As the crisis engulfing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano continues, five former gubernatorial aspirants from the state’s defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, have warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APCNational )’s Caretaker Committee against ignoring Kano’s internal party crises.

Yusuf Ado Kibiya, Kabiru Kamakasa, Hamisu Lamido Iyantama, and Professor Mukthar A. Yusuf, all past aspirants, warned during a news conference in Kano that the APC’s issues will only lead to the party losing the state to the opposition.

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They reiterated their requests for the party’s national secretariat to address the Kano APC crisis in a secure and democratic manner, moving factions away from competing views and actions.

Director-General of the Group, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, who was also a former commissioner in the cabinet of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, noted that they formed the APC Maslaha group not as a new faction within the party but to champion the true and just reconciliation of warring factions.

He said APC Maslaha Group was constituted by five eminent APC elders in Kano State to address the incessant problem of intraparty conflicts as well as create a platform where peace, stability and harmonious relationship among party members would be cordially maintained.

“You may wish to recall that wherever intra-party conflict exists, the end result is often the failure to achieve success during election.

“Therefore, APC Maslaha seeks the support of all and sundry within Kano APC to sheath their swords to allow peace to prevail for the interest of democracy and successful election results in 2023,” he said.

He emphasized that APC Maslaha wished to ensure that the Democratic process at all levels is adhered to support fielding credible candidates into political offices.

He maintained that conflict between the Government side led by Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the other faction led by Senator Ibrahim Shekarau was a result of domination, competing values interest and ambition.

According to him disunity and disharmony are projecting an embarrassing posture about Kano State, which he warned that defection to other political parties, increase chances for the opposition party to win the forthcoming election among others might be among the negative consequences of the crises.,

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“The National Secretariat should try to find an amicable solution to the conflict in Kano APC because it will definitely affect the entire election process in the nation” Yusuf Ado Kibiya added.

Three contenders for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun state governorship election ticket, incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf and former secretary to the state government, Fatai Adeoti appeared before the screening committee of the party in Abuja, ahead of it February 19 primary election in the state.

Speaking with newsmen after the exercise, Governor Oyetola said his performance in office is enough for him to win the primary in the party and also win the general election.

“Let me say this, my performance in office as I speak today is enough for me to win the primary in the party and to win the election in all areas of endeavor, in the area of infrastructure, Health, Education, Security and the economy.

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“That means by every standard, we have done so well. So giving the fact that within the last three and a half years I have been able to justify the confidence reposed in me by the people.

“I have been very much involved in the party, right from the time of AD till date. I’m not a novice when it comes to the issue of party. If My performance speaks for me and that is good and fine.”

When asked how prepared he was, Oyetola said: “I have been going round to talk to members of the party in all the local governments. As of yesterday out of thirty we have visited about eighteen of the local government areas and we will continue with the strategic engagements starting from tomorrow (Friday). So that is to show you the fact that I don’t want to take anything for granted.

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“This is an election that is among members of the party so I will need their endorsement to be able to fly the flag of the party. I have been going around to ask for the support of the members of the party in all the local governments of the state. So I’m prepared.”

Dr. Uzah Thomas, the Dean of Student Affairs Kwararafa University Wukari, Taraba State, has said only the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello can put a stop to the incessant strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The university don stated this in a paper he presented at the Civil Society Think Tank Round Table on a Glance into Nigeria’s Future and Governor Yahaya Bello’s Developmental Politics; 2023 in Perspective.

In his presentation, Dr. Thomas hammered on Governor Bello’s giant strides in the education sector in Kogi to press home his point.

Bello who is being tipped by many Nigerians to run for the office of the President in 2023, upon assuming office as Kogi State Governor in 2015, ended the strike pandemic that has delayed academic activities at the state-owned university at Anyigba for years by pulling the university out of ASUU. He also established a new specialized university – Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.

Dr. Thomas in his paper titled “Looking into the Future of Nigeria through Governor Yahaya Bello’s leadership Strides in Kogi State”, declared that “there has been a massive investment in the educational sector in the state, with a large chunk of the state budget allocated to education. This has consequently reflected in the revamping of schools across the state. The quality of human resources in the state has improved tremendously by implementing a policy on training and retraining for teachers.”

He argued that “in looking at Nigeria from the Kogi State perspective before the assumption of office Governor Yahaya Bello, it must be stated that leadership competence is what is required to take the country out of the doldrums. The agitations for zoning based on ethnicity do not stand a chance. This paper concludes that competence should be emphasized.”

In similar vein, Prof Ahmed Danfulani, the former Director General of National Institute for Peace and Strategy Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, said Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has set examples that should be amplified and used as a yardstick in assessing candidates that have signified interest in leading Nigeria.

Prof Danfulani stated this while delivering a speech as a guest speaker at the Civil Society Think Tank Round Table on “A Glance into Nigeria’s Future and Governor Yahaya Bello’s Developmental Politics; 2023 in Perspective.”

He said Governor Yahaya Bello example in leadership is “noteworthy”, adding that his approach to governance in the state is top-notch.

“At the back of our minds, let us have that we must be clear about the qualities the next President of Nigeria should possess. This is on the heels that stepping into the shoes of President Muhammadu Buhari is a tedious task,” Danfulani said.