By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)

A group under the auspices of Coalition of All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters in Sokoto have declared their unflinching support for the Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Coalition also expressed their continuos support and vote of confidence in the leadership prowess of Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni as well as in the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and in the Sokoto state chairman of the party, Hon Mainasara Bello.

Addressing a world press conference at Pinnacle Hotels and Resort in Sokoto, the convener, Isah Jabbi, said their mission was just to simply set the record straight.

Reading his press release titled, "Re: Abubakar Malami And Ibrahim Shekarau On A Mission To Destabilize Sokoto APC", Jabbi inferred that the recent press conference by another faction of the APC in Sokoto state was only tailored towards "tarnishing the cherished images of accomplished persons like Malami and Shekarau hence they hav nothing to say.

"We also wish to on behalf of the APC Youth stakeholders in Sokoto state, reaffirm our support and loyalty to the Chairmanship of Hon. Mainasara Bello and call on this group of sore loosers to kindly leave Hon. Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN) out of their woes and re-consult their soothsayers for the cause of their predicaments and expulsion into political wilderness.

"While pledging our unflinching continuous support and vote of confidence in the leadership prowess of Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), we also wish to on behalf of the APC Youth stakeholders in Sokoto state, reaffirm our support and loyalty to the Chairmanship of Hon. Mainasara Bello and call on this group of sore loosers to kindly leave Hon. Minister Abubakar Malami SAN out of their woes".

While noting that they are not surprised at odd choice of words by the faction of APC whom they described as floating during the press conference addressed by Hon Sadiq Achida, the APC Youth Coalition said, "such is to be expected from anybody going into political oblivion of wilderness.

The press release read by Isa Jabbi reads: "Let me seize this opportunity to welcome you all to this all important press conference necessitated more out of a responsibility to set records straight than to popularize the envoys of a failing political hegemony as demonstrated by the so called APC Sokoto press conference addressed on Monday 28th February 2022 by one Alhaji Isa Sadiq Achida, an internally displaced politician seeking for straws to clutch on to.

"It is laughable that, Achida with his drawn group of persons in a paper weight bid to intimidate the humble and authentic APC Sokoto leadership, began by giving a roll call of Party stakeholders hoping to curry favours and undue sympathy which the law and due process has made forbidden to them.

"We are equally not surprised as it has been his stock in trade hearing how Achida bled from his unguided cavity in a fruitless effort to discredit and defame the duo of Distinguished Senator Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and Hon. Abubakar Malami (SAN), an accomplished Politician and Honourable Minister of Justice who has served diligently and carved a vantage position for himself in the temple of justice.

"We are taken aback by the choice of gutter words by supposedly Honourable men laying claim to a progressive party against these Distinguished men whose contributions to the development and success of the APC and its major precursor the CPC, is well noted, even at such times when the leader or idol of the pack decided to betray Mr President Buhari, then a Presidential candidate on the eve of his campaign visit to Sokoto state which history will always remember.

"Since they have chosen to take a merry cruise down memory lane, I think it will only be fair if we give them a really thought provoking ride worth the money they have deposited.

"Let us begin by reminding you that the same person whom you seek to idolize as the ground upon which the foundation of APC was laid in Sokoto betrayed the decision of the party during the election of the 8th assembly principal officers of the National Assembly

"In the same vein, your same glorified godfather left President Muhammadu Buhari to join PDP on the eve of the 2007 general elections inspite of which President Buhari got a resounding victory in Sokoto state with about 90% of all votes cast, a victory which Senator Wamakko and his "wanna-bee" disciples are enjoying to date.

"Barr. Abubakar Malami SAN was by the side of Mr President all through and never faltered. So talking about the PDP and its lovers, historically speaking one can safely conclude that your boss whose card you are playing is closer to it than any other APC stakeholder who has ever crossed that part because his involvement with APC was just to salvage his then threatened political career under a platform he never worked to promote before then.

"Let's educate you once again that, Abubakar Malami Malami SAN as a Minister in the temple of Justice is well versed in the law and knows when it is best to set aside emotions and wishes and stand on the right side of the law rather than be caught on the wrong side of the law trying to manage the overblown ego and emotions of these internally displaced politicians who will not mind clutching and dragging the names of accomplished personalities in order to scurry favor and win sympathy from the undiscerning.

"We are surprised by the pitiable threatening call of a displaced group for the sanctioning of the Honourable Minister of Justice who has helped to further consolidate on the successes of the APC and win more states including Zamfara state and repositioning of the party in his home state of kebbi which was hitherto held under political hostage and neocolonial setting by the godfather", the Coalition stated. NNL.