…Pastors pass confidence vote on El-Rufai
The membership of Kaduna State chapter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has further depleted as execute members of Kudan local government area have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with thousands of supporters Tuesday.
This was as Pastors under the auspices of Amalgamated Kaduna Pastors passed vote of confidence and endorsed Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for second term in office.
The former exco members who are from the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru’s local government, were received by the Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal on behalf of Governor Nasir El Rufai.
Speaking on behalf of the decampees, a former Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Magaji Sadiq Hunkuyi said that they dumped PDP because it has neglected the people of Kudan area council and the internal crisis ravaging the state chapter of the party.
Hunkuyi who also hails from Kudan local government, promised to deliver the area council to APC in the next Saturday governorship and House of Assembly elections.
The 28-member former exco include; Malam Tsoho Mohammed, the former Chairman of Hunkuyi Ward, ex-Chairman of Sokoto Ward, Alhaji Salisu Yaro and Alhaji Tafida Karfinka, former Chairman of Kauran Walk Ward.
Others are; Amba Aliyu, Bilkisu Uba and Dangude Yelwa, former Women Leaders of Hunkuyi, Doka and Taban wards respectively.
Ex Youth Leader Musa Shittu of Likoro ward, his counterpart in Garu ward Ali Gadanga and Musa Magaji, former Youth Leader of Hunkuyi ward were also amongst those who crossed over to APC.
It will be recalled that a PDP governorship aspirant, Sani Sidi and his associates across 23 local government of Kaduna state, had earlier defected to APC on Monday, citing lack of consultations and reconciliation by PDP and its gubernatorial candidate since Ashiru emerged the party’s flagbearer.
Meanwhile, the amalgamated Kaduna Pastors, while endorsing El-Rufai also condemned the statement credited to the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) disparaging the person of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai and his administration.
The Pastors said, the statement credited to the CAN Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab was done in bad faith and should be regarded as his personal opinion and should be treated as such.
In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Rev. Nath Omale said the group of Pastors under the umbrella which spread across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State have passed a vote of confidence on the administration of Governor El-Rufai and will work for his re-election on Saturday.
They said, “there are many achievements of the present administration in the state which have touched the lives of people positively and therefore we will work for his re-election.”
The group noted that their endorsement came after a careful and honest assessment of the administration recognition of people from different tribes and religion currently serving in his government.
According to them, “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has freed the state from the shackles of godfatherism and enslavement and do not allow religion and tribalism to determine his focus in areas of development across the state.”
“These among many other achievements in the almost four years of the Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai administration has made us to resolve to support the current administration in the state to continue till 2023,” the Pastors said.
