Bamanga Tukur’s Wife Registers For APC

Wife of the sacked People’s Democratic Party’s Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Hajiya Asiya Mohammed Bello yesterday registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Gabasawa Ward in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna North Local Government area of Kaduna State with registration card number 0623374.

Our correspondent, who monitored the ongoing APC registration in Kaduna yesterday confirmed that she had registered before he arrived but however got details of her registration from the registration officer.

Efforts  to speak with Asiya Bello when our correspondent visited Tukur’s residence at Gwari Crescent in Unguwan Rimi as to why she choose to go with the APC and not the PDP, her husband’s party was not successful. She was said to be fasting and ready to pray after the break of the fast and will not be available to speak.

The house is a duplex with several boys quarters located at a sharp bend on a large expanse of land at the Gwari Crescent GRA of Unguwan Rimi.

According to Malam Yahaya Gambo, who claimed to be Asiya Bello’s driver, “It is true that Hajiya Asiya registered today with of the APC” while showing her registration card which was still in his possession. He, however, said, “You will not be able to speak with her because she fasted today and she is preparing to break the fast and pray, you may wish to come and see her at about 9 or 10am tomorrow (Today)”.

Also confirming her registration, the supervising officer for the registration of the APC in Kaduna north in Kaduna State, Shaibu Lilly, said, “It is true that our registration officer registered Tukur’s wife and issued her a registration card. This is one of the developments of democracy in Nigeria where you see an immediate past PDP chairman’s wife registering for APC”.

“As far as I am concerned, they might be united as husband and wife but may have different opinions as the far as the political scenario is concerned, it is to show you that it is a falling period for the PDP”.

He said the crisis in the party in Kaduna State which was due to different opinions of the members has not in any way affected the registration exercise as many party members trooped out to register, describing the registration exercise as very successful.

Asked whether Hajiya Asiya was sponsored by PDP or her husband to register in APC for ulterior motives, Lilly said, that is not true but simply democracy at work.

A close family source to the Bamangas, who craved for anonymity confirmed to FRIDAY LEADERSHIP that Asiya is still Bamaga Tukur’s wife and that the house also belong to him.

When contacted, an APC chieftain in Kaduna State, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed said he cannot confirm her registration as he was in Abuja for an official engagement.

He however said, “I do know that Bamagar’s wife has been a supporter of the APC. She has been a progressive person.”

When the Kaduna State PDP Chairman, Chief Abubakar Gaiya Haruna was contacted on the development, he simply said he was not in Kaduna and was not aware of the matter, as such could not speak on it.

He said, “well, I am not aware of that, am presently not in Kaduna and cannot speak on the matter.”

When asked whether or not he knows any of  Bamanga Tukur’s wives in Kaduna, he said “Bamanga Tukur is a Muslim and may have more than one wife, I have been to his house several times here in Kaduna and Abuja but I have not seen any of his wives, so I cannot point at any of his wife because I have never met any of them”.

2015: Atiku Consults With APC Stakeholders In Edo

Ahead of the 2015 general election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday consulted with leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo.

Mr. Atiku, who visited the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, in his office in Benin said he was in the state as part of his nationwide consultation with the leadership of the party.

He said that the tour was in fulfillment of his promise to consult with relevant stakeholders across the country on his political ambition.

He commended the state government on its infrastructure development under the present administration and urged the governor to do more.

Responding, Mr. Oshiomhole said that he was excited about the intention of the meeting. He wished the former vice president well.

He urged him to ensure that his consultation would be to the benefit of the country and its citizens.

Mr. Atiku, though still a member of Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had voiced his frustration at being muzzled out of the party’s activities. He had been approached by the national leaders of the APC to join the opposition party, which controls Edo and 15 other states.

(NAN)

PDP’s Secret Weapon Against APC In 2015 – Secondus

The All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot beat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2015 general elections, Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Uche Secondus has boasted.

Secondus, who made this known at an enlarged meeting of the Akwa Ibom State caucus of the PDP in Uyo, the state capital on Thursday, said the opposition lacked the national spread to defeat the ruling party.

He also commended the PDP stakeholders in the state for holding onto the party from inception in 1999, adding that the PDP at the national level was very proud of Akwa Ibom State and its governor, Godswill Akpabio, for what he is doing to transform the state.
Secondus remarked: “I am overwhelmed and I believe that Akwa Ibom is setting the pace for the entire country to follow. The 2014 campaign is going to revolve around ward chairmen. The entire Nigeria should know that PDP is well rooted in all the wards of the country. We have over 9,000 wards across the country with PDP offices.

“I want the opposition party to challenge me if they have offices in these wards across this nation. PDP will win the election that is coming in 2015 because we are rooted in these wards. This is one secret the opposition does not know. They believe in blackmail and propaganda. It can’t work”, Secondus said.