North East Stakeholders, Taraba APC back MB Mustapha from Taraba for next APC National Scribe

Patrick Okohue

Coalition of APC Support Groups in the North East has called on the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), to pick its next national secretary of the party from Taraba State, saying the state has been grossly marginalised in the party’s National Working Committee.

This is even as the State Working Committee (SWC) of the APC in Taraba State has given reasons why Mr. Muhammed Bello Mustapha, a lawyer should replace Mai Mala Buni as the national secretary of APC.

Addressing a press conference in Bauchi on Thursday, Chairman of the coalition Abdulhamid Yazeed urged the North East zone of the party to forward Bello Mustapha’s name from Taraba as the consensus candidate to fill the vacancy occasioned by the emergence of Mallam Mai Mala Buni, as Yobe State governor-elect.

The group also condemned what it described as unnecessary struggle for the position between Yobe and Borno state, saying Taraba State is the only state in the North East region that has never produced any member in the APC NWC since inception.

“We believe whatever comes to the North East zone must be shared accordingly to the six states in the region, Adamwa, Yobe and Borno have had its fair share of party appointments,

but Taraba has never gotten anything in APC leadership, look at the support they gave President Buhari at the poll, despite being a PDP state, President Buhari got 45 percent of the votes, its only proper we reward them in the party.”

Also speaking at the meeting, secretary of the group, Adams Faruk said the APC in Taraba State has brought forward a credible and capable candidate for the office of the National Secretary in person of M.B Mustapha, we want all stakeholders in the North East APC to support Taraba State and its candidate in spirit of fairness and equality.

He said Mustapha had previously contested for the same position of National Secretary during the 2018 National Convention of the party, “he was the last among the contestant to step down for Mala Buni to emerge unopposed,

the incumbent National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Isa-Onilu replaced Bolaji Abdullahi who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he was the last person to withdraw at the convention in 2018, so it is just fair and just to concede the vacant position to him.”

Mr. Mustapha, is the pioneer national youth leader of the Buhari Organisation and governorship candidate of the defunct CPC in Taraba State in 2011.

He was a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the last general election.

Also speaking on why Mustapha is their choice for the position of the National Secretary of the APC, after Mala Buni resigned to contest for governor of Yobe State which he won, Some party chieftains in APC in Taraba State APC, Mustapha is qualified and will contribute greatly to the growth of progressive political ideologies that the APC is known for.

They also vouched for Mustapha’s leadership ability to mend fences and reconcile aggrieved members and entrench bond of brotherhood, love, understanding and unity among party faithful if elected.

Addressing a press conference at his flag off campaign for the post, Mustapha promised to create an atmosphere where everyone will put in his/her best for the interest of the party.

He said party discipline would be enriched under his watch as he is ready to work with national chairman of the party in making the party more acceptable, better, virile and stronger to face the nation’s daunting challenges and ensure that justice, equity and fairness become order of the day.