Ebun Francis|
Hakeem Baba Ahmed, the Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki, has decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Baba Ahmed from Kaduna state was appointed by Saraki in 2017.
In announcing his decision to leave the ruling party, Ahmed who belongs to the Akida faction of the APC in Kaduna state alongside Senator Shehu Sani described his decision as a painful one and has no relationship with political future of the Senate President.
At a news conference on Monday in Kaduna, Baba-Ahmed, he was not leaving APC to join another party but believes the ruling party has under performed.
He said, “This statement is to inform the public of my resignation from APC. I have sent a formal letter to this effect to chairman of my ward.
“This has been a very difficult decision, to leave a party I helped to form and made my humble contributions to put in power.
“After three years, however, I need to say that the APC has grossly under-performed and has forfeited any claim to my loyalty and continue membership.
“I do not believe in all conscience, that it should be trusted and encouraged to continue to govern our great country beyond 2019.
“I am not leaving to join another party. This is my decision and mine alone. It has nothing to do with the president of the Senate president, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“It’s a decision taken after due consultations with Akida Group, a group that has predated my appointment as chief of staff to the President of the Senate.
“I will remain active in politics, as this is the main avenue for salvaging our nation from rising insecurity, poverty, and bitter divisions,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed is a former chairman of the APC in Kaduna as well as a former chairman of the now defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).