Hon. Auwal Tukur
As Bamanga Tukur throws support for his son, Hon. Auwal Tukur’s gubernatorial ambition come 2015, the Adamawa State PDP seems to have categorically recognized Dr. Umar Ardo as the pillar of the party in the state. The recognition, which came in a form of commendations from the party elders, stakeholders and the newly elected state and local govt.’s executives, is interpreted by many discerning politicians in the state as an endorsement of Dr. Ardo’s guber ambition, even in the presence of Hon. Auwal Tukur.
In a meeting of the party leadership and stakeholders held in the Dogire house of Prof. Jibril Aminu in Yola recently to discuss the oncoming bye-election of the State House of Assembly and other matters affecting the party, sources in the meeting say the party leaders singled out Dr. Umar Ardo’s role in the struggle to liberate the PDP from, according to them “the unholy grip of Governor Murtala Nyako” as most instrumental. Prof. Aminu, who chaired the meeting, thanked the efforts of Dr. Ardo, saying that he worked and fought more than “all of us here” to get the PDP where it is today in the state. Prof. Aminu commended Dr. Ardo whom he described as the party’s pillar in the state, adding that Dr. Ardo has contributed immensely to the struggle to liberate the party with finances, logistics, legal battles, strategy and other needed support, “without which we would not have achieved much”. While admiring the courage and doggedness of Ardo, he advised politicians to look out for leaders from among the likes of Dr. Ardo.
Aside from Prof. Aminu, other stakeholders of the party, specifically Commodore Dan Suleiman, also praised Dr. Umar for his unflinching role and support to the party. He said Dr. Ardo is a patriot with genuine commitment to the cause of the state. He also admired Dr. Ardo’s intellect in coming up with bright and practical solutions to complex political issues. Speaker after speaker roundly agreed with the erudite professor of medicine and the Air force General, and joined the chorus in acknowledging and commending Dr. Ardo. The meeting was attended by other top stakeholders of the party in the state, including Amb. Wiberforce Juta, Gen. Tony Hannaniya, Dr. Idi Hong, Hon. Auwal Tukur, Sen. Grace Jackson Benz, Sen. Bello Tukur, Alh. Adamu Modibbo, Members of the State and Local Govt. executive committees of the PDP, among many others. It is instructive to note that Dr. Ardo was himself absent in the meeting.
When contacted, Umar Ardo confirmed the holding of the meeting and the commendations. “I know Prof. Aminu, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Amb. Juta and a host of the elders and leaders of the party in the state have high regards for me, and I very much appreciate that, but to interpret these commendations as an endorsement of my gubernatorial candidacy is over stretching the point; it is farfetched. However, whether or not these elders and statesmen support my ambition, I will always remain state fast behind them in the cause of justice for our people. They are about the finest statesmen and gentlemen you can find anywhere in the country and they are an inspiration to me personally. Besides, right now I am not worried about 2015 because we are still to determine the election of 2012”.
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