The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), North West, Hon. Muhammad Datti, has described the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) as a paper tiger, and a politician without electoral value.
He said it was laughable that Malami that cold not win a concillorship seat during the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) struggles had the temerity to castigate Al-Makura, who was the only governor elected on the CPC platform in 2011.
The member of National Working Committee (NWC) of APC said Malami cannot speak for the leaders of the defunct CPC — one of the legacy parties that formed the ruling APC
TheHintsNews reports that following the recent defection of a former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasi El-rufai, — a CPC member — from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), there were insinuations that some key members of the defunct CPC bloc within the ruling party would follow suit.
However, some key figures from the CPC bloc within the APC had last week declared that they have any plans to abandon the APC.
They also declared their unalloyed support to the APC-led government under the able leadership of President Tinubu.
The CPC bloc included a former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura; a former speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-governor of Katsina State, Hon. Aminu Masari; for Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu; a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu, among many others.
But Malami, in a statement, said the CPC bloc leaders should only speak for themselves and not the entire bloc.
However, Datti in a statement issued Sunday said Malami lacked any merit to attack the CPC leaders.
Datti noted: “I was utterly stupefied when I saw the statement credited to Malami. What he tried to do was to deride and denigrate the key figures of the CPC bloc in the APC.
“It is laughable that Malami had the temerity to castigate Al-Makura, who was the only governor elected on the CPC platform in 2011. Maybe he should also be reminded that Masari was the Deputy National Chairman of the APC during its formation — the highest office held by a CPC bloc member during the merger.
“Both Al-Makura and Masari are political heavy weights, who won governorship elections twice. They are not like Malami, who is a political lightweight, a paper tiger, and a politician without electoral value.
“During the CPC struggles, the party did not win even a councillorship seat in Kebbi, Malami’s home state. Lest we forget, Malami had obtained the APC governorship forms to contest for the governor of Kebbi State in 2023. But he chickened out, having sensed that he did not possess the electoral value to clinch the ticket. So, of what benefit is he to any political movement?,” Datti queried.
The APC chieftain, who served as the CPC House Caucus Leader between 2011 and 2015, added that Malami and his co-travelers were only trying to reap where they did not sow, having worked tirelessly against the APC during the presidential election — for President Bola Tinubu to lose the polls.
He added: “It is still fresh in our memories that the likes of Malami constituted themselves as the powerful cabal under the Buhari government, and worked vigorously against the candidature of President Tinubu.
“Even before the 2023 presidential contest, right from Buhari’s first term in office, they made sure that Tinubu was effectively sidelined and marginalised in the scheme of things.
“But Asiwaju did not rock the boat; he stayed put in the party and remained committed to its ideals.
“Today, the Malamis of this world, having realised that they could not eat their cake and have it, have now resorted to political gyration, all in an attempt to dump the same party that made them what they are today. Why not emulate Tinubu?”
Datti reminded Malami that the CPC bloc in the current government was adequately represented as its members hold key positions.
For the record, he noted that the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, is of the CPC bloc; Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, and Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State all came from the CPC.
Datti said the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas; the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa; the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Usman were all from the CPC.
“I want to once again make it categorically clear to Malami that we do not intend to leave the APC for whatever reason. We are satisfied with President Tinubu’s stewardship, and we will continue to support him,” he said.