Why I Refused To Sign APC Caucus Statement Against Gov. Mohammed – Bauchi Speaker  

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman has given reasons why he refused to append his signature on the statement issued by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus of the House against Governor Bala Muhammed.

The Speaker pointedly said the statement and the strong language used was totally uncalled for and unwarranted, adding that membership of a political party is based on personal interest which does not require any coercion or inducement as was alleged by APC Caucus members in the House.

Suleiman explained that he was not at the meeting where the decision was taken to issue the statement, and thus did not have the opportunity to contribute to discussions that led to the decision taken.

The Speaker, who was reacting to insinuations of double loyalty against him, said; “I remain a loyal and committed member of the APC and I will continue to protect the collective interest of the party.
“However, there are strong words used in the statement such as ‘coercion and inducement’. These are uncalled for. They had meaning based on the reader and I pointed these out to them. If I were part of the initial meeting, I would not have allowed the statement to go like that”.

He noted that political party membership is a matter of choice, adding that there is no way someone can be coerced or induced into joining a political party.

Suleiman further said; “Though we are not happy that we lost some members to the opposition, there is nothing we can do to stop it because it is a matter of choice.

“I told them my stand when they called me. I demanded to see a copy after which I told them I did not agree to the content. It is a normal thing to woo members, even we in the APC are wooing members to the party. You cannot tell me that someone who was elected has been coerced.

“As for the issue of inducement, has anyone so induced among the members left the APC to the PDP? I am not a party to the allegation of coercion or inducement. I don’t think there is any reason for anyone to be uncomfortable with my position. It is my decision not to sign the document and it has not changed anything about my membership of the party,” he insisted.

Suleiman assured that he remain committed to the ideology of the APC and will continue to work in harmony with other members to carry out his legislative duties.

Some members of the APC caucus in the House had expressed their discomfort over the Speaker’s refusal to sign the statement alleging coercion and inducement of the party members by the PDP-led executive arm to join the party.