2019: Mama Taraba appears to backtrack, says no chance of her leaving APC to join Atiku in PDP

Minister of Women Affairs and foremost political ally of former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Aisha Alhassan, has put to bed speculations that she planned to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) like Abubakar, asking, “how can I destroy the house we collectively built?”

Following Abubakar’s return to the PDP in December, it was speculated that Alhassan, a former senator, and other allies of the former vice president would join him in the PDP.

She was particularly singled out as the mostly likely politician to join the former vice president because she had earlier in September said she would support Abubakar for the 2019 presidential election even if President Muhammadu Buhari decided to run.

“Atiku is my godfather even before I joined politics,” she said in Hausa. “And again, Baba Buhari did not tell us that he is going to run in 2019.

“Let me tell you today that if Baba said he is going to contest in 2019, I swear to Allah, I will go before him and kneel and tell him that ‘Baba I am grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve your government as a minister but Baba just like you know I will support only Atiku because he is my godfather. If Atiku said he is going to contest”, she had said.

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But in a telephone interview with Premium Times, the minister, popularly called Mama Taraba, said she would remain in the APC.

“Politics is all about interest, and nobody forced me to leave PDP to join APC, so no want will force me out of it.

“I will continue to work for APC and that’s why I travelled out to Taraba, to campaign for our party’s candidate Sanusi Jambawaile.

“I know many may wish to see me leaving APC, but let me assure them I will remain in APC!

‘’So, how can I destroy the house we collectively built?”, she said.

Although, she declined to specifically comment on Abubakar’s defection from the APC, she said the party “is intact in Taraba.’’

She added, “There is no squabble or faction, and our great party APC in Taraba is intact. That’s why we all work and campaigned together with His Excellency the former Acting Governor UTC.

‘’So, we are one no any problem as some of you thought’’.

Meanwhile, acting chairman of APC in the state, Sani Chul, has expressed happiness with the minister’s decision to remain in the party.

“We are really happy with her decision, it is clear that she has seen some changes in the areas she complaint about in recent past if there are any.

“Yes, there were issues in APC like in any other party but clearly we are better.

“And most importantly, it is the minister that should be congratulated because by her action, she has extended the lifespan of her political career; she would have a lot to gain in the APC than in PDP’’, he said.

Also speaking, a supporter of the minister’s, Naomi Dogo, said it would be a “suicidal mission” if she joined Abubakar in the PDP.

“Following Atiku to PDP or whatever party would be a suicide mission for her; Atiku had globe trotted from one party to another, all in a bid to become president and Nigerians would not gamble with their future.

“Power belongs to God and you can’t get it by force; he too should have persevered in the APC to see what God has in stock for him; we earnestly congratulate Mama Taraba for making a tough but wise decision to remain in APC”, she said.

 

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