APC NWC Meets Over Alhassan, Atiku On Monday

There are strong indications that the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress will meet on Monday to discuss statements credited to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, as regards the 2019 presidential election.
Saturday PUNCH gathered on Friday that besides discussing the minister’s declaration of support for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition, the NWC would also deliberate on a statement credited to the ex-vice-president.

Alhassan had, in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, said she was ready to support the former vice-president against President Muhammadu Buhari if they both choose to run for the 2019 presidential election.

She also said she respected Buhari, but Atiku remained her godfather.

Alhassan, in the interview, also confirmed her statements in a leaked video, where she endorsed the former vice-president in a private meeting with him.

The former vice-president, had on the Hausa Service of Voice of America, said that the APC sidelined him after helping it to win the 2015 elections.

It was learnt that the National Working Committee would deliberate on these issues in Abuja on Monday with a view to resolving them.

This development was confirmed by the APC National Vice Chairman, North-East, Mustapha Salihu, in a telephone interview with Saturday PUNCH in Abuja on Friday.

He explained that the issue at stake was a national one, which the party’s NWC would look into.

Salihu, however, said to the best of his knowledge, there was currently no petition against the minister before the party.

He stated, “This is a national issue. I think by Monday, we will sit and we will address the matter, but I can assure you that there is no cause for alarm. Our party is intact and on ground.”

We warned Buhari not to appoint minister –El-Rufai

Meanwhile, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has said President Buhari appointed Alhassan in 2015 despite repeated warnings from APC leaders.

El-Rufai said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.

The governor said he was not surprised by the minister’s recent endorsement of Atiku Abubakar because she was never a supporter of Buhari.

He said, “In the APC, she was never in Buhari’s camp, she did not support our candidates during the National Convention and she didn’t vote for Buhari during the primaries.

“But out of the largeness of the President’s heart and to encourage women in politics, he felt that even though she was never a supporter of his politics or his beliefs and because of what she had tried to do in Taraba State, he felt she earned being nominated as a minister.

“Many in Buhari’s camp did not support it, but he overruled everybody because that is how he is; he tries to be inclusive, he considers every Nigerian as his own son or daughter and he nominated her as a minister.”

The governor also said that the President was not losing any sleep over the endorsement of the former vice-president by Alhassan.

When asked if he thought the President should sack Alhassan for what some described as disloyalty, el-Rufai said that was the sole prerogative of the President.

He said if Buhari felt she was doing a good job in her ministry, then he could leave her to continue, but if she wasn’t doing well, then he could sack her.

The governor added, “It is the President’s prerogative. Look, you can retain a person in the cabinet even if he doesn’t support you, but adds value to the country because in the end, this is a government and it is not a political grouping.

“If Alhassan is performing as Minister of Women Affairs (and Social Development) and adding value to the government and the people of Nigeria, it is the President’s prerogative to retain her despite her political views. But if she is not adding value in spite of her political views, she can be dispensed with; that is the President’s decision.

“I don’t think people should get worried about it. I have worked closely with the President, I know him and I know how he thinks. He doesn’t take these things personally or to heart.  What is primary to him is Nigeria’s progress and how well the government is doing and what everyone is contributing (to make it work), that is what matters ultimately.”

When asked to address reports that he was nursing a presidential ambition, the governor said as far as he was concerned, Buhari would win again in 2019.

He said he would remain loyal to the President because he (Buhari) was the one who told him to contest the governorship election in 2015.

El-Rufai said, “Look, my name has continuously been mentioned as a presidential aspirant since 2007, after my years in the Federal Capital Territory. There is nothing new about that. What I want to say here, very clearly, is that I have never been a presidential aspirant; I have never even been a governorship aspirant.

“I am governor today by the grace of God, (and) because President Buhari called me and said ‘go and run for Governor of Kaduna State’. As far as 2019 is concerned, my position is that the President is looking very well, he is recuperating very fast. My hope and prayer is he will contest in 2019.”

Attempts to speak with the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, proved abortive as he did not respond to telephone calls or text messages.

Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said he could not comment on issues regarding Alhassan.

…party warns Atiku, Alhassan, others

The All Progressives Congress has warned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, and other party faithful against making unguarded statements capable of destabilising the APC-led administration.

The APC National Vice Chairman (North West), Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, gave the warning while speaking to newsmen in Abuja, on Friday.

He said while the party respects the rights of members to hold and express their opinions, doing so should not infringe on the party’s cohesion.

Abdulkadir explained that by virtue of Atiku’s status and age, he had attained the position of a statesman, thus, nothing short of decorum is expected from him when he speaks or acts, especially in public.

The party chieftain explained that on its face value, the recent conduct and utterances of Atiku and Alhassan gave an erroneous impression that all was not well within the party and in the President’s cabinet.

He said a majority of the people look up to their leaders to provide leadership in several ways than one in order to make informed decisions.

He said, “Of recent, Atiku has made some statements which seem to create an impression of failure of the party and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

“At that level, good party members, especially of his (Atiku) status should not be seen to be making public statements, even if those criticisms were factual – whereas in this case, some of these statements were misleading and incorrect.

“These statements give an impression that there is a crack in the house and in the party or that the party is not doing all it ought to. These are statements which ordinarily I wouldn’t have responded to.

“As leaders, we shouldn’t be seen as taking issues in the public domain but since he has made a public statement, the public is entitled to get the other side or be told the truth.”

In response to Atiku’s claims that he was used and dumped, Abdulkadir said, “Yes, Atiku like many others, made certain contributions in the 2015 elections and in building the party, but the bigger picture which he gave is not correct.”

He further explained that, “The North-West zone, which I represent had eight presidential campaign rallies and Atiku did not attend any.

“Yes, he added value by his personality, but there are so many other members of the party that made financial contribution and added electoral value.

“North-West is the most populous zone in terms of membership of the APC and in terms of electoral victory, not only for the President but we have seven state governors out of seven and 20 out of the 21 senators in the zone.

“I think we are major stakeholders in this party, so, one of the reasons we are making this statement is to calm our members in these states and for us not to be distracted. APC is well on ground as all efforts are being made to solidify those gains and we shouldn’t be distanced by such unfortunate statements that the party is neglecting a particular person or group of persons.”

He also faulted Atiku’s claim that he was not being consulted. The National Vice Chairman said, “On the issue of consultation by Mr. President, though I am not in the Villa, it is an open secret that whoever visits the President is no longer a secret.

“Whoever is meeting the President of Nigeria, more than 20 people will know and the information will be shared. As a matter of fact, several times, Atiku Abubakar visited Mr. President and we don’t know what they discussed but we know he visited. I am sure he was not just there to greet him. Those two leaders will not meet without discussing one thing or the other.”

…I stand by what I said –Atiku

In response, Atiku who spoke through the Head of the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe, said he stood by what he said.

Ibe said, “His Excellency, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar stands by what he said. There is no point beating about the bush, how can anyone equate a private meeting with a meeting of party organs?

“When was the last time the party organs held any meeting? Has the Board of Trustees or what they call the Elders’ Council been inaugurated? When was the last time stakeholders and party leaders invited him to a meeting? The Wazirin Adamawa spoke as a lover of this country, democracy and the party.

“People who are not too conversant with history as far as democracy is concerned in this country may cast aspersions on the former Vice- President for stating the obvious. The party should do the needful.”

…Alhassan should have taken the path of honour – National Vice Chairman

Earlier, the North-West Zonal Chairman said Alhassan, ought to have taken the path of honour instead of disrespecting her principal in public.

He said, “This is something she can discuss with her principal so that he will know her position. And if you feel like it should be public then you are saying that I’m no longer comfortable with this situation, if this situation should continue I’m not comfortable with it.

“Whether Buhari has said he will re-contest or not is immaterial. What is material is a serving minister should not be seen to be making public statement that suggests that they are not on the same page with the team because she is a member of a team. In other places, the right thing is for her to resign.”

Asked whether the party is considering sanctions against the duo, Abdulkadir said the situation has not arisen and that what becomes of Alhassan is at the discretion of the President because she serves at his pleasure.