The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Atah, has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano State chapter, against dragging the party’s internal matters into the national spotlight.
He stated this in response to a warning issued by the party.
Naijaonpoint reported that Kano APC, in a letter signed by its state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, had accused Atah of “acting as the mouthpiece of the party and making remarks capable of causing disaffection among members.”
Reacting via a statement signed by his publicity aide, Seyi Olorunsola, the Minister warned that the party’s statement amounts to a distraction from important matters, such as the insecurity situation plaguing the party.
He insisted that his recent statements were made within his democratic rights and were not intended to create friction within the party.
Atah said he was responding formally for clarity, public education, and to restate his unwavering loyalty to the party and the president.
The statement read, “The Honourable Minister views the decision to draft and circulate such a letter especially one copied to the President at a time when Nigeria faces a declared national security emergency, as an unnecessary distraction.
“With the President suspending his international engagements, including the G-20 Summit in South Africa and a planned AU meeting in Angola, in order to attend to urgent state security matters, the priority of every patriotic leader should be unity, focus, and unwavering support for the Commander-in-Chief.
“The minister wishes to reaffirm that, beyond being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a proud member of the APC in Kano State, he is first and foremost a citizen of Nigeria with constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and opinion.
“The minister’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the APC is unquestionable and has been demonstrated consistently through sacrifice and commitment to the party’s ideals.
“Therefore, any suggestion that his recent public comments amount to ‘disaffection’ or an attempt to arrogate party leadership to himself is not only unfounded but reflects a narrow and erroneous understanding of democratic rights and internal party dynamics.
“If offering a sincere, well-reasoned, and patriotic opinion on the future direction of the party ahead of the 2027 elections is what the writers of the letter consider a wrongdoing, then the Minister stands ‘guilty as charged’, guilty only of loving his party enough to speak truthfully and strategically at a crucial moment.”
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