From Salihu Abdullahi Osuko, Giza

My attention has been drawn to a media publication in one of the national dailies.

On Friday, Mr Sule led a delegation of some party members from North Central to the national headquarters of the APC party, where they pledged support and loyalty of the region to Mr Ganduje.

I want the good people of Nasarawa State to know that, the courtesy visit Sule paid to the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Friday to pledge his support for Ganduje was for selfish and personal interest and not the interest of the North Central region, the APC or President Bola Tinubu's administration.

Gov AA Sule has been working tirelessly to break Senator Almakura's political wings despite the fact that they are both from the same State. What a shameful act. Sule is indeed a betrayal who now feels good to bite the hand that once fed him.

The concerned North Central stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who have the region at heart, throw shades at Sule by dismissing a vote of confidence passed on the embattled national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Ganduje by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule.

But reacting in a statement sent to DAILY NIGERIAN, on Saturday, a former national chairmanship aspirant of the APC, and co-convener of the concerned stakeholders, Mohammed Saidu-Etsu, said the views expressed by the governor are personal and not collectively resolved of the region.

He said, “I wish to once again restate the non-compromising stance of the North Central zone on zoning arrangements of the last elective convention where the National chairmanship of the party was zone to the North Central zone.

“While Governor Sule retains the personal liberty to declare his personal support for any official of the party.

I wish to remind Engr AA Sule and other do-gooders who may be in league with him that fraternising with Dr. Ganduje, who is effectively usurping the position which rightfully belongs to the North Central, is an act of self sabotage and utter betrayal of collective political future.

“Such a decision directly undermines the zone by settling for nothing and reduces our place on the political equation of our party where we have worked hard, from the proverbial Nigerian adage of “monkey dey work baboon dey chop” to that of outrightly selling our birth right.

“It is instructive to remind Governor Sule that some of us are founding members of this party. We toiled to build it when he hadn’t joined partisan politics yet.

“If he thinks that we will let him stroll into the park and destroy what has been zoned to the North Central in recognition of the hard work of our competent members in the zone, then he is mistaking the resolve of the people to fight for what is rightfully theirs.

An independent investigation revealed that just last week Governor Sule held a closed door meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume at the Nasarawa State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

Akume, who is from neighbouring Benue state was also considered to be a likely replacement of the embattled national chairman of APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Before now, there are indications that the position of the national chairman will return to the North Central geopolitical zone which was considered

shortchanged by the decision of the NEC that replaced the former national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu with Ganduje from the North-west geopolitical zone.

However, according to a reliable source, the meeting between Governor Sule and Akume was to galvanized support for the SGF to clinch the number one party position in his capacity as the chairman of North Central Governors forum.

It was further gathered that Governor Sule has firmly assured George Akume of his support to become the national chairman.

It is however astonishing to see Governor Sule at the national secretariat of APC where he also declared support and loyalty to Ganduje, the embattled national chairman ahead of the party’s NEC meeting scheduled to hold on September 9, 2024.

Wait a minute. One will be tempted to ask: is Governor Sule trying to be a Judah in the Bible or a messenger of doom? Is he playing a double game?

Is he speaking the minds of Governors of the North Central or is he trying to play smart? How comes he is rooting for the SGF to replace Ganduje and at the same time pledging loyalty to the same Ganduje? The case of a man with double face? I leave that for members of our party to judge.

There are strong indications that the presidency and major critical stakeholders of the governing APC are not comfortable with the way Ganduje is running the affairs of the party which popularity is fast declining day by day.

Aside corruption charges against the National Chairman, age and health related issues are strong factors against him which makes the power that be, want to replace Ganduje with a right man for the job from the North Central Zone.

Many pundits are of the opinion that the Nasarawa State Governor is supposed to be at forefront rallying support from his colleagues to ensure that the coveted seat is returned to Nasarawa State after the resignation of the former national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu from the state.

This is because Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s tenure was short lived. So, it is unfair to Nasarawa State not to be given the opportunity to replace him.

Now that there are strong indicators that President Tinubu is disposed to returning the position to the North central, Governor Abdullahi Sule is expected to be championing the cause and not to be seen doing otherwise.

I am tempted to believe the rumor that Governor Sule is not comfortable to have a national chairman from his state especially when there are clarion calls on Mr President to consider Nasarawa state so as to ensure the state completes the tenure of former Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu

Political analysts believe that the Nasarawa State Governor is confused judging from his words at the national secretariat. Is he trying to deny the APC family in Nasarawa State the opportunity to redeem the image of the party which suffered an embarrassing defeat during the last general elections?

It is expected that now that the hand of the clock is ticking towards North Central Zone for the position, Governor Sule should look for a competent person from the zone to be the national chairman of APC.

Pundits believe the North-central has so many competent persons for the job who, if given the opportunity, will redeem the party’s image considering their pedigree and

antecedents. The zone has so many founding members of APC most of whom are loyalists of President Tinubu. So, why can’t Governor Sule galvanise support to see any of them clinch this coveted position?

Governor Sule should stop playing double standards capable of denying the North-central the opportunity to clinch the number one party position.

“The governor’s antics notwithstanding, we are happy with the fact he has shown his face. At least we now know categorically, where the sabotage of our zone and the betrayal of Senator Almakura is coming from.

“Let me also advise Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje to not be swayed by the smooth talks. The North Central is uncompromising in its insistance on the return of the seat of the National Chairman. Let me also reiterate that our demand bears no ill-will towards the person of Dr. Ganduje, but it is not fair, just, or in any way equitable to usurp a position and sit-tight on it.

“I also wish to alert the leader of our party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to take a special interest in this unfolding imbroglio, which if allowed to snowball into a crisis, has the potential to derail the goodwill of the party in our zone. The president, as the leader of our party, should also caution Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State on making endorsements that could inflame members.”

Mr Etsu also reiterates the region’s appeal to President Bola Tinubu to, in the interest of justice and stability of the party, intervene in the matter and ensure that the position of the national chairman of the party is returned to the North Central zone.