Bauchi APC Youth wing condemns attack on Tuggar

Segun Babatunde Awofadeji, Bauchi

All Progressives Congress (APC) Young Leaders Coalition, a political pressure group has vehemently condemned the harassment last Friday in Bauchi on Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.

It was reported that the Minister was attacked while in the entourage of Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima who was in Bauchi for the turbaning ceremony of the state former Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN) as the first Makama Babba in the hierarchy of Bauchi emirate council.

The young leaders’ coalition was particularly concern about the alleged attack/harassment on the minister by a top official of the Bauchi state government in pretext of revenge against his master on which verbal words were exchanged.

The coalition in a press statement in Bauchi Thursday sees the incident as unbecoming within the hierarchy of those in power who were expected to lead by example and for a Bauchi state government official to harass a minister will be the worst act that could happen in the political history of the state.

The statement signed by the coalition’s coordinator, Musa G. Khalid said, “Brigandage or animalistic behavior of this sort definitely need to be investigated to determine the clueless to which the act was perpetrated with a view to forestall reoccurrence in future”

According to him, “This brazen act reflects negatively on governance and democratic norms and values of not only the APC or PDP, but would far reaching consequences on the electorate or critical stakeholders, and the generality of the people as well”.

To this end, coalition argued, there is the need for the political parties and political stakeholders and gladiators in the state to have a round table and thoroughly discuss issues of such magnitude ahead of the forthcoming electioneering campaigns otherwise politicking in Bauchi state would stand to be bleak.

It explained that the round table discussions among home-bred politicians of the divides should also tender an unreserved apology to the Honourable Minister while charting a mutual way of politicking without bitterness as far as democracy thriving is concerned in the state.

On one-hand, the coalition is very much concern with negative attitudes of the PDP officials who were alleged to have initially ignited the fracas which culminated to the harassment on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.

It is glaringly clear from the report of the incident that a recalcitrant top official of the Bauchi state government physically harassed the Minister in the present of the Vice President who is also very bitter about act perpetrated at the scene of the incident.

The Vice President, according to the findings, was even said to have warned the Bauchi government official against the crude act, which calls for the PDP at both state and national to take appropriate measure against the recalcitrant or even punish him where necessary.

Coordinator Musa Khalid explained that unless the PDP take a stern measure against it’s officials while putting it’s house in order against such unbecoming act, the scenario would possibly escalate to something differently unpredictable

The coalition saw the PDP officials as very rude in their action as regard to the incident, because the minister and the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed have for a long time being close friends, but just for political quack to exhibit such unruly behavior.

Coalition queried, “If our politicians at home chart the path of rudiness or bitterness in the game of politics at their doorsteps, what if they found themselves elsewhere in a political expedition, could they take to the battle of outwitting or maiming one another?

“Let this ugly scenario in our game of politics be nipped on the bud, and let’s chart a way forward for the rapid overall progress and development of our dear state.

Bauchi State Government, it’s officials, and PDP should desist from any act that may undermine the dignity and respect of APC members and it’s stakeholders”.

Malam Musa Khalid emphasised that while the APC and its members remain committed to peace and stability, they will not tolerate any form of insult or disrespect directed at its party stakeholders, saying APC family in the state is peace-loving and law-abiding, adding “We will neither tolerate any provocation, nor be deterred by any threat or intimidation.

Coalition therefore strongly condemned the incident and urged agents of the state Government to focus on addressing their concerns with the EFCC, especially the allegations of billions of naira financial scam and any attempt by PDP agents to malign or attack the reputation of any APC chieftain will henceforth not be tolerated.

It was reported that the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State Rt. Hon. Auwal Mohammed Jatau was accused of slapping the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Yusuf Maitama Tuggar during the event, but the Deputy Governor immediately through his media officer Muslim Lawal denied it. END