In a recent development, the Northern Progressives Union (NPU), representing stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North, has vehemently opposed the nomination of Abubakar Badaru Mohammed, the immediate-past Governor of Jigawa State, as a ministerial candidate from the state. The group, in a statement released on Monday, called upon President Bola Tinubu to resist any temptation to appoint former state governors as ministers ihis cabinet.
Mohammed Ibrahim Kiyawa, speaking on behalf of the NPU, explained the rationale behind their plea, stating, “We firmly believe that these individuals are spent forces, failed politicians, and disgruntled so-called leaders who are incompatible with the present vision of the Renewed Hope mantra of the current administration.” He emphasized the importance of nominating individuals with the necessary capacity and capability to drive progress in the country.
“As foot soldiers of the APC in this region, we urge Mr. President and the APC as a political party not to entertain the idea of selecting any former governors from our region for ministerial positions. Their track record during the 2023 general elections demonstrates that most of them acted as moles and fifth columnists, working against the interests of our party. Furthermore, many of them failed to utilize the funds allocated to them for the elections,” the statement read.
The stakeholders highlighted that Jigawa, Yobe, and Zamfara states are considered among the least politically astute states in Northern Nigeria. They argued that the political leanings of these states are heavily influenced by the body language and key leaders they identify with, rather than any other factor. Shedding light on the Jigawa State 2023 Presidential Election, Kiyawa explained, “The Hadejia Emirate, consisting of Birniwa, Kirikasamma, Guri, Hadejia, Malam Madori, Kaugama, Auyo, and Kafin Hausa local governments, overwhelmingly voted for the APC due to the fact that one of their own was chosen as the APC governorship candidate for the first time since the creation of the state. However, this support was not solely due to funds provided by the former Governor.”
Kiyawa further revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made significant inroads in the Gumel Emirate, which includes Gumel, Maigatari, and Sule Tankarkar local governments. He attributed this to the area’s historical support for the PDP and the APC’s failure to effectively mobilize resources in those regions. He continued, “In the Ringim Emirate, comprising Ringim, Garki, Taura, and Gagarawa, the APC performed admirably, largely due to the philanthropic efforts of a prominent individual named Gerawa, who is arguably the state’s most influential entrepreneur and a major investor in local politics.”
Conversely, in Kazaure zone, which is the governor’s zone, the competition between the APC and PDP was fierce and evenly matched. Kiyawa suggested that this outcome could be attributed to a lack of necessary goodwill and inadequate allocation of resources. The local governments in this zone include Babura, Kazaure, Gwiwa, Roni, and Yankwashi.
The Northern Progressives Union is resolute in its demand that President Bola Tinubu and the APC refrain from appointing former governors from the region as ministers, emphasizing the need for capable individuals who align with the present administration’s goals. Their stance reflects concerns regarding the performance and commitment of these former governors during the 2023 general elections.
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