POLITICS
APC: Commending Matawalle’s Peace Initiative in Zamfara

By Yusuf Idris Gusau
There was apparent sigh of relief within the rank of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) following the decision of the former governor Abdulaziz Yari to embrace peace and work for the party’s success in 2023.
Pictures of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle and former governor Yari both in smiles and shaking hands at the party national headquarters in Abuja, which went viral on social media were balms that soothed a lot of hearts across the state and beyond.
Before the national headquarters incident, pictures of the two leaders also in smiles appeared a night earlier with the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu sandwiched between them.
At the national headquarters event, an accord was signed and understanding reached, signalling a new phase and order in the state chapter of the party that the good time has returned.
To the average Zamfara citizen who have been bearing the broth of the lingering crisis that had dodged the party and the state, the last week event was a happy ending to a seeming horror and tragic movie that had rolled on for many years.
To Governor Matawalle, it is a long tortuous journey in the reconciliation effort he has been working tirelessly to bring about the party’s unity he desperately sought and midwived over the years.
Despite efforts by the anti-peace elements within and outside the party to frustrate the efforts, Matawalle had continued undaunted, believing rightly, that there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. The last week’s incident is therefore a testimony to the resolve and commitment of a leader who will walk through a razing inferno or on thorns in order to bring succour to his people and peace to his domain.
And the Yari catch is a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to bring feuding members together for many reasons. The former governor is a political colossus in his own right and a founding member of the APC, who command a lot of influence and boasts of an army of loyalists as well as followers across the state.
Matawalle has never once doubted Yari’s political standing in the state and has continued to accord him respect despite the misunderstanding that existed between them. In the face of the raging discontents over who controls the party’s structure in the state following Matawalle’s defection to APC, the two leaders had ensured that the mutual respect between them remained intact. They never disparaged each other nor do anything that will undermine the long standing relationship they had cultivated and enjoyed over the years.
The former governor, to his credit, has continued to accord the much needed repsect to the party national leadership and has never one day pubilicly attacked them verbally as some stakeholders were noted for. That’s possibly why it was easier to woo the former governor over and is the reason why Yari was able to hold his head high while exchanged pleasantries with party leaders across the negotiation table at the national headquarters last week.
Another reason why Yari’s decision is also significant is that it is coming at a critical period when the opposition PDP was hoping and salivating over a big catch that would have increased its fortune ahead of 2023. The party in the state through its chairman, Col. Bala Mande (retired) had announced on April 17 that the former governor along with Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa had “dumped” APC for its party.
Col. Bala Mande said they had sat down and finalised the issue of the defection of Yari and Marafa and they had reached an agreement to work for the development of the Party.
“We have all agreed to work for the development of the party and the PDP in the state has welcome them to its fold. We will ensure justice and fairness to all members even after we have won elections in 2023.”
“The date for their grand reception to our party will be announced later but we are going to implement all the agreements reached during the stakeholders meeting,” Mande was quoted to have said.
But as it turned out, Mande’s aspiration and that of his party, have become a pipedream, a hallucination which the former Milan would have woken up the next day to dread and agonise over. And in the coming days, the impact of his missteps in attempting to harvest where he and his party did not sow, will be more felt when the reconciliation efforts by Matawalle and other stakeholders begins to cause implosion in the opposition party.
With Yari back to the fold and working with Matawalle, there is bound to be mass exodus from the opposition to the APC. The situation in the opposition party will further worsen with the deal to get Senator Kabir Marafa back to the fold already sealed.
It was wishful thinking for the PDP to attempt to woo Yari and Marafa to it’s platform. It may be rejoicing that Marafa was absent when the deal with Yari was struck but the Senator was abreast of the development and in tune with the reality that PDP can never be a viable alternative platform to APC. In an interview he granted to journalists shortly after the Abuja meeting, Marafa did acknowledged that he was aware of the development and fully committed to the peace efforts. What more assurances do the opposition party requires when the fact of the matter came from the horses mouth.
On the whole, the recent event showed that the APC is on course to sustaining its hold on the state’s politics in 2023 through a reawakening that the party’s conflict resolution mechanism is working and can be deployed appropriatly to achieving set goals. It has been duly applied in Gombe, Lagos even as the party is currently working its magic in Kano, Kwara, Osun, Ondo and other states where discontents existed.
For the Zamfara peace efforts, the national chairman, Abdullahi Admau and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members deserved commendation for their leadership role in bringing feuding members to the roundtable.
Also, Governor Matawalle also deserved a pat on the back for showing that internal crisis is resolvable if leaders jettisoned personal consideration for collective party interest. As a unifier who believed in peaceful coexistence, his decision to run an all-inclusive government should be emoluated by others. As things stand today, all those who served as civilian governors from Sen. Ahmad Sani Yarima to Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi to Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar and now Bello Mohammed Matawalle are together with all former deputy governors, Alhaji Muntari Anka and Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala.
Similarly, all past Speakers of the state House of Assembly…., former and serving senators, serving and former members of the House of Representatives and state House of Assembly except for very few or those that are deceased and all their teeming supporters have now fully returned under one roof of the APC. This is indeed commendable.
Also, stakeholders like Yari equally needed to be eulogise for towing the path of honour and showing courage by embracing peace efforts aimed at uniting the party and directing it on the path of development and growth. Zamfara APC is on the match towards 2023.
Gusau is the Zamfara state APC Publicity Secretary.
POLITICS
Youth Leader Urges Stakeholders to Rally behind Dickson for 2027

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
A Youth Leader from Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Alhaji Letugbene has called on stakeholders in Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State to close ranks and work together to return the Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson to the National Assembly come 2027.
Letugbene, who made the call recently said, Senator Dickson has performed creditably since he was elected and should be supported by all to continue his good work in the Senate, as there is no doubt in his political experience and leadership abilities and competence. He particularly, appealed to the stakeholders and people of Ekeremor to rally round Senator Dickson because he remains the only and best option for the people of Bayelsa West who are clamouring for true representation.”I want to call on my people in Ekeremor to join us to work together to return Senator Seriake Dickson back to the Senate in 2027.He has done well since he was elected and I’m convinced he will even do better for us” he said.According to him, Senator Dickson deserves the support of Ekeremor because he has impacted every community, noting that as a two-term governor, he cited several key projects in the LGA and appointed sons and daughters into key positions of trust, while as a federal lawmaker, he continues to impact the people positively.Letugbene, who is the National Vice Chairman of the Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), also asserted, that Senator Dickson has taken the gauntlet left by the late Ijaw leader, Pa Edwin Clark, to face fire for the Ijaw Nation when it mattered most, noting that he stood his ground against intimidation and oppression to speak truth to power when issues affecting his people are on the front burner in the Red Chamber.He said Senator Dickson has remained vocal, courageous and fearless in the National Assembly, condemning the marginalization and oppression of the Ijaw Nation as well as other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, while demanding equity, fairness and justice for the people.Letugbene, however, bemoaned the actions of a few misguided stakeholders from Ekeremor who are whipping up sentiments against Senator Dickson through propaganda and claims that Sagbama is marginalizing Ekeremor over the Senate seat, urging them not to spread falsehood as the zoning formula in the area no longer existed and that anyone is free from either LGAs to contest the Senate and House of Representatives election in 2027.The ex-agitator, who passed a ‘vote of confidence’ on Senator Dickson, also enjoined beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme from Ekeremor LGA to support the federal lawmaker because of his assertive and unwavering commitment to the upliftment and betterment of Bayelsa West, the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta in the Nigerian Federation.POLITICS
Ribadu, Mustapha’s Strategic Leadership Drive APC Reconciliation Success in Adamawa

From Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State has recorded a major breakthrough in its quest for internal cohesion and electoral strength with the formal submission of a comprehensive reconciliation report by the committee led by elder statesman, Senator Mohammed Mana.
The peace initiative, which has been widely applauded by stakeholders, is the outcome of a coordinated effort spearheaded by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the APC National Vice Chairman (North East), Comrade Mustapha Salihu. The reconciliation committee was constituted after wide consultations among key political actors in the state, and with strategic input from the NSA, who is widely regarded as a stabilizing figure in Adamawa politics. His role, sources said, was pivotal in setting the tone for an inclusive and credible reconciliation process.Working in close alignment with the NSA, Comrade Mustapha Salihu provided administrative coordination, strategic direction, and political leadership that anchored the peace-building effort and culminated in the successful submission of the report.Speaking at the event, Salihu described the development as a “New dawn” for the APC in Adamawa and a critical step toward repositioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.“This report marks a turning point in our collective efforts to strengthen the APC in Adamawa. It is the product of genuine dialogue, stakeholder engagement, and a shared commitment to unity. I sincerely thank all those who played a role in making this happen, particularly our National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his guidance and fatherly support throughout this process,” Salihu said.He emphasized that the reconciliation is not just about settling disputes but about laying a solid foundation for future electoral success by fostering inclusivity and rebuilding trust among party members.In recognition of these efforts, the Adamawa APC Unity Forum, led by Abubakar Hamma, issued a statement commending the leadership of both NSA Ribadu and Comrade Salihu.“The roles played by the NSA and our Zonal Vice Chairman were instrumental. Their guidance, commitment, and strategic oversight gave the committee the credibility and confidence it needed to deliver this crucial mandate. Their patriotism has rekindled hope in the APC project in Adamawa,” the statement read.Similarly, the Coalition of APC Youths Forum in Adamawa, led by Hon. Khalil Sajo, expressed optimism about the party’s future in the state, declaring that the reconciliation efforts had repositioned the party for victory.“We now have a united front. The distractions are over, and thanks to leaders like NSA Ribadu and Comrade Salihu, we are entering the 2027 race from a position of strength,” the youth leader added.It will be recalled that Comrade Mustapha Salihu recently donated a newly acquired 20-room duplex complex equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to serve as the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Adamawa State APC Secretariat. This, among several other gestures, reflects his unwavering commitment to the party’s growth and organizational readiness.Political observers believe that with this successful reconciliation and the backing of respected national figures like Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Comrade Salihu, the APC in Adamawa is now better positioned to challenge for electoral dominance in the coming years.POLITICS
Why Northwest Governors Root for Tinubu as 2027 Sole Candidate

From Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North West Zone has boldly declared that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on a clear path to victory in the 2027 presidential elections, citing the disarray in the opposition and the party’s growing unity and strength across the region.
This assertive position was contained in a communiqué read by the Coordinating Governor of the North West and Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, following a high-level stakeholders meeting of the APC held on Saturday in Kaduna. The well-attended meeting brought together key political heavyweights including the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Governors of Kebbi and Jigawa States, Deputy Governor of Katsina, Ministers, National and State Assembly members, and other top presidential aides from the zone.Governor Uba Sani noted that the stakeholders extensively assessed the state of the party and the performance of elected and appointed officials, and resolved to consolidate on the party’s political dominance across the zone.“One of the key takeaways from our robust deliberation is the undeniable fact that the opposition is in disarray,” he said. “But we must not be complacent. We must continue to deliver on our mandates and deepen the trust of our people. If we remain focused, the opposition stands no chance of recovering.”The stakeholders unanimously passed a vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu, applauding what they described as his “progressive governance, inclusive leadership, and unwavering support to the North West.” Speaker Abbas moved the motion, which was seconded by Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, and greeted with thunderous approval.Governor Sani further highlighted the President’s “uncommon support” for the North West, including the appointment of 12 ministers from the zone, two service chiefs, and major investments in security, infrastructure and agriculture.The communique concluded with a rallying call for unity and proactive grassroots mobilization as the APC prepares to extend its winning streak into the next election cycle.“The North West is firmly behind President Tinubu. With our collective commitment and strategic planning, 2027 will be another resounding victory for the APC,” Uba Sani affirmed.