2023: Jigawa gov, deputy, Emir stay away as Osinbajo visits

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state, deputy governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi and Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi on Saturday shunned vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo who visited the state on Saturday to meet delegates ahead of APC presidential primary election.

It was gathered that the governor created an emergency trip to Abuja on the day the vice president scheduled to visit the state to meet delegates and seek their votes during the party’s presidential primary election.

Reports from the state indicated that the governor had relocated to Kano since he declared his aspiration to run for president as he keeps holding frequent meetings with politicians in respect of his ambition

The vice president shifted the time of arrival to the state from 1pm to 3 pm as the governor refused to receive the vice president claiming to be traveling to the federal capital torritory Abuja as he directed his deputy to represent him.

Our reporter in the state gathered that the deputy governor has also been out of the state for some days for his political activities.

Speaking to our reporter the media aide to the deputy governor, Malam Ahmed Haruna said “my boss is not in town, he is in Abuja for screening over his governorship aspiration”.

At the time of filing this report, there was no certainty on the government official to receive the serving vice president.

A source in the state government said the secretary to the state government, Alhaji Abdulkadir Adamu Fanini was expected to receive the Vice president.

According to the programme of the vice president’s visit in the state, he was scheduled to visit the palace of the emir of Dutse and pay courtesy call on the governor and to end it with a meeting the delegates at the 3 Star Hotel in Dutse.
On arrival, Prof. Osinbanjo was received at the Dutse Airport by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Adamu Fanini; Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa, Alhaji Sani Aminu Gumel; party executives; state Assembly members, among others.

It was learnt that the inability of the Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar to welcome the VP might not be unconnected with his divergent political interest, as he is not in the same camp with the VP, despite both of them belonging to the ruling party.

During the closed- door consultative meeting with the delegates, the VP told them that politics should be seen as a tool for expanding frontiers of progress and development through constructive focus, commitment and hard work.

He said:” Let us modify our political culture in line with the present-time challenges. Let our polity be politics of inspirations conceived with innovative ideas and laudable issues that can bring about future political prospects for even development for our collective interest…”

Osinbajo said politics should be viewed as a vital tool for national cohesion and strengthening of national unity among the country’s divergent races.

He continued: “My reason for aspiring for the office of the President is to serve the Nigerian people. I have no other reason or objective except to serve…”

“After I have been in office as a vice president for seven years, I know that God did not give me that opportunity so that I would sit down somewhere and write the history of my service as vice president.

“God doesn’t give you a challenge without showing you how to solve them. I know all the efforts we are putting in place, especially led by President Muhammadu Buhari, we will see an end to insecurity in our country. In the next few years, we will definitely see progress in our country.

“There is a lot of hope. This country has everything that is necessary to be great: the talents, resources and we also have the men and women who are able to serve. I am very optimistic that all will be well with our country.”