BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – After weeks of speculations, denials and keeping mum, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Y. Sulaiman, has finally dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.
Sulaiman, was elected on the platform of the APC in 2019, has been in the realm of speculations that he was going to dump his party for the ruling PDP in the state. He became Speaker of the House with the support of members of the PDP in the House in a controversial manner which led to serious rancor for months before tension was doused.
Sulaiman, who is also the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, announced his defection on Saturday during the Ramadan fast breaking (Iftar) hosted by the State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi.
He said; “I want to use this opportunity today to officially announce to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed and other stakeholders in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of my formal defection to the State ruling party.
“One of my reasons to return to the PDP is in recognition of the exemplary leadership style of our Governor and his commitment to transforming the state,” he said.
Sulaiman appreciated Governor Mohammed for the harmonious working relationship with the state assembly which he noted paved the way for the successes recorded by his administration in the area of delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizens of the state.
He also said that his decision to dump the APC for the PDP was informed by the recognition of the exemplary leadership style of the Governor Mohammed as well his commitment to transform the state without neglecting any section.
The Speaker therefore commended Mohammed for his ability to ensure harmonious working relationship with the State Assembly despite party differences since 2019 when the 9th Assembly was inaugurated, adding that the relationship between the two arms of government in the state allowed formulation and implementation of policies and programmes towards the development of the State.
Sulaiman promised to continue to work harmoniously with the Governor in ensuring that the mandate of his election was achieved just as he assured that his coming into the PDP fold will add value to the party in Ningi/Warji Federal Constituency in particular and Bauchi State in general.
In his remarks, an elated Governor Mohammed described the development as an honour done to him by Speaker Sulaiman, who he noted is a team player in spite of political differences.
Mohammed said that the step just taken by the Speaker had been long expected considering his body language in recent times, stressing that it is a home coming for the Speaker having supported all the programs of the PDP in the past
The Governor acknowledged the good working relationship between his administration and the state assembly and called for continued working synergy for the speedy development and progress of the state.
Mohammed said; “We are grateful to Almighty Allah for bringing us to this Holy month of Ramadan with good health and peace in Bauchi state and we are grateful to you as our stakeholders for your contribution to my emergence as Governor of Bauchi State in the last general elections.
“When we took over, Bauchi State was in a stage of total collapse in critical sectors of the economy and Alhamdulillah our efforts in Health, education are yielding positive results. I appeal to our stakeholders for your continued support for the success of the PDP-led administration in the state”.
Mohammed then directed for the immediate establishment of a State owned College of Education in Dass Local Government Area, promising that he will continue to work towards fulfilling his campaign promises for greater Bauchi state.
He assured the Speaker and all others coming into the PDP of fair treatment stressing that nobody will be treated as a stranger and advised on the need for due process as contained in rules and regulations of the PDP.
