Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, who represents Taraba South Senatorial District in the red chamber, said he switched from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress to avoid the state governor, Darius Ishaku’s “apparent persecution.”
Bwacha, who was the Senate Deputy Minority Leader until his defection on Thursday, also stated that the PDP as a national party did not offend him, but that his beef was with the party’s leadership in Taraba.
On Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ he made a statement.
The lawmaker bemoaned his “deliberate isolation from the governor,” adding that the governor’s feud with him was not his fault.
“I’m not sure what his (Ishaku’s) problem is with me,” he said, adding that the governor had barred public officials from attending his constituency projects and other political activities.
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“We (Ishaku and I) collaborated in 2015, but this hatred appeared in 2019.” I tried to talk to him about problems, but it always resulted in him hating me. “I tried to see him at one point, but he shut the door in my face,” the Senator said, adding that the PDP’s past and current leadership did not aid reconciliation efforts.
Bwacha also claimed that Ishaku did everything he could to prevent him from returning to the Senate in 2019, and that the governor was also opposed to his political advancement.
“I have not made a public announcement about becoming governor,” he said, “but there have been innuendos and insinuations.” People have been pressuring me to run for governor as well. And I overheard someone say that the only way I can sit with him (Ishaku) is if I give up my bid for governor.”
“I have not made a public announcement about becoming governor,” he said, “but there have been innuendos and insinuations.” People have been pressuring me to run for governor as well. And I overheard someone say that the only way I can sit with him (Ishaku) is if I give up my bid for governor.”
Bwacha believes the governor made a mistake by requiring him to give up his ambition in order for them to reconcile.
He stated that his defection is not motivated by the desire to win an election. “It’s about being in an environment where you’re not persecuted, where you’re given leeway to operate, a level playing field.”
“My people do not support such persecution; they see me going through unnecessary persecution,” he said.
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“If you stay in an environment where you will not survive, you are doing so at your own risk, and I would not be a part of that danger; I will not risk my political future in an environment where I am not guaranteed a clear future,” he added.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), and APC Caretaker Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, welcomed Bwacha into the party on Thursday, according to reports.
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