APC chieftain fingers Kebbi gov over defection rumours

A former governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi, Mallam Salihu Nataro, has accused the state governor, Dr Nasir Idris of political vendetta, alleging that the plan to demolish his family house in Jega Local Government Area was politically motivated.

He said that Governor Idris decision to pull down the historic Nataro compound was to punish him over alleged rumours of his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and criticising the government for undertaking bogus prestige projects instead of socially impactful programmes that could lift the people out of economic destitution.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, weekend, Mallam Nataro said the suspicion that has crept into the state chapter of the party is responsible for the alienation of some well meaning members in the scheme of things in the state.

He said words started swelling that many APC chieftains in Kebbi, including the immediate past Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Malami SAN, are set to defect to the SDP.

But, Nataro regretted that although the talks of defection remain in the realm of speculations, the Governor, Dr. Idris, has been acting on the unverified information to treat his rivals as antagonists.

He regretted that the governor’s plan to demolish his family house in Jegga was simply because he called on the governor to concentrate on priority projects that could impact directly the lives of Kebbi people.

Nataro maintained that only genuine and loyal members of APC can tell the governor to focus on human capital development rather than pursuing cosmetics projects that end up gulping the scarce resources of the state.

He stated: “Now, APC in Kebbi State is troubled by suspicion about who is staying and who is leaving. This APC on APC schism is not good for the party. As I speak, my family house has been marked for demolition in Jega Local Government area.

“I know this is political vendetta, because before some people were going about telling the governor that Nataro would run again for the governorship. Then I had an interview with journalists where I urged the governor to reassess his governance strategies and focus on projects that will help improve the economy.

“This house that the government wants to demolish was inherited from my very philanthropic father and was marked for demolition by the Governor of Kebbi State. The house in question belongs to people of Jega because it was put up by the first rulers of Jega called Sarkin Marina.

“The Jega rulers were descendants of Ali Jangwarzo, (Alu MaiKarfi, who escorted Danfodio from Zamfara to reach Sokoto. Without him Sokoto will never be defeated by Danfodio and later after the war, Ali JanGwarzo, who settled his family in Jega is today the ruling house of Jega. And, the house is now marked for demolition.”

The APC chieftain, who said he has no plans to leave the party, noted that his family has come a long way with President Tinubu, stressing that the attempt to demolish his country home in Jega will not serve any useful purpose.

“It is obvious that the road being planned for expansion was not included in the 2025 budget. There is no consultant and nobody has seen any design or environmental impact assessment report.

“If the government claims that it would pay compensation to those affected by the demolition, let them tell Nigerians where and when the quantity surveyors and valuers inspected the houses and economic trees to be destroyed.

However, the Kebbi State Government has said that it was embarking on the road expansion as part of its infrastructure rehabilitation programme, pointing out that the Ministry of Works in the state has been reaching out to owners of properties to be affected.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, the government maintained that the road dualisation project conforms with engineering and design specifications.

“The expansion will entail drainage, embarkments, including stone-pitching, access culverts,” the statement added, pointing out that the governor, Dr. Nasir Idris is determined to ensure the best for Kebbi and does not pander to base sentiments or political vendetta.