Mixed reactions follow resignation of Nuhu Gidado as deputy governor of Bauchi State

MIXED reactions have continued to follow the resignation of the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Engineer Nuhu Gidado from office late Wednesday following what was described as ‘irreconcilable’ political differences between the Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and some political bigwigs in the state since his emergence in 2015.

While reacting to the resignation, one of the gubernatorial aspirants come 2019, Muhammed Bala Jibrin said, “Even though I know nothing about the inner workings of the government of Bauchi State under Governor MA Abubakar, the resignation came not as a surprise to me”.

Bala Jibrin who served as a Commissioner during the first tenure of former State Governor, Isa Yuguda added that “It is a further proof that our reason for challenging the governor after only 3 years on the seat has a lot of substance and therefore, we have been proven very right”.

He further said that “I will liken this episode to an endorsement of my stand to vie for the office of the Governor of Bauchi State as what the Deputy Governor did shows clearly that all in not well in the government of Bauchi; the infant-terrible being Gov MA Abubakar.”

Bala Jibrin further said that “the writing is on the wall. The administration of Governor MA Abubakar is by far the worst in the 42-year history of the State.

When we said the Gov lacks the rudiments of administration, we know exactly why we said so. When we said he is running the system on a trial and error mode, we know exactly why we said so. When we said his cluelessness knows no bounds, we know exactly why we said so”.

He concluded that “What remains now is for the Governor to save himself and save whatever he amassed by doing the most honourable thing (if any honour exists) is to also resign and let there be a bye-election within 90 days to put Bauchi State back on track”.

In his own reaction, Professor Abubakar Sani Malami described it as an open secret following the not too good frosty relationship between the duo since the inception of the APC led administration in 2015.

Sani Malami who is aspiring for the governorship seat come 2019 under the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) was a former Commissioner under the immediate past administration of former Governor, Isa Yuguda said, “My reaction would be that, it is an open secret that the relationship between Engr Gidado and his principal had been sour, in the first instance it had been a marriage of strange bedfellows. The actual surprise was that they could even tolerate each other for so long”.

He added that, “I think the Deputy Governor is keen to position himself well to maximally benefit from the opportunities of 2019”.

Also reacting to the development, another former Commissioner in the immediate past administration led by former Governor Isa Yuguda, Garba Dahiru said that “while, I think it’s the beginning of an end, he has done the bulk of the work for us if we get properly organised”.

Garba Dahiru who is aspiring for the Bauchi South Senatorial seat under the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) added that “As for him, it is the best decision taking the variables together”.

As for a social critic, Dr Aliyu Tilde the development was surprising because according to him, “even the vine missed this”.

Aliyu Tilde who was the Secretary of the Transition Committee of the APC in 2015 said that “The duo seemed to be moving on well, so one would wonder what went wrong; more so when both sides haven’t expressed the source of displeasure”.

He, however, opined that “In any case, Governor s and their Deputies in Nigeria and especially in Bauchi State, ride different carts at the end of tenures. As of 2019 approaches, each could have something up his sleeves”.

While expressing dismay over the development, Aliyu Tilde who himself has decamped to the opposition SDP said that, “But I am saddened, all the same, given that both are friends of mine. Separation brings pain. All the same, I wish both and Bauchi State well”.

In his own reaction, a friend of the Deputy Governor who is presently the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor overseeing the running of Yankari Games Reserves and Safari, Engineer Habu Mamman said, “I wish him well and as always, I respect his decisions”.

All efforts to get the official reaction of the State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on the development as at the time of filing this report proved abortive as all the lines of the principal officers of the party were switched off when our correspondent called.