Gov Tambuwal loses 252 aides over defection to PDP

…No, they were sacked – Gov’s spokesman
In what appears like a political earthquake, 252 Special advisers and Special assistants appointed by Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal have resigned their appointments and returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) instead of working under a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government.

Alhaji Ibrahim Haske, a special adviser to the governor and spokesman for all the aides, stated this at a news conference in Sokoto on Sunday.

He added that their decision followed Governor Tambuwal’s defection from the APC to the opposition PDP.

He said, “Our appointment is based on the position that the APC is the political party governing the state and now that the government belongs to the PDP, we have no option other than to resign.

“We are bonafide members of the APC and our position has always remained same; we therefore resign voluntarily from the PDP government.

Haske, who was a former Sokoto South Local Government Chairman, further explained the decision was based on their desire to support APC to deliver on its mandate after the 2019 general election.

Alhaji Abdullahi Sokoto, also a special adviser to Tambuwal, restated the former aides’ commitment and dedication toward ensuring the success of the APC across the state.

“We will continue to remain in our party APC and as such we sacrifice our political appointments to clarify people’s doubt and show our stand on party supremacy.”

He restated the group’s loyalty and support to the policies and programme of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC.

In his reaction, the APC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Sadiq Achida, commended the former aides to Governor Tambuwal for their demonstration of loyalty to the party.

He said “the sacrifice of the Special advisers is highly recommended and will surely be rewarded by the people and APC in future.”

But Governor Tambuwal has directed the termination of the appointment of all special assistants from the service of the state numbering about 252.

A statement by Abubakar Shekara, Director General, Media and Public Affairs to Governor Tambuwal, said the sack is to enable the appointees engage in partisan activities without ethical or moral dilemmas.

The governor thanked the disengaged aides for their service to the state and wished them success in their future undertakings.