A few days after the removal of elder stateman, Alhaji Muhammadu Bello Kirfi as Wazirin Bauchi by the Bauchi Emirate council, the state Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the action as ‘politically motivated’.
The Chairman, Media, and Publicity Committee of the party in Bauchi, Comrade Sabo Mohammed said it’s not the first time traditional title holders are been suspended by the present administration.
Comrade Mohammed, who doubles as the Spokesperson of the APC Governorship candidate, Ambassador Sadique Baba Abubakar, accused the government of intimidating and undermining the affairs of traditional institutions in the state.
According to him, a former Speaker of the house of representatives, Yakubu Dogara was suspended as the Jakadan Bauchi in a similar circumstance.
He added that another Lawmaker at the national assembly was also suspended as Wakilin Birni in what the majority of the citizenry viewed as politically motivated.
”We received with deep shock and sadden the announcement of the suspension of one of the most elder-statesmen in the person of Alhaji Bello Kirfi, the Wazirin Bauchi. We are worried because the suspension of highly respected traditional title holders in Bauchi Emirate is becoming a recurring incident”, he said.
He alleged that the ex-minister was stripped of his title because he summoned leaders of thought across the 20 local governments to a meeting where he made known his position on the forthcoming governorship elections in the state.
“Our perception is that as a Nigerian, he is entitled to his own opinion, it’s his personal opinion and I think a government that is claiming to be a democratic government should as well respect the divergent opinion of the citizenry”, the APC chieftain added
He warned that a situation where the traditional institution is been intimidated and subjected to political manipulation by the government of the day to achieve or to score a political goal will not augur well for the emirate council and the traditional institution.
“So it is not a good development and we are condemning it in its totality and we are ready and willing to ensure that people are given their constitutional rights to voice out their opinion on any issue that is within the confines of the law”.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi Emirate Council has appointed Alhaji Muhammad Kari, as the new Wazirin Bauchi and member of the Emirate Council.
This is contained in a statement by the Information Officer in the Emirate, Mr Babangida Jahun, in Bauchi yesterday.
According to him, the newly appointed Wazirin Bauchi would be turbanned on Friday at the Emir’s palace.