- * Says News Report In Sections Of The Media "False And Fabricated"
- My Guber Declaration Won't Be A Secret Affair....Malami
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said on Tuesday, that he is yet to declare his rumoured interest in the governorship of Kebbi State or indicated open interest to contest any elective position in Nigeria come 2023 general elections.
Malami's clarification was made on his behalf by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Gwandu, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday April 5, 2022, said the clarification became necessary in view of a "false and fabricated publication in some section of the media".
The Attorney General of Federation's spokesman stated that the declaration to contest for a political position was "never a hidden affair or clandestine operation that could be reported as a scoop by a section of the media". He added that the report was "triggered out of curiosity and eagerness by followers and loyalists".
Media reports trended on Tuesday morning, stating that the AGF, Abubakar Malami, has formally announced his intention to contest the 2023 gubernatorial election in his home state, Kebbi, North West, Nigeria. The report claimed that Malami declared before his supporters in State, promising not to betray them.
The reported quoted Malami thus: “If God in His mercies permits, and all goes well, I will as a politician contest the governorship of Kebbi state. I am seeking your support. I want to announce that I will contest indeed and as such I am counting on your prayers and support so that we can all work and survive the race together. I have no history of betrayal and I won’t betray you people. I will work for you,” he allegedly assured his supporters in Hausa language as contained in the trending video circulating since Monday.
Dr Gwandu explained that the said video in circulation of the purported declaration was "mischievously translated with fabricated insertions and interpolation that cannot, in spirit and context, establish the misinformation" circulated.
He, however, thanked the teaming supporters of the Minister and the general public for expressing their interest, stating that "at the appropriate time, they will hear from the horses mouth in full glare of the media, stakeholders, like-minds, party faithful and teaming supporters".
Malami who is hoping to contest an elective position on the platform of him party, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), will be succeeding the incumbent Kebbi governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu whose eight year tenure elapses in 2023. Malami picked the APC governorship nomination form in 2014 to run against governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu whom he eventually lost to during the elections.
Malami was however compensated with the position of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in 2015 by President Buhari. The Minister was born on April 17, 1967, in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate(FSLC) from Nassarawa Primary School, Birnin Kebbi, and later proceeded to the College of Arts and Arabic Studies for his secondary education.
He obtained a degree in law from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in 1991 and was called to Bar in 1992. The Minister obtained a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri in 1994. In 2011, he served as the National Legal Adviser of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Chairman, Legal Team, CPC Presidential Campaign Organisation and Chairman Legal Team, CPC Presidential Campaign Organization.
Malami was among the party 'wise men' that drafted the manifesto of the APC. He was also a member of the inter-party Merger Committees of the CPC, ACN, ANPP, APGA and DPP factions that formed the APC coalition that defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections. NNL.
