Umar Duhu was the first interim National Vice Chairman of the APC in the North East. He was instrumental in the registration of new members and ensured the victory of the party in those states.
Findings show that Duhu’s quality leadership in the party endeared former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako and the present Adamawa State Governor, Umar Jibrilla Bindow to the APC.
Speaking to Pulse on Wednesday March 16, 2016, Alhaji Baba Ali said some of them are calling for the return of Dr Umar Duhu to the office of the North East National Vice Chairman of the APC because he has proven to be up and doing in the opposition party.
“Duhu was ANPP Chairman, when they won the only Senate and one House of Representatives seat in the FCT. Duhu served as Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of State for Interior and later, Defence.”
“Let me tell you, Duhu was the Adamawa State ANPP Chairman between 2010 and 2013, and doubled as the Special Assistant to the ANPP Board of Trustees Chairman, and he was equally the North East Chairman for the ANPP Forum of State Chairmen” he said.
“Not only that, having held the Coordinating Chairman for the Forum of ANPP State Chairmen effectively, the position merited him the appointment as the Pioneer National Vice Chairman (North East) of the Governing APC, a position he held until the unfortunate APC National Convention on June 14, 2014, where Duhu’s name was tactically deleted from the list of elected officers, because of the strong disagreements of two top APC leaders (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff) Duhu became a sacrificial lamb” Baba said.
“Surprisingly to the entire Leaders of APC in Nigeria, Duhu, who was used as a sacrificial lamb for the disagreement of some party leaders, kept faith with the APC, and remained as a very loyal member of the party” another ardent APC member, Bala Usman said.
He said Duhu decided to remain in the APC and acted positively on his complaint on the conduct of the convention which meted injustice on him.
“Till today, the APC never acted, nor out of courtesy, communicated to Duhu, the outcome of their conclusion on his complaint. Duhu was obliged from always being a king maker to become the king by contesting the House of Representatives to represent the people of Madagali and Michika Federal Constituency. But, for the hate preach and brazen spray of public funds by the duo of the former governor Bala Ngilari, former Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly Ahmadu Fintiri, and former governor and Minister Boni Haruna, Duhu’s election had to be postponed because of the phantom abuse of the electoral processes and rigging” Usman said.
According to him, Duhu ended up at the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal ordered that Duhu’s case should be sent back to the Election Tribunal for retrial, but considering the180 days allowed by law to hear election petitions has lapsed, retrying the case will be a mere academic exercise.
“Duhu, who has gone that far alone, has no option but to abandon the case at that stage, and resigned to faith. Today, the heavens have opened for Duhu to return to his position of choice as the National Vice Chairman, North East of the APC and that is what we want” he added.
One of the North Eastern state governors told Pulse on Wednesday 16, March 2016, that justice, fairness, and rule of law dictate that, the APC Leadership, and the North East APC, will definitely settle for Duhu as the National Vice Chairman.
He said before the convention, all the state governors, in the North East signed an agreement for Duhu’s endorsement because of his track records.
“APC must give it to Duhu for being instrumental to the peace, stability and formation of APC structure in the Northern States, particularly in the politically more delicate States of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, and Taraba States.”
“It is not too much for Duhu to ask for the position of the National Vice Chairman, North East of the APC, a position he held effectively managed and with good records to show. If APC is about Justice and is willing to govern as pace setters and symbol of embodiment, Duhu truly merits this office, which became vacant as a result of the appointment of the former occupant as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation” the governor said.
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