~ Our constitution is clear on anti-party activities – APC organizing secretary
~ Nobody can rig me out, Fintiri boasted
Adamawa State chapter of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently swimming against the tide as Bindow Support Group (BSG) which consists of supporters, allies, aides and loyalists of former governor Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow endorsed the candidature governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State.
In an elaborate ceremony yesterday at the banquet hall of Dougirei government house Yola, the group in a no hold barred and unambiguous language lent their support to the second term bid of the governor.
Sen Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, the immediate past governor of Adamawa State has been nursing grudges against the APC, a party under whose crest he rode to power in 2015 and was defeated by Fintiri in 2019 after serving out his first term.
It was gathered that powerful forces in APC have conspired against the reelection bid of Bindow in the build up to the 2019 Gubernatorial election leading to the governor’s ouster from the Dougirei seat of power.
The governor’s attempted shot at the government house Yola come 2023 general election, suffered another mishap during the party primaries of APC last year that saw Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani capturing the party’s Gubernatorial ticket leaving Bindow in the cold.
Since his defeat at the polls, the former governor reportedly started working surreptitiously to undermine the APC in the state by shifting alliances with Atiku and Fintiri.
His behind-the-scene clandestine loyalty to the PDP was however revealed when an audio clip of a meeting between him and development area administrators in which he asserted his loyalty to Atiku and Fintiri went viral. During the meeting the ex-governor was heard addressing his party in the most pejorative and despicable language.
But despite all the underhand political rigmarole, Bindow is yet to officially announce his exit from APC.
However, in a new twist, the ex-governor’s loyalists under BSG have unanimously resolved to support former vice president Atiku Abubakar and governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Leader of the delegation, Mallam Abdullahi Bakari said the endorsement became necessary in order to appreciate the PDP and Governor Fintiri for the landmark developmental strides he brought to Adamawa State.
Bakari who led a delegation of 250 leaders of BSG pledged to give Fintiri the needed support to succeed in the coming election.
“Our Principal asked us to thank you for continuing with his projects which has developed the state. We want to assure you our support as leaders of the Bindow Support Groups,” he said.
Contributing, Deputy Director General of the Group, Doctor Michael Zirra said they found Governor Fintiri worthy to be supported after weighing all the candidates on the scale of competency.
“We have done a lot of analysis, we look at your relationship with our principal, we went round, we look at what you have done, we decided you are best person we should support,” he said.
The Secretary General of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, Alhaji Aliyu Idi Hong saluted the former Governor for collapsing his structures to support the re-election of Governor Fintiri.
“The opposition candidates said they will bring progress, which progress will they bring while we have flyovers all over. The essence of politics is progress and you have seen it in Adamawa,” he reaffirmed.
The State Chairman of PDP, Barrister Tahir Shehu who was represented by his deputy, Mr Stephen Doma said the party will give fair and equal treatment to members of Bindow Support Groups.
Responding, Governor Umaru Fintiri expressed appreciation for the solidarity and support by Senator Bindow, assuring that he will work together with the team for the progress of Adamawa State.
He said “I’m indebted to this loyalty. We are coming together to put more energy into Adamawa project. Bindow has started and we have completed. The development we have seen today is unprecedented.”
Fintiri further stressed that Adamawa State has never had it so good than now under his administration as the government has built massive infrastructure among others.
“We have done wonderfully well for this state. We have built classrooms and provided them instructional materials across the state.We will rehabital 68 schools, ” he said.
“We can’t have Governor who runs in proxy. You have to be a man or woman that knows the direction of the people of Adamawa State. I know the capacity of those who are coming,” said Fintiri.
“Nigeria needs a president that is well prepared. Let’s support Atiku Abubakar to salvage this country. I can easily conclude that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will be our next President in Nigeria by God’s Grace,” he opined.
“Elections are not win outside the state. You have to work with people who are within. I’m assuring you that, I’m a leader, Nobody can rig me in this election. Let them come and let’s play the game according to the rule.
He therefore called on Senator Bindow to formerly come back to PDP as it is the only People’s party to reckon with.
Our constitution is very clear on anti-party
But reacting to the development, the organizing secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Adamawa, Mustapha Ribadu said in a participatory democracy, people have rights to life, speech and association.
He however noted that in line with the constitution of the party, a member of APC will lose his right of party membership if he supports the candidate of another party as that amounts to anti-party activity.
Ribadu said based on statutes and provisions of the party, Bindow is still a bonafide member of APC as he has not openly announced his exit but the same cannot be said about those who have openly declared support for candidates of other political parties.
He noted that the party will later meet and deliberate on the matter and will make its position on those who partake in the governor’s endorsement.
