By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Admist PDP leadership crisis and subsequent Supreme Court Judgement, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed weekend officially in Bauchi defected into the Allied People’s Movement (APM).
The Governor was received into the fold of the APM by its national chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle who was supported by the national secretary of the party, Chief Ayodele Oladeyi Adebayo at an impressive ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Bauchi.
The mass defection of the governor and PDP family followed meeting of critical party stakeholders where resignation of members of the State Executive Council was also announced.
Receiving the governor into the new party, Alh. Yusuf Dantalle described the APM as clean and democratic party which motto is ‘Nigeria First’ with Logo as Integrity, Sacrifice and Service.
Chief Adebayo said, “Your Excellency, I want to initiate you constitutionally and welcome you into the APM, and we will start by giving you what qualifies you to be member of the party, your membership card, then APM cap and Logo which is Cassava”.
“Adebayo emphatically told the governor, “On behalf of the leadership of APM, we wholeheartedly welcome you into the party as you home”.
The APM Chief congratulated Governor Bala Mohammed having the leadership of APM witnessed that his people has asked him to join the APM, saying cassava (Rogo), stressing “Every tribe, every language, every community, and every part of Nigeria grow and eat through multiples originating from Cassava, Rogo”.
Earlier while leading the Bauchi PDP family enmase into the fold of APM, Governor Bala Mohammed appreciated the PDP members, leaders and supporters for their loyalty, patience and resilience.
“Earlier today, we convened a meeting of critical stakeholders to reflect on the recent development arising from the Supreme Court Judgement, concerning the leadership crisis within the People’s Democratic Party PDP and to chart a clear and responsible path forward for Bauchi state”.
He stated, “These are not ordinary tasks, we are confronted with an unusual and complex political situation, but I am reassured by your steadfast commitments and unity you continued to demonstrate and your loyalty”.
The Governor recalled that over the past eight days, he remained in Abuja engaging at the highest level to address the challenges in their party and their political future.
I seek all political avenues with deligence and good faith, however the outcome of the Supreme Court Judgement has fundamentally the landscape and our expectations. The Court in its split decisions nullified the parallel conventions conducted by the contending factions, and declared all actions emaneting from these conversations null void”.
This has left both sides without legal standing and with the Board of Trustees temporarily assuming responsibility for the affairs of the party as enounciated in the Constitution of the PDP”,
Senator Bala Mohammed explained that despite all these odds, they have witnessed actions that have not aligned with the spirit and latter of the judgment, thereby further deepening uncertainties.
He said that after careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that their efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results.
Governor Bala therefore acknowledged and appreciated the People’s Democratic Party PDP with the important role it had played in their collective political journey.
“It has been a platform through which they have served, browned and contributed meaningfully to the development of Bauchi and the country at large”
Mohammed vowed that as responsible leaders, they cannot allow their people to be led out without credible and effective political platform, saying their duty to provide clearity and direction, and at same time the opportunities provided to all of them are not diminished.
He disclosed, “Consequently after extensive consultations, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples’ Movement, APM at the level of Bauchi state”.
The Governor made it abundantly clear that the decision is guided by one overriding objective which is to secure victory in both Bauchi state and continue to serve the people with purpose and integrity.
According to him, the APM offered them a valuable platform to organize effectively, mobilize their supporters and present a coherent and credible alternative to the people.
“I also wish to acknowledge that members of our Bauchi State Executive Council have already resigned their positions having indicated interest in contesting for various elective offices. I commend them for their service, loyalty and contributions to our administration”.
He thanked the PDP to which they loved at heart, but have to leave it in order to go and carry on with the struggles, vowing that they cannot be diminish and neither should they be conquered as one political pundit claimed, hence they would continue to rise in the course of democracy to provide good governance for the country.
“To ensure a seamless and lawful transition, we have put in place clear measures, one the establishment of a compliance committee to guide all actions in line with legal electoral requirements”.
“The commencement of online membership registration process, formal resignation of interested members in accordance with the law, and engagement with the leadership of the APM strengthening party structures across all the tiers of government from local to ward and state levels”.
Others, the governor further enumerated, the constitution of a committee to interfaith with the Independent National Electoral Commission with transparency, and to launch a coordinated mobilization efforts to build strong grassroots support across the state
He also assured the people of Bauchi that the decision is not borne out of uncertainty, but of clearity, and not a retreat but also a strategic repositioning to reach to the desired destination.
About The Author
