Despite the speculation that the Minister of Women
Affairs, Aisha Alhassan and the governor of Adamawa State, Jibrilla
Bindow, will dump APC to join former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, they
yesterday met President Muhammadu Buhari separately and pledged
their allegiance to him.
Their benefactor, Atiku, resigned from the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) recently and is said to be poised to join the opposition
PDP.
Though Mrs. 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 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 told Daily Trust last night, that the minister
had opted to remain with President Buhari and APC, despite her benefactor Atiku
Abubakar 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
suicide 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.
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