Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
Revelations have emerged as to the main reasons why the immediate past Governor of Bauchi State,Malam Isa Yuguda, dumped the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Yuguda had, while speaking to Journalists in a Phone Conference last Saturday, said he was leaving the PDP, the party under which he was governor for six years due to “personal reasons.”
The former governor lamented that the PDP lacked the capacity to bring about the needed development to Nigerians disclosing that he would take some months or a year to rest from politics before knowing which way to turn after due consultation with friends and associates.
But in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the PDP dated Saturday, April 23, 2015, and titled: “Letter of Resignation as a Member of the PDP, which was made available to THISDAY in Bauchi yesterday, Yuguda said he was dumping the party because of the ongoing investigation into the arms deal scandal.
He said the revelations of the embezzlement of the $2.1 billion arms deal were very shocking adding that the dastardly act by the then PDP government has brought the integrity of the members of the party to question.
Yuguda said in his letter, “I wish to tender my resignation as a member of the PDP effective from today, Saturday, April 23, 2016.
“My decision was informed by the shocking revelations of the embezzlement of 2.1 billion US Dollars meant for the procurement of arms to fight insurgency and reduce the sufferings of the victims of the insurgency.
“This dastardly act by the leadership and members of the government of the PDP has left a moral burden on all members of the PDP. With 500 million US Dollars, the lives of the deprived over 2 million IDPs would have been better up to today.
“Being a governor then from the zone who received no material or financial support from the then federal government, and was also a witness to the waste of human lives and properties for non-availability of fighting equipment and the relief material. And after having known that the funds were embezzled which led to the death of thousands of women, children, young men and un-armed members of the Nigerian security forces, have made it impossible for me to continue my membership of the party.”
The former governor further disclosed that another reason why he left the PDP was because the hands of the present acting Chairman of the party, Ali Sheriff, were soiled with accusations of his being part of insurgency.
He faulted Sheriff’s continued involvement in activities of the party noting that the wise thing for him to do was to resign and clear all allegations leveled against him as is the case in other countries.
According to him, “there are allegations that the current Chairman of the PDP was part of the problem of insecurity particularly in Borno State. ‘He who goes to equity, must go with clean hands.’
“Therefore, rationality, morality and common sense would have compelled the Chairman to clear his name before aspiring to that position.
“In an ideal country, an allegation against a public officer compels him to resign his appointment.”
The two-term former Bauchi State Governor further questioned that “how can PDP explain to Nigerians that a Governor who Led a state to failure so now Chairman of a party that will form a Nigerian government in the future?
“I feel very strongly that working with such a Chairman is morally wrong for me.
“In view of the foregoing reasons and hard-earned reputation and other track records, I cannot be part of the characters that formed the present PDP leadership, as such, I do resign my membership of the party.”
