The Kaduna State Government said that it is sending political traders into retirement, and will not be swayed by their drowning antics.

The Shuiabu Inuwa Wada led Kaduna State factional All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a query to Governor Nasir El-rufai and slammed an 18-month suspension on his political adviser, Uba Sani.

Others it ‘sanctioned’ are the state commissioner for finance, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, and Yahaya Bab Pate, the acting state secretary of the party for activities it described as “inimical to the interest of the chapter.”

The factional chairman, at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, said the suspension of the trio of Mr. Sani, Mr. Pate and Mr. Kwari is ”with effect from 12th February, 2018.”

“The Governor earned the query due to his anti-people, anti party activities and inhuman policies. El-Rufai is expected to respond to the query within 48 hours,” he said.

But, a government statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, SSA to the Governor on Media and Publicity while reacting to the query on Thursday, said that no one will pay heed to the attention-seeking gambits of desperate politicians who have steadily been demystified. It also warned that rascally actions being undertaken by these traders in the hope of getting a lifeline from reconciliation moves will not be rewarded.

“The APC Government of Kaduna State has boldly lived up to its manifesto commitments and principles to the people. In this work, it continues to enjoy the firm support of the APC State Executive which is united, and committed to the hard work of bringing sustainable change.

“The government appreciates the support it has received from the party in executing policies that stand up for the right of ordinary people to equal opportunity. That support was vividly demonstrated as the government took drastic action to ensure that only qualified teachers teach the children of the poor.

“Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is proud of his record in achieving unprecedented levels of capital spending in the state, direct job creation, doubling school enrollment and doubling internally-generated revenue. The governor has no doubt that the people of Kaduna State have seen who was committed to building schools, roads and hospitals, and bringing investors and will make the right choice in their own interest. The political traders are also aware that the people know who is standing up for them.

“The government had been made aware of the boastful and pompous claims of Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, that he will change the leadership of Kaduna State in 2019 by installing himself as Governor. The desperate Senator is seeking a lifeline, in the vain belief that ratcheting up rascally actions will bring him attention and relief from the mooted national reconciliation efforts. Senator Hunkuyi has further illegally created a faction, headquartered in his house, as a bargaining chip. This Senator has failed to understand that you cannot create party executives at your whim. It is the party’s prerogative to consider appropriate responses to this breach of discipline. But as a government, we view these actions as the needless drama of political traders.

“Hunkuyi has on three previous elections failed to get himself elected as governor. Yet he flaunts false claims that it was him that got Malam Nasir El-Rufai elected in 2015.

“In 2015, it was God Almighty and the good people of Kaduna State that made Malam El-Rufai Governor and Hunkuyi a Senator. It appears that Hunkuyi has forgotten how his previous attempts to be Governor in 2003, 2007 and 2011 failed miserably. With the Almighty’s gracious help, his association with the El-Rufai brand helped get him elected as senator in 2015.

“It is clear that he can’t be cured of his obsession to be governor of Kaduna State at all cost, whether through betrayal of trust, treachery, or deceit. But should know by now that Kaduna State is not for sale. Ordinary people, including in Hunkuyi’s Kudan local government area, now know that governance can work for them. The era of political traders is over.”

The Shuaibu Idris, state chairman of the other faction described the Wada's led faction as Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi led group as disgruntled elements within the party.

In their reaction in a statement by Salisu Tanko Wusono, Acting Publicity secretary, of Mr. Idris led faction said:

“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kaduna chapter has been drawn to the purported opening of a factional office by the Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi-led group of disgruntled elements within the party.

“Accordingly, we have conducted an interim review or this dastardly act, hence the use of this medium to warn members of the general public to be very weary of the activities of these imposters whose activities and plans are to destroy the good will of the party in the state so as jeopardise the existing peaceful atmosphere in the state.

“We wish to assure our extreme party members , supporters and admirers that there is no cause for alarm as necessary disciplinary action will be taken against the culprits in due cause just as security agencies across the state have been notified of this treacherous development.”

Calls and text messages to SMS, WhatsApp to Mr. Sani, Political Adviser to the governor , Mr. Kwari, the commissioner of finance and Mr. Pate, the Acting State Secretary of the party, were not responded to.

The chairpersons of the APC, in the six local governments that make up Kaduna Central Senatorial district had endorsed Mr. Sani a rival candidate as senator for the zone.

The district is currently represented in the Senate by Shehu Sani, an activist and member of the APC. Mr. Sani has had a running battle with the governor.

The APC chairmen endorsed Mr. Sani the political adviser to Mr. El-Rufai, for the ticket, come 2019.

The six local governments whose APC leaders endorsed the endorsement are Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Kaduna North, Kaduna South and Giwa.

The APC chairman of Kaduna North Local Government Area, Musa Sheriff, said that their decision for the endorsement was based on “the positive contributions by Mr. Sani to the affected local governments including securing jobs for the youth.”

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