APRIL POLLS: JONATHAN CAMPAIGN GROUP ACCUSES ABUJA MINISTER, OTHERS OF SABOTAGE

•Bala Mohammed
The Bauchi State chapter of the Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organistaion has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed and some Abuja- based politicians from the state of destabilizing the Jonathan presidential campaign by engaging in anti-party activities.

The state Director, Media and Publicity of Goodluck/Sambo Campaign Organization, Garba Bello stated this while addressing journalists during a press conference in his office yesterday

Bello said: 'We frown at the unhealthy political development emanating from some influential indigenes of the state, based in Abuja.

'These developments will eventually result into factionalizing the Goodluck/Sambo campaign office and the entire PDP members in the state. To our surprise , those people from Abuja are operating a parallel office which was capable of factionalizing our party. 'These Abuja-based politicians influenced some of the delegates not to vote for Goodluck/Sambo during the recent PDP presidential primaries in Abuja. It may sound contradictory, but it is a fact. All these are efforts meant to undermine the efforts of His Excellency in delivering the state.

'To prove the above assertions, the Minster of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed held a meeting in Bauchi after which he held a press chat with foreign media that they would only help Goodluck/Sambo to get 25% voters in Bauchi State and after that campaign against PDP and Malam Isa Yuguda for ACN gubernatorial candidate' 'This organization is thereby appealing to Abuja based politicians to come to their state and team up with the organization in order to achieve 100% success for PDP' Bello stated.

Reacting, the Special Assistants to the FCT Minister on Politics and Media, Alhaji Danladi Maiauduga and Mr Nosike Ogbuenyi, respectively, dismissed the allegation. The aides said what the minister was after was the successful conduct of elections in the country and Bauchi State where good leadership would be enthroned. 'The governor has excluded the minister and in that situation, do you expect him to come. He has not invited him, it is only the minister that is coming to him in Bauchi. He has not visited the minister in his office or residence since he was appointed, the governor has taken politics too far.

'The governor did not give the Minister the chance to support him. That is why he is not campaigning for him. What the Minister is after is to make sure elections hold successfully in Bauchi State and good leadership is enthroned. 'He did not tell anybody that he is campaigning for any gubernatorial candidate in the state. Bauchi State has very credible voters who will decide who will be their governor.'