Bauchi APC Kicks Against Orlando’s Virtuperations, Says They Don’t Speak For It

BY KHALID IDRIS DOYA, Bauchi

The publicity committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi state has debunked the press statement credited to Bauchi State New Down Organization and Other Non-governmental Organization, saying the so-called conglomerate don’t speak for the APC in all ramifications.

“The Bauchi state APC is most affronted by the tasteless ‘Press Release’ issued by “Bauchi State New Dawn Organisation” on Tuesday 20 February 2024 and presented by Comrade Abdullahi Tanko alias Orlando wherein he hurled slurs at APC leadership, the President and his vice and falsely accused them of “carelessness” “blunder” ‘neglect’ and ‘maltreatment’ of not just the APC and its members but the “entire populace of Bauchi State.”

In a press conference by the APC State Publicity Committee Chairman, Saadu Umar Esq on Monday, said that the party in Bauchi deeply regretted and thoroughly disavowed the said press release, its presenter and signatories as well as condemns the insults and wild allegations therein, as it wishes to set the record straight.

“Firstly, this so-called Bauchi State New Dawn Organization (or the undisclosed NGOs) is alien to Bauchi State APC. It has neither registration with nor recognition by the State chapter of the APC. Therefore, it cannot purport to speak for the APC or its membership as wrongly claimed by Orlando”, Sa’adu Umar said.

The party publicity committee chairman therefore urged the media, APC members and the good people of Bauchi State to accord no recognition to it and disregard the appalling press release.

Umar said however that the presenter, Orlando is known to the APC, having been the parry’s gubernatorial aspirant in 2015, recalling that after losing the primary, he frivolously and futilely sued the APC and the then APC gubernatorial candidate (M.A Abubakar). 

“And, in and around the 2019 general elections, Orlando left the APC and joined hands with the opposition party against the then APC government of Bauchi state. He returned to the APC after falling out with the governor he helped elect for reasons best known to him”. 

Sa’adu Umar Esq further stated, “Though a member, Orlando is not an officer of the Bauchi APC, thus he cannot and did not speak for the APC or its membership. Again, we dissociate ourselves from his insults and baseless allegations”.

“Secondly, we implacably condemn and deny the wild accusation that the APC leadership, the Federal Government and the judiciary have, or are, jointly or severally, neglecting or maltreating the Bauchi state APC, its members and the entire population of Bauchi State. This is absurd and nothing can be further from the truth”.

“Thirdly, we strongly take exception to the unconscionable and baseless allegations that President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shattima and the APC leadership “blindly and carelessly throw away the baby with bath water” – whatever that means. On the contrary, the President, his V ice and APC leadership have got our back. It’s that simple”.

“Fourthly, we vehemently refute and denounce the false accusations that the APC leadership and the Federal Government committed “political blunder, miscalculation and carelessly not taking Bauchi APC and members seriously.” 

The Committee chairman explained that President Tinubu’s high regard for Bauchi is manifest, the reason  why he appointed two of our sons to lead very important ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health and Social Welfare amongst others.

“Fifthly, the Bauchi State APC highly regards the state chapters of APC in Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. They are our brothers and equals and we stand with each of them in brotherhood and solidarity. We appreciate and hold dear every vote each state in the Northeast contributed to the APC In the last general election”.

Umar therefore rejected in totality and detested the abhorrent suggestion or the notion that “We are better than or are superior to any of the state chapters of the APC in the Northeast as alluded to by Orlando in his shameless press release”.

He particularly condemned and found it irresponsible the attempt by Orlando to denigrate and demean the immense contribution of Vice President and Borno State chapter of the APC by suggesting, “Stupidly and illogically, that the Bauchi APC votes share is more meaningful than Borno’s; while in fact the President won in Borno and the Bauchi APC net vote contribution is in the negative”.

“Sixthly, the baseless allegations that polling agents have not been paid agent ship (sic) fees” is not true. All polling agents appointed by the APC during the presidential election and indeed the gubernatorial elections were duly paid. The party has not received any formal complaints from any real agent(s) that their allowances were wrongly withheld. And if any agent has any genuine complaints concerning any unpaid allowances the door is still open for them”.

“Seventhly, the Bauchi State APC has full confidence in the judiciary as an institution and recognizes the doctrine of separation of powers. It’s wrong and dangerous to expect or request the President to meddle in the affairs of the judiciary. We faithfully accept all the judgements duly delivered by the courts even if we disagree with the opinions of the justices”. 

Eightly, he concluded, “We also believe the judges to be fallible but the finality of the judgement of the Supreme Court is unquestionable, hence there must be end to litigations. Accordingly, we won’t tolerate any attempt by anyone to soil the name of the entire judiciary”.