What Tinubu told us before Gov Yusuf’s defection — Barau

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State to fully support Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ahead of his defection to the party, stressing unity and cooperation for effective governance.

Barau disclosed this while speaking with journalists dey in Kano, on Tuesday.

He said President Tinubu, whom he described as a seasoned political leader, advised party stakeholders to work closely with the governor and avoid actions that could distract him from delivering good governance to the people of Kano State.

“It is a day I will sleep happily because our party has gained a governor. For over a year, we have been receiving decampees from different parties, including the NNPP. Now, by God’s mercy, we have received a sitting governor of a state like Kano,” Barau said.

The Deputy Senate President said the focus of the APC in Kano must now shift to supporting Governor Yusuf to succeed, noting that unity within the party was critical to achieving development.

“What is important now is to support him and also advise him, including with prayers. The situation in Kano demands that we come together in a democratic way to help him succeed,” he said.

Barau disclosed that, following the governor’s entry into the APC, all forms of political rivalry and personal ambitions within the party should be shelved in the interest of stability and progress.

“That is why we said issues of aspirations and contests should be dropped. I have dropped mine. If truly we are for the people, then we must support him,” he said.

According to him, denying the governor the opportunity to secure a second term would undermine ongoing efforts and negatively affect governance in the state.

Drawing from his political experience, Barau recalled instances where he stepped aside for party unity, including during contests for leadership positions in the National Assembly and governorship races in Kano.

“I have always believed in sacrifice for the collective good. If the governor had been in the APC from the beginning, I would not even have talked about contesting. Now that he is in our party, we must support him fully,” he said.

Barau said Governor Yusuf was now free to run the government as he deemed fit, including appointing commissioners without pressure from party leaders.

“The governor is at liberty to appoint commissioners. We will not push him. If he asks me to nominate, I will, but we will not distract him,” he stated.

He emphasised that President Tinubu understood political complexities and encouraged APC leaders in Kano to embrace the governor as one family.

“For him to join us, we are now brothers from the same mother. We did not push anyone to join us; they came willingly because of the good policies of the APC,” Barau said.

He added that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration was a major factor attracting politicians to the APC, including Governor Yusuf, who, according to him, defected to deliver more dividends of democracy to Kano people.

Meanwhile, Barau announced a rebranding of his political support structure to reflect the new political alignment in Kano.

He said the Tinubu/Barau Organisation would now be known as the Tinubu, Abba, Barau Organisation.

“In welcoming the governor, I urged all my supporters to queue behind him for the development of Kano State. When I said Nigeria, the crowd responded ‘Sai Tinubu,’ and when I said Kano, they replied ‘Sai Abba Gida-Gida.,” he said.

Barau reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to public service, saying his over three decades in politics had been guided by the desire to serve the people of Kano State and Nigeria.

“I also reassure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of my unalloyed commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, as we work together to take Nigeria to the next level where governance works for all,” he added.

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