By Francis Sardauna in Katsina
A political group, Katsina State Progressive Movement, Thursday accused members of APC-AKIDA, a factional group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting political crisis, saying the scenario if unchecked will truncate the March 9 governorship election in the state.
Addressing journalists on Friday, the Chairman of the Movement, Sameer Ismaila Musawa, said the antics of APC-AKIDA was a deliberate ploy to distract Governor Aminu Bello Masari’s administration from delivering its mandate ahead of the elections.
There have been reports of spat between Governor Masari and supporters of APC-AKIDA, since the latter dumped APC to form the group, a development that has heightened political tension in the state.
The APC chieftain reiterated that the group which was out to create confusion and misunderstanding amongst party chieftains did not vote for President Muhammadu Buhari during the last Saturday’s presidential election.
He refuted claims by members of the APC splinter group that they were loyalists of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that: “If they are his supporters, why is it that they do not vote him during the presidential election?
“They did not vote President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State. The president visited all the states of the federation to canvas for vote but none of them followed him during the campaign.
“If what they kept on hammering was working for Buhari, why were they absent when he came to Katsina and even at their polling units during his election.”
He reaffirmed that the approach to politicking by the factional group of the party was a deliberate plan to stir up violence and insecurity in the state and scare off investors the Masari administration had succeeded in attracting.
“All what they are after is to distract Governor Aminu Bello Masari from executing meaningful projects for the people of the state. But the governor refused to be distracted.
Musawa, who accused members of the group of embarking on campaign of calumny against APC stakeholders, said the group must have realised that the people had finally known the truth about their intention of causing disaffection for the party in the state.
He dismissed insinuations that a strong APC stalwart and a business tycoon in the state, Dahiru Barau Mangal has worked against the victory of the president during the elections.
According to him, “In 2015 it was Alhaji Mangal that supported President Buhari and Governor Masari in Katsina and assisted in bringing all that matter in the PDP into APC. So, he can’t work against the success of the party”
However, efforts made by THISDAY to reach the leader of APC-AKIDA in the state, Kabir Murja for comments was futile as calls put to his phone line went unanswered as of press time.
