Politics

NNPP clears air on Gov Yusuf’s purported suspension

New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has cleared the air on the purported suspension of Kano Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf from the party.

Reports were rife in the media early in the week over alleged suspension of NNPP’s national leader and presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general, Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso and Governor Kabir Yusuf from NNPP for attending the mini-convention of the party by a group claiming the ownership of the party.

NNPP acting national chairman, Dr Ahmed Ajuji, who disclosed this while briefing the media at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, described those behind the alleged suspension as expelled political comedians, hirelings, and clowns who are only craving for relevance after losing out in the scheme of things and expelled from the party over anti-party activities.

“We have invited you to our national headquarters today to set the records straight on issues concerning our great party and especially, our amiable performing Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Alhaji Abba Yusuf. For record purposes, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is a bona fide member of our great party and a worthy Ambassador of NNPP whose leadership and unprecedented achievements in Kano State are a thing of pride to us, and as such we have no reason to suspend him. In essence, the NNPP did not suspend our Governor.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press, Nigerians were amused early this week when expelled political comedians, hirelings, and clowns craving for relevance announced the suspension of the party’s action Governor Abba Yusuf for attending the NNPP national convention. The jokers played back a cracked record and poorly scripted movie of suspension of the Kano State Governor as their sponsors and target audience no longer listen to the endless suspension and expulsion of His Excellency, Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader of the party.

“These political jobbers were also the ones hired to scuttle Governor Abba Yusuf’s election at the Tribunal, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court falsely claiming that he was not duly and properly nominated by the party as its candidate for the 2023 general election. To God be the glory, the Supreme Court Justices in their own wisdom saw through their lies and agreed with us and the INEC that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is a bonafide member of NNPP. These same set of people have at various times instituted several suits in court challenging the leadership of the party and recently tried to scuttle the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the National Convention held on Friday, April 5, 2024, and Saturday, April 6, 2024.

“The court being a temple of justice and beacon of hope for sustainable democracy in Nigeria dismissed many of their suits, including the one whose judgment was given earlier today. A Court even ordered them to stop parading themselves as members of the party but because they don’t have any regard for the law, they continue in their contemptuous activities.

“The group of these expelled members was the participation of NNPP candidates in various elective positions in which the party won a governorship, Senate, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly seats which boosted the electoral fortune of NNPP, unlike before when such positions were traded off for personal gains. The party is aware of its sponsors and their aim of destabilizing it. They have failed as NNPP keeps growing from strength to strength, expanding its frontiers in the nation’s political space.

“The party will not dissipate energy responding to political hirelings if not for the wide media reports accorded them as they seek public attention to remain relevant and carry out the agenda of their sponsors. In other climes, these comedians would not receive such attention as they are clearly in contempt of court that restrained them from parading themselves as members of the party, organising press conferences, and issuing press statements. Soon the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.

“Our great party is focused on ushering in a new and better Nigeria as exemplified in the good governance of Kano State by His Excellency, Governor Abba Yusuf. The party is united and strong in fostering sustainable democracy in Nigeria and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is championing this,” Ajuji said.