Drama as party officials shun guber aspirant

There was a mild drama yesterday at the premises of the All Progressive Congress (APC) state secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, when the leadership shunned a governorship aspirant in next year’s election, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Mera, who was at the office to make his ambition formally known to them.

Mera, a retired deputy comptroller general of Custom in charge of Finance, was at the party office to express his intent to contest the position against the incumbent, Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu.

Addressing journalists shortly after the drama was brought under control, the Financial Secretary of the party in the state, Aliyu Bature, explained that the party secretariat was not aware of Mera’s mission and so urged him to go back and meet his ward and local government party chairmen, who would in turn come along with him for recognition.

“We don’t know any candidate than Muhammadu Buhari for President and Atiku Bagudu for a second term as governor. This is what we concluded and have endorsed last year.

“Why then should we bring another person again to contest for the governorship slot?

“You have not been attending our meetings, where were you in the past three years and now you want us to recognised you by giving you a quick position without working for the party?” he added. Mera, a younger brother of the Emir of Argungu, was at the party office with thousands of his supporters, but were denied recognition by party officials, who advised him to suspend his ambition, as there is no vacancy.

In his reaction, Mera said his mission was to test his popularity, adding that if he loses the primary election to the incumbent, he would take it in good faith and remain a strong member of the APC in the state.