Ebun Francis|
Hafizu Abubakar, the former deputy governor of Kano state who resigned his position in August and decamped to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr. Abubakar, a former staunch ally of the ex-Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso’s return to the ruling party was confirmed by the presidency and his spokesman.
Garba Shehu, the spokesperson to President Muhammadu Buhari, said the president had a meeting with Mr. Abubakar and other former Kwankwaso loyalists in Kano.
Mr. Shehu, in a statement, said the meeting held on Wednesday night in Abuja.
According to Shehu, the president appealed to stakeholders in the APC all over the country to work for genuine reconciliation “for the benefit of our people and our nation.”
In welcoming the party leaders back to the APC, Mr. Buhari said the house was large enough to accommodate everyone and promised to speak to the leadership of the party and government in Kano to accommodate and work with the returnees.
“In addition to Professor Hafiz, a staunch ally of Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso who resigned as Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s Deputy, the other returnees include a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Architect Aminu Dabo; the immediate past National Treasurer, Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa; Security Adviser to Kwankwaso, General Danjuma Dambazau (rtd); Engineer Mu’azu Magaji, all of them staunch members of the Kwankwasiyya as well as Senator Isa Zarewa who left in protest against the last primaries.
“They were led to the President by the Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru,” Mr. Shehu said.
Responding to the presidential directive, Governor Ganduje reportedly welcomed the return of the party stalwarts and assured the president that he was ready to work with everyone to record yet another historic victory in the general elections.
The media aide to Mr. Abubakar, Abdulwahab Sa’id, while confirming the meeting, said the Presidency sent a private Jet to pick his principal and other top politicians from the state on Wednesday.
He said, “President Muhammad Buhari sent a private jet to Kano yesterday night (Wednesday) to convey Professor Hafiz Abubakar, Former National treasurer of APC Bala Gwagwarwa, former Managing Director Nigeria Ports Authority Aminu Dabo, and former Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on SURE-P Engineer Mu’azu Magaji Dan Sarauniya to Presidential Villa for a private meeting.
“The president has appreciated their contribution towards his election in 2015 and pleaded to them to return to APC and work toward his re-election in 2019.”
He said Mr. Buhari will formally accept all the returnees at a rally in Kano soon.