Ganduje mocks nPDP as group says it’s too early to say if they’ll quit APC

Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has reacted to the agitation by some members of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The group has claimed being marginalised by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government despite its role at ensuring that the present APC-Federal Government came into power in 2015.

But Governor Ganduje refuted the claim by members of the group saying that their agitation was nothing but corruption fighting back.

The Kano State governor stated this at a news conference to mark the third anniversary of his administration, in the state.

This is coming on the heels of a meeting between the nPDP and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, after which the group stated that it was still undecided wether it would leave or remain in the APC.

According to Governor Ganduje, “Some few members of the nPDP (which is not even a group in that nomenclature, because now we are one in the APC) went to the party’s national secretariat and presented a paper that they were marginalised.

“The majority of the defunct nPDP (which I am a member) also went to the national secretariat to mention that those that were there earlier in the name of nPDP were not the true representatives of the nPDP. Also, we indicated that we are not part of those who are being marginalised.

“I will give you an analysis that will show that they are not being marginalised. First of all, the Senate President is from the defunct nPDP, he is now the Senate President; he controls very important Committees in which he singlehandedly approved chairmen of 30 committees – that is not marginalisation.

“You have the governor of Kwara State who is also a member of the nPDP. He has a whole government; how can he say he is marginalised?

“The Governor of Adamawa State is nPDP and he is now a governor. I am from nPDP and I am now a governor. We have most of us from the nPDP who are senators and House of Representatives members.

“You have the Speaker of House of Representatives who is a member of the nPDP and a Speaker under the banner of APC; how can he say he is being marginalized? He controls lucrative committees. He appoints the chairmen and membership of the committees singlehandedly, without interference from the executive. How can he say he is being marginalized?

“So, if you take this issue one by one, you can see that the issue of marginalisation is not there. Therefore, we the majority of the nPDP are disclaiming the allegation and we believe that we are not being marginalised.

“So, I believe that there must be something underground. You know Mr. President is facing a difficult moment; corruption is fighting back. So, you will soon see why marginalisation is coming out now. This is not the issue of marginalization; this is the issue of corruption fighting back. So, you will see what will happen,” he said.

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Meanwhile, the spokesman of the nPDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, on Monday told reporters after they met with Vice-President Osinbajo in Abuja, that it was too early for the group to say if they are going to quit the APC.

On the meeting with Osinbajo he said, “So far so good. We are looking forward to some of the promises. There will be other meetings because we have been put into subcommittees and then we will identify specific and general problems and then we will proceed to see Mr. President. But it was a very good meeting.

“There is an understanding that is developing. There will be further consultations”.

Members of the group were led to the meeting with Osinbajo by Saraki and Dogara.

The nPDP members had recently written APC leadership alleging marginalization and victimisation of its members and vowed to take action if their compaints were not addressed.

However, asked if they will no longer quit the party, Baraje said, “It is too early to say.”

 

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