Bauchi APC Lawmakers To Gov. Mohammed: Stop Inducing Our Members To Join PDP

…Our performance is enticing them to defect – Gov’s Aide

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – In spite of the fact that it is in control of the legislative arm of government, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bauchi State chapter has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led executive arm of government of coercing and inducing its members in the State House of Assembly into joining the ruling PDP.

However, an aide of Governor Muhammed, Hon. Sani Mohammed Burra debunked the accusation of the Bauchi State APC lawmakers, saying that based on the developmental strides of the governor, no one needs to coerce talk more of inducing any of the lawmakers to join the PDP.

Burra insisted that some of the members of the APC in the House decided to join the PDP willingly and based on conviction having seen the performances of Governor Mohammed so far.

The APC caucus of lawmakers which is in control of the 9th Assembly, would not accept such an explanation as they therefore warned Governor Mohammed to desist from inducing its lawmakers into joining the PDP in the interest of peace and democratic tenets.

The position of the APC caucus in the State House of Assembly was contained in a press statement dated April 7, 2021, further warned Governor Mohammed not to truncate the good relationship existing between the two arms of government in spite of the political party differences and affiliation.

The statement which was signed by 16 out of the 17 members of the APC did not however contain the signature of the Speaker, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman.

The APC caucus further states; “It is disappointing that the government which has benefited from the goodwill, unconditional support and cooperation to achieve relative success, is now actively inducing, coercing and forcing the hand of some of our members to defect to the PDP with a view to diminish our majority in the House and to perpetrate sinister agenda against our beloved party ahead of the 2023 elections.

“We hereby note that this ugly line of action being taken by this government will be strongly resisted by the APC caucus and we assure our teaming supporters that we will not accept such breach of trust and betrayal of confidence by Senenator Bala Muhammed administration

“We hereby reiterate our resolve to remain united in the face of this cowardly provocation and selfish move and to ensure our loyal party supporters that APC remains our party of choice and will continue to champion any positive interest of the good people of our dear state now and always.

“APC holds the majority in the state House of Assembly whilst the PDP is of the minority. That advantage, which is significant, did not make us frustrate or undermine the programmes or direction of Senator Bala Mohammed Administration. Instead, we put aside party differences and worked cooperatively with the government at all times to ensure its success, since it is the same people that elected us and we are serving same,” the APC lawmakers said.

They noted that Governor Muhammed had at many occasions championed and expressed his satisfaction with clear gratitude to the legislative arm of the state in supporting his administration.

But, in a swift reaction, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters (State and National Assembly Liaison), Sani Mohammed Burra, said that the members are defecting to the ruling PDP as a result of the governor’s performance in the state.

According to Burra; “No one is coercing or inducing anybody. All I know is that some of them decided to join the PDP willingly based on the performances of the Governor so far. Every one of them has one project or program going on in his constituency.

“Base on the projects that are initiated by the Governor, they are convinced. I was an elected member of that House and you know as a member, your goal is to bring developmental projects to your constituents. Most of them have certain projects they want the Governor to execute at their various local governments.”

The former lawmaker said that Governor Muhammed need not coerce nor induce any of the members in order to join the PDP, saying that all over Bauchi State, the party to beat is the PDP because the people have been able to regain the four years wasted by the APC-led government.