A former top-notcher member of the governing All Progressive Congress (APC) in Gombe State, Khamisu Ahmad Mailantarki, has said that he was forced out of the party by the severe political persecution he has suffered from the Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya-led government.
Mailantarki, who once won the seat of the House of Representatives for Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye federal consituency on the CPC platform, resigned his membership of the APC on 7th May, without stating reasons initially.
Now, less than a week after his exiting APC, Mailantarki has advanced the reasons, as he formally announced his entry into the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with his followers ‘with a loud bang’, picking the party’s nomination form to contest the Gombe State governorship seat in the 2023 elections.
In sequential order, in an exclusive interview with Daylight Reporters, Mailantarki narrated his role in the formation of the governing APC as well as its entrenchment in Gombe Politics; as well as his travails with the Yahaya-led APC administration, which eventually pushed him out of the party.
“I was opportuned to be part of the people that started the merger movement of CPC, ANPP, ACN and the New-PDP,” Mailantarki recalled, stressing,
“Considering the fact that I was the only elected Member of House of Representatives from Gombe State, I sponsored the entire process and my leadership gained confidence of even our then political rivals in the state to join APC, most specifically Sen Danjuma Goje, Sen Saidu Alkali Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya , Sen Bayero Nafada, Hon Usman Bello Kumo,Hon Aisha Jibir Dukku, Hon Ustaz Yunus,Dasuki Jalo waziri and others,” he recalled.
“I led the team to meet our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, and we agreed to work together for the success of the party,” he recalled further.
Mailantarki expressed regret: “Immediately after the merger came to reality, to my greatest surprise, the party structure was hijacked by the New PDP members and even my ticket to return to my seat at the House of Representatives was denied in spite of several interventions by the National Leadership of our party, several reconciliation committees which were then headed by Prominent Leaders of the party like Gov Bello Masari, Governor Mai Mala Bunu, Governor Nasiru El-Rufai, Sen Ahmad Yariman Bakura, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal and so on.”
Aggrieved Mailantarki recalled further: “All their efforts led to no positive result and my ticket was given to Hon Yaya Bauchi Tongo, a former member of the PDP,” saying, “I tried to all possible best to repeal the faulty process that produced him as the party candidate through judicial means, which was my last option, and Judgment was in my favor at the trial Court.”
With Judgement in his favour, “I got my seat back, but I finally lost on appeal and I was removed from the House of Representatives,” saying, however, “Despite all challenges I faced, I continued to remain loyal to the party.”
Despite what he regarded as injustice perpetrated on him, “I supported our party candidate during the 2015 General elections but sadly we lost at the state and won the presidential election of which I was part of presidential campaign committee.”
Mailantarki said, “Despite several threats and intimidation within our party in the State, we continued to be loyal and promoted the progress of the party,” recalling, “I contested at the primary election for the Governorship of the State in 2019 alongside side Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Dasuki Jalo waziri, Barr Idris, Mohammed Jibrin Danbarde, Sarkin Fulani Gombe Umaru kwairanga, Habu Muazu, Haidar Aliyu and Faruk Bamusa.
“We all agreed that none of us have the capacity to win if left alone at the general elections but if we work together to support any one of us that wins at the primaries, then we can deliver.
“So it was unanimously agreed by everyone to support the winner so as to defeat the opposition, hence the interest of the party is what we all have at heart.
“We all relinquished our campaign structures across the state and formed a very formidable and solid campaign organization for Governor Inuwa Yahaya, and that effort we made not only produced him as the Governor but also produced all the three senators, six members of House of Representatives and majority of the members of the States House of Assembly, he recalled.
“To my greatest dismay, this government has not recognized our contribution,” Mailantarki complained, adding, “In fact, it claimed that it is not a government of our collective efforts; it is government of his (Yahaya’s) people by his people and for him alone.”
Mailantarki lamented: “I have a plot of land on which I planned to build Mailantarki care Sports Academy and Resort to support youths in sports and education with all the best facilities in the world.we have already Sign partnership with Clubs in Europe.
“It came as a rude shock to me that after submitting the design to the Governor to understand what I intend to do for the Youths and the state three years ago, there has not been any single response from the Government; infact instead of encourage me to implement this project his Excellency has started allocating that same plot of mine to people of his own choice.”
Mailantarki said he was left with no option but to shift the Academy to Abuja.
“Thankfully, as it is at the moment, we have already started achieving results as currently three young talented footballers from Gombe State produced from the academy have joined Clubs in Europe and for more are getting prepared to join them” he said elatedly.
Having suffered such political persecutions from the present Yahaya-led government, Mailantarki, therefore, concluded that the APC has no fortune whatsoever, in store for him for his future political prosperity.
“With all due respect, it seems that neither the party (APC) nor His Excellency has any plans regarding my future politically in the State,” he noted.
“A party which I nursed since its inception in Gombe State does not seem to be promising to me anymore,” Mailantarki stressed with regret, reasoning, “I strongly believe that at my age, less than 50, I have the capacity and best interest of my people and I intend to show that if given the opportunity.”
He lamented the ill-treatment meted out on him by the APC and the bleak future it has for him and his followers in Gombe State.
“The party which I resigned from has clearly defined it will never lead me towards a just and equitable leadership for my people,” the aggrieved Gombe APC founding member observed, stating, “On a sad note, it is a pity to say that APC has no reward for loyalty and the attempts by Mr President to show appreciation in our efforts through appointments and so on all ended as a misery.”
He said his loyalty had always been for President Muhammad Buhari, the APC and the entire people of Gombe State.
“Knowing fully well that Mr President is retiring soon, I will continue to respect him and wish him well,” saying, regrettably, however, “but APC doesn’t recognize loyalty or hardwork.”
Mailantarki made the ‘loud-bang’ formal announcement on his political destination.
“In view of the above, myself and my entire supporters are leaving to join another new promising Political Party,” he announced, explaining, “We wish to start all over again, believing that God gives power to whom he wishes and we strongly affirm that we intend to be just and loyal to our people.”
He declared: “We are henceforth shifting our loyalty, commitment and dedication to New Nigeria Political Party (NNPP) Under the Leadership of Sen Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Our President Come 2023 Insha Allah.”
