Injustice Forced Us out of ANPP--Yuguda

By Chuks Okocha, Abuja
President Umaru Yar'Adua officially handed over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag and party leadership to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state, just as the decamped governor accused the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) of injustice, inequity and orchestrated plans that frustrated him and his supporters out of the party.

Yuguda also said that ANPP has been hijacked by a clique, citing several cases of injustices meted to supporters, including General Muhammadu Buhari, while accusing the national leadership of the party of dictatorial tendencies.

The governor, in a letter made avaliable to THISDAY said: “The party is under the control of two individuals whose influence and interest in the party was enormous to the extent that any individual or groups, that normally held contrary views would be considered an outcast.”

But in a swift reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of ANPP, Emma Eneukwu denied the allegation of high-handedness and said that the governor was only making excuses for his action.

To further substantiate his claim, Yuguda said: “After Bauchi State had accepted and conceded the ministerial nomination to Ambassador Babajidda from Borno State and after his rejection, instead of offering the seat back to Bauchi State that conceded the offer, it was given to Dasuki Nakanda, the Plateau State campaign manager of Senator Sani Yerima, that was not in contention.”

Yuguda said that eventually when the President reshuffled his cabinet and Bauchi State hoped that the earlier injustice would be rectified. Sadly, he added, “the Governor of Borno State nominated his younger brother and Senator Yerima nominated his wife and none was given to Bauchi State, despite the earlier injustices meted to the party.”

The letter from the governor complained of the annual check off dues paid by Bauchi state chapter of ANPP from August 2007 to January 2009 to the tune of N5 million, which the national secretariat denied knowledge of receiving. According to the letter, Governor complained and asked the party to investigate the former state chairman, Sanin Malam, but he was shielded despite evidence of vouchers of deposit of the said money per month.

Also, the letter from Yuguda complained of the dictortial tendencies from the national leadership which brookes no interferences nor listening to opposing views.

Yuguda cited the treatment meted to General Buhari, former Governor Dalhatu Bafarawa, Jamil Isyaka Gamawa, the mass resignation of the Gombe state party executives and the former national secretary of the party who has since decamped to the PDP.

“At the moment, there is crisis in the party, the integrity group who are in court, the impending formation of the mega party, the Buhari Organisation that are already looking at the possibility of leaving the party and the creation of factions in the party in Bauchi, Yobe and Niger states ”, he said are some of the reasons why he left the party. Yuguda lamented that it was the actions of the national leadership of ANPP in meting injustices and inequity as well as lack of respects to members that forced him and his supporters out of the party, he joined in January 2007.

He said that he is convinced beyond reasonable doubts that the prospects of ANPP is “very bleak”, hence his resignation with his supporters. According, he said “ if injustice has been perpetrated without apology to the State leadership of the party and by extention the people of Bauchi state, what guarantee do we have that a bright future would come our way if we continued in the party.”

C. Thisday