Civil rights activist turned senator, Malam Shehu Sani (APC
Kaduna) will not relent in criticizing the anti-people policies of the Governor
of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, Special
Assistant to the Senator, Suleiman Ahmed has said.
 |
| Shehu Sani |
Ahmed stated this in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigerian (NAN) in Kaduna on Tuesday while reacting to the alleged suspension of
the senator by the Tudun Wada North, Ward 6 of APC.
The party at the ward level had in a letter dated Dec. 7 , 2015
and signed by the party’s Ward Secretary, Malam Ahmed Abdullahi; the Public
Relations Officer, Malam Auwal Anguwa; and an Ex-Officio member, Malam Aminu
Alilan, suspended Sani for 11 months.
The letter claimed that Sani was suspended for consistently
criticising the policies of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, an act which the APC ward
executives described as ``anti-party”.
The aide said the suspension would only strengthen his
principal’s resolve to criticise any policy of the el-Rufai administration that
he considered ``anti-people”.
``This letter is not relevant; it has no value to us; this
letter will energise him the more; it will strengthen his resolve to criticise
the government of the state if it goes wrong.
``The senator will continuously criticise any (government)
policy that is anti-people up to the end of (his tenure in) the Senate and
beyond.
``So if you feel that the senator should not criticise the
government of the day because he is part of the party that brought the current
government to power, then when he comes out to re-contest in 2019, do not vote
for him.
``He will criticise the government, whether or not he comes back
as a senator in 2019.
``This is because Sani has been consistent in his criticism of
anti-democratic processes and elements; he did not start his criticism (in the
current) democratic (dispensation).
``He has been doing criticism of anti-people policies right from
the military era. That’s what has caused his imprisonment on several
occasions.”
The aide said the senator would consider seeking legal redress
if served with a genuine suspension letter in line with standard procedure.
He explained that the ward executives had invited the senator to
the ward office to defend himself against some allegations leveled against him.
According to him, barely 24 hours after receiving the
invitation, the ward office of the party sent a suspension letter to him.
He said: ``This is a clear violation of standard procedure in
line with the party’s constitution, which renders the letter invalid.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the party in Makarfi Local Government
Area, Malam Tukur Abba, has condemned the alleged suspension of Sani.
Speaking at a news conference in Kaduna, Abba said due process
was not followed in the purported suspension of the senator.
``We are at the executive committee level of the party. Who is
the complainant? What is the nature of the complaint? Who is the alleged
offender?
``Is the action in compliance with the provision of the party’s
constitution? Is the state executive committee properly constituted to carry
out the purported action?
``Is this action not the handiwork of few members of the State
Working Committee members purporting to act as a superior body to the State
Executive Committee?
``I am sure majority of the above questions will be answered in
the negative. I therefore, disassociate myself from whatever decision taken.”
(NAN)
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