Alhaji Umar Doguwa, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), in
Kano State said he was forced to sign and address a news conference
threatening disciplinary action against former state governor Rabi’u
Kwankwaso.
The APC Chairman had on Thursday addressed a press conference where the
party accused Kwankwaso of hiring thugs to insult Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje
during a condolence visit to Ganduje’s home town.
Doguwa made the clarification while addressing a news conference in Kano
on Saturday. “I felt duty bound to unequivocally make it clear to our
esteemed followers that the previous press statement read and signed by me
was not written and made by my humble self.
“I neither participated in the drafting, but rather I was coerced to sign
under duress and close marking by the state apparatus.
“What makes it more curious for me to recant this is the fact that elders’
committee is not part of party executives hence, procedurally we cannot
issue a joint statement”, Doguwa said.
He said it was an oversight on the part of the party to have made the
earlier press statement on the condolence visit.
He said the earlier press statement he withdrew was indeed a product of
“warped and mischievous elements” whose stands and antics were causing
confusion and disunity amongst rank and file of their great party and
Ganduje’s administration.
Doguwa said the party will continue operate within the ambit of its
constitution in dealing with every member of the party.
“We have observed with concern that the action was capable of putting up
our members against each other as the condolence visit of the former
governor has been politicised out of proportion “, he said.