Cracks In APC As Atiku, Nyako Battle For Power

There are indications former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former governor, Murtala Nyako are embroiled in a fierce battle over control of Adamawa state.

Report has it that governor of the state, Mohammad Jibrilla Bindow’s rise to power at the 2015 general elections was primarily facilitated by Nyako’s political structure, while on the other hand, Atiku never supported him during the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries, This Day reports.

Nyako and his loyalists had allegedly expected they would form about 90 per cent of the cabinet of the current administration in return for their support but their hopes were dashed as majority of the names in the list of commissioners cleared by the House of Assembly were Atiku’s loyalists.

The list of the 22 commissioner nominees sent by Bindow to the House of Assembly for screening was allegedly drawn up by Atiku’s daughter, Dr. Fatima Atiku Abubakar.

On the list are two close associates of the former vice president, including a governorship aspirant of APC, Ibrahim Yayaji Mijinyawa, who had contested the primaries on two occasions against Bindow, and Umar Diya Daware.

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The list also has two former commissioners, Mohammad Barkindo Mustapha and Lilian Nabe Kayode, who served in the administration of Nyako, four women, namely, Shanti Victoria Shashi, Kaletapwa Farauta, Fatima Atiku Abubakar, and Lilian Nabe Kayode.

Several attempts to resolve the political rivalry between Atiku and Nyako have proved abortive and many believe Governor Bindow’s administration will favour Atiku’s men than Nyako’s loyalists, who were alleged to have worked for his victory.

Some believe he is being controlled by some powerful political forces in the state that tend to determine his actions and have warned him to stay away from the rivalry Atiku and Nyako or he may be involved in many political battles that may destroy his political career in the end.

There are fears that this situation may plunge the state into a serious political mess.

Meanwhile, report has it that there is a developing crisis between Bindow and his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdurrahman Abbah, which some have said is a part of the consequences of pandering to the political camps in the state.

Their squabble was said to have started after a media report credited to Abbah said the Adamawa state government had earmarked N200 million for prayers to seek for Allah’s intervention in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.

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On reading the report, the governor was said to have directed his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yohanna Mathias, to issue a press release disowning the statement by Abbah and also barred him making any policy statements in the media.

In anger, Abbah, who is Nyako’s strong loyalist, sent in his resignation to the governor.

A source close to governor said when Bindow perceived that Abbah’s resignation might cause some problems for his government he refused to approve the resignation attempt by Abbah and the resignation is yet to be approved by the governor at the time of writing this report.

There are fears that if APC does not put its house in order, the PDP may take the opportunity of the party’s internal crisis in the state to wrest power from it at the next general election in 2019.

Two days back, report surfaced that the daughter of Atiku, Dr Fatima Atiku had been appointed as the Adamawa Commissioner of Health. She was sworn in along with 21 other commissioners.

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