Former deputy governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and frontline oppositionist in Benue State, Alhaji Usman Abubakar (a.k.a Young Alhaji) has revealed the role he played in making sure the All Progressive Congress (APC) became the ruling party in Benue State.
Addressing newsmen in his Otukpo residence on Saturday, shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the management of Nordal Polytechnic, Otukpo; Young Alhaji said it was he who made the former Governor, George Akume to leave his original party, PDP for the then ACN, where he also got ticket to run for and won senatorial election.
“I was one of the nucleus that formed what is today known as APC in Benue State. I brought virtually everybody on board, including George Akume. It was myself and Chief Audu Ogbeh who gave Akume ticket to run for the Senate in 2011.
“But when they came like foxes from the PDP, unknown to me, they came with alot of baggage. I thought they were coming to fuse and form a compound, rather than a mixture.
“Alas, they came with all kinds of radicalism, including deceit, imposition, blackmailing, backstabbing and disparagement. When I realised that I was the only voice against these social and political radicals, I asked myself, ‘can you change these people’, the answer was NO!
“So, instead of making myself a conformist, because I detest conformism; I decided to pull myself aside, so that history will vindicate me. That was why I exiled myself from the APC and decided to pitch my tent with the opposition, because I am a fighter. I am a Political Fundamentalist”, he said.
On his political ambition in 2019, the 2-time senatorial candidate for Benue South said the 2019 is pregnant, though he declined making further comments on his political ambition.
He said “what I’m going to contest for in 2019 is still pregnant. But as a veteran opposition fighter, I would always fight the status quo, and I can assure you that in 2019 again, I shall fight the status quo, the political status quo of Benue State”.
As a wake up call to other Idoma and Benue leaders and youths, Young Alhaji promised to construct classroom blocks and also donated utility vehicles to the new Nordal Polytechnic, Otukpo.
Earlier, the Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, Gabriel Olofu said the Polytechnic, when fully began, would ameliorate the sufferings of Benue youths in searching for admission effortlessly, in other land.
He called on the leaders and able youths to contribute their quota through ideas, intellects, finance and other means to make the Polytechnic successful, adding that full academic session would begin in January 2017 as National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had accredited courses for the takeoff of the institution.
The Proprietor of the Polytechnic, Alexander Aleji while thanking Alhaji Usman for the support, disclosed that the Idoma born Philantropist has been tipped by the management to serve as the “grand patron” of the institution.
Aleji also confirmed that, though alot of Idoma leaders had indicated interest to support the Polytechnic, but it was only Young Alhaji who had taken the pragmatic step of donating utility vehicles and offering to construct more classroom blocks for the institution.
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