A women leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hajia Maryam Suleiman, has slammed Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, accusing him of disloyalty to his predecessor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
Suleiman, who is popularly called Mai Rusau, was until her suspension, the APC Women Leader in Badarawa/Mailali Ward.
In a video which has gone viral, Suleiman recalled how El-Rufai, in 2019, travelled almost 500 times to lobby party chieftains at the APC headquarters in Abuja to ensure that Sani became the representative of Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly.
Speaking in Hausa, Suleiman said El-Rufai fought hard and took risks to remove former Senator Shehu Sani in order to make way for Uba Sani, who was considered loyal at the time.
The outburst earned Suleiman a suspension from the party, according to a letter dated 31 March 2024, which was obtained by DAILY POST on Monday.
The letter, signed by the Ward Chairman, Ali Maishago and Secretary, Saka Bassahuwa, accused Suleiman of gross misconduct for criticizing Governor Uba Sani.
Parts of the letter read: “The Badarawa/Mailali Ward APC Executive Committee after due deliberations and careful examination on the viral video clip released on 30th March, 2024 via Social Media network: Facebook, Watshapp, and Tiktok which is against the constitution of our dear party, APC as stated in Article 21.2(v).
“Subsequently, the party relied on defamation of character of his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Uba Sani.
“Unauthorised Publicity of the party dispute that discredited the personality of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.
“From today, Sunday 31st March, the leadership of APC in Badarawa/Malali Ward unanimously resolved to suspend Hajiya Maryam Suleiman from the party pending further investigation on the matter from the constituted authority.”
Meanwhile, speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District, recalled how he was blocked by the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, when he attempted to return to the 9th Senate.
According to him, El-Rufai blocked his return to the Senate because he stopped him from accessing a $350 million World Bank loan when he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.
Shehu Sani insisted that he took the action in the interest of the people of Kaduna State, as the debt hanging on the state was more than revenue accruing to the state at the time.
He said: “As Senate Committee Chairman on Local and Foreign Debts in the 8th Senate, I did block El-Rufai from accessing the sum of $350 million loan after I have analysed critically the huge debt that was hanging on the state at the time.
“I did that out of genuine interest for the state and not out of malice, but it became an offence El-Rufai used against me.”
How El-Rufai lobbied Buhari, APC chiefs to replace Shehu Sani with Gov Uba in 9th Senate – Suspended women leader
