By Ugo Willies

The gale of defections from the All Progressive Congress (APC) has continued to hit the ruling party in Gombe State as a former majority leader in the Gombe State House of Assembly, Markus Samuel, tendered his resignation Thursday morning.

Just within the week, a member, Rambi Ibrahim Ayala, also brought to an end his short stay with the APC in a resignation letter that was widely circulated by him via social media.

This is just as a handful of aides to Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, and some party members resigned from the Government and the party recently.

An impeccable source from the State Legislature has confirmed to our correspondent that this is just a tip of the iceberg, as no fewer than five APC members in the House have concluded plans of dumping the ruling party.

Confirming his resignation letter in a telephone interview with our correspondent, Markus Samuel, who represents Pero-Chonge State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, said he took his time without any duress to jot down his exit letter from the party.

He said, “I have also called His Excellency the Governor to inform him about my issues and why I am checking out of the party.”

He also confirmed that more members in the House that has over 20 members out of 24, will soon announce their departure from the APC for good.

Reacting to the gale of defections from the ruling APC on Tuesday, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Moses Kyari, said the party is not moved or worried a bit by what he described as the actions of desperadoes.

According to him, the defections are exhibition of desperation to contest elections by a few members.

He said, the APC has concluded arrangement to receive thousands of well meaning masses into their fold from the 114 electoral wards of the State.

He added that, the party had been strategising behind the scenes. “A political party is just like a market where there are entry and exit points.

If you are leaving, don’t cause confusion behind. Exit peacefully, we can’t stop you. If you are leaving today, 10 people are coming in, so why do we need to worry? The party has been strategizing behind the scenes,” he boasted.

By Ugo Willies

Immediate past Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and a former PDP Governorship aspirant during the 2019 party primaries, Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna may have reconciled their differences as Jamilu received a warm welcome back to the party.

Jamilu, who was tipped to win the PDP Governorship primary election in the build up to the 2019 general elections, immediately left the party after failing to secure the ticket.

But after about four years sojourn in the ruling APC which he greatly helped to form Government in 2019, the PDP party leader and immediate past Governor of the State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, welcomed him back to the fold in his Abuja residence Wednesday evening.

A statement made available to newsmen in Gombe by Gwamna’s media aide, Ibrahim Sani Shawai, said Gwamna, who a fortnight ago dumped the APC, was received along with a crowd of supporters.

While welcoming Dr. Jamilu, the Sardauna of Gombe back to the PDP, Dankwambo thanked him and his entourage for the visit and assured him of his support as well as the unity of the party.

He said, “Sardauna is my brother and I welcome him back to our fold,” the former Governor acknowledged, promising, “we’ll work together for the unity and the success of the party.”

Dankwambo further advised Dr. Jamilu and his entourage to go back to the grassroots and mobilise people for the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Earlier, Gwamna announced his entry into PDP when he met with the former Governor of the State and Gombe state PDP leader, Dr Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

He said, “Your Excellency we are here today for two things: to visit you and cement our existing relationship as brothers and to also inform you that I have returned to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“I assure you that we are going to unite ourselves to return PDP to government in the state come 2023,” he said

By Joseph Edegbo

At least six hundred clergymen amongst them 20 Archbishops, 144 Bishops, and hundreds of reverends converged on Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) honoured Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, with a “prestigious award for courageous and purposeful leadership in challenging times”.

Nigeria’s head of the Anglican church, Most Reverend Dr. Henry Ndukuba, whose title is the Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, presented the award to Borno State’s Head of Service, Barrister Simon Malgwi, who represented Governor Zulum at St Andrews Anglican Church at Rumuobiokani in Port Harcourt.

Malgwi is the first Christian in Borno’s history to be appointed Head of Service (by Governor Zulum in November, 2019).

Zulum’s award (and those of three other recipients) was one of the main events at the Anglican Communion’s bi-annual meeting of its “Standing Committee” usually attended by Bishops, and delegates from the 165 dioceses in the Church of Nigeria, representing the clergy, laity and the women ministry of the church”.

The meeting began on February 20, 2022, but the official opening held on Wednesday, February 23 (being the award day) while the meeting
ends February 24.

Primate Ndukuba said Professor Zulum has distinguished himself in less than three years of becoming Borno’s Governor.

“This award supersedes religion. We are tired of leaders that are not responsible and that is why we the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion deemed it fit to honour those who have excellently proven themselves worthy in serving their people: Our intentions are to bring to the fore the selfless service of leaders in such a trying time and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State stands out”, Primate Ndukuba declared amidst ovation in the church.

“Professor Babagana Zulum is a true leader, worthy of emulation and we are proud to have him among leaders in the country. He has been attacked severally while discharging his duties but he continued to show zeal and passion to bring hope to the state that’s suffered 12 year insurgency. We pray God to continue to guide, protect, bless and uplift Professor Babagana Zulum now and always” added the most reverend.

Governor Zulum, speaking through Head of Service, Malgwi, thanked the Anglican communion for the award, which he said, came to him as a pleasant surprise.

“I have received several awards but this one is very special because it came from clergy and it came from a church to one that is not a christian and your decision speaks volume of the objectivity and sincerity of purpose of the award. I very much cherish and value this award” Zulum said, as conveyed by the Head of Service.

The Head of Service led Borno’s delegation which included the state’s commissioner for poverty alleviation, Mr Nuhu Clark, Special Adviser on Community Relations, Mr Kester Ogualili and Senior Special Assistant on Youths and Jobs Creation, Mr Christopher Akaba.

By Ugo Willies

As prominent members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Gombe State continue to resign their membership, the party has said that it is not bothered because all is set to receive thousands into it’s fold from the 114 electoral wards of the State.

Of recent, since December 2021, a handful of prominent APC members have resigned their membership of the party.

Few prominent ones are, Alhaji Jibrin Danbarde, a governorship aspirant of the party in 2019; Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, a prominent figure during the 2019 APC campaigns; John Lazarus Yoriyo, a former Deputy Governor in the State and Malam Hamza Adamu Soye, immediate past Chairman of the State’s Sports Commission.

Others are, Ibrahim Rambi Ayala, a member of the State House of Assembly; Yahya Bauchi Tongo, member of the House of Representatives; Abubakar Abubakar BD, a former House of Representative member and grassroots politician among many others.

But reacting the defections, Mr. Moses Kyari, the party’s State Publicity Secretary said they are not bothered by the defections or defectors whom he described as desperados for positions.

He said most of them are defecting because they want to contest one position or the other, an opportunity they can not get in the APC.

According to him, plans have been concluded to go round all the eleven electoral wards of the State to receive defectors from other parties into the APC.

He said, the party had been strategising behind the scenes adding that, “a political party is just like a market where there are entry and exit points. If you are leaving, don’t cause confusion behind. Exit peacefully, we can’t stop you. If you are leaving today, 10 people are coming in, so why do we need to worry? The party has been strategizing behind the scenes”.

Mr. Kyari said, ” the problem is that the opposition who had been in Government and know how sweet Government is, are desperate to come back, as such, they can go to any length to ensure that they come back”.

He said another reason why the party is not worried is because the greater masses are with the Government of Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, adding that the party “don’t have any cause to worry because it’s a testament when the Governor returned from abroad, the masses that thronged the airport to the town to welcome him”.

” That is where we get our confidence from, because as those ones are exiting, better ones are coming. Very soon, we will go round the 114 electoral wards of the State to receive defectors into our fold, in some of the wards, we have as much as 100 and above coming to APC”, he stated.