the National Chairman of the APC in facilitating a Kaduna State APC Stakeholders Consensus in appointments into the current vacancies of the National Vice-Chairman North-West zone, Kaduna State Ministerial Nominee, as well as other political appointments in the Federal Government’s Ministries Department and Agencies, (MDAs), may help to calm frail nerves in the Kaduna State Chapter of the APC.
The Kaduna State APC Legacy Forum further stated that, Our party is steadfast in its commitment to overcoming internal divisions and fostering a more harmonious and diverse political environment. With a clear focus on the future, the Forum envisions a revitalized APC that truly represents the aspirations of all Kaduna State citizens.
As the APC navigates its path forward, the Kaduna State APC Legacy Forum’s open letter stands as a testament to the power of open dialogue and the potential for positive change within political parties. By advocating for inclusiveness, the forum’s members demonstrate their dedication to a stronger, more united APC that can better serve the people of Kaduna State.
