By Danjuma Williams (Gombe State Correspondent)
Stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Gombe State Central Senatorial zone have denied one of its stalwart and current Senator of the zone, Muhammad Danjuma Goje, as its party leader.
They unanimously declared that Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya stands as the party's leader while passing a vote of confidence on him.
Muhammad Danjuma Goje (APC), a former Governor of the State who currently represents Gombe Central Zone (Akko and Yamaltu-Deba LGA's) in the Senate, have recently been receiving severe political criticisms from the State Governor's faction of the party after Senator Goje had long been recognized as the State party leader, including the Governor himself.
Speakers at the Stakeholders meeting, held in Deba, Yamaltu-Deba LGA also vowed never to allow anybody to humiliate Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.
The speakers included, the Chairman of Yamaltu-Deba LGA, Hon Shuaibu Umar Galadima, former Minister of Transport, Idris Abdullahi Umar, member representing Akko Federal Constituency, Honourable Usman Bello Kumo, member representing Yamaltu-Deba Federal Constituency, Hon Ahmed Abubakar Yunus, Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon Abubakar Luggerewo and an APC stalwart, Abubakar Habu Muazu.
According to the convener of the meeting, Abubakar Habu Muazu, the powerful PDP youth leader during Senator Goje's PDP tenure as Governor, Senator Goje must stop deceiving himself as the father of politics in Gombe State.
Muazu said Inuwa became Governor in a clean and transparent manner, unlike Goje's electoral victory as Governor in 2003 which was marred by so many manipulations.
He confessed to playing many negative roles during Goje's tenure as Governor due to youthful exuberance, stating that since he got unhooked from Goje's trap, he is now a better-informed person.
"I'm happy to be out of Goje's trap. I have said it before and I will repeat it again, I am sorry for my past misdeeds while together with Goje and I believe God has forgiven me", he said.
Stressing why Goje cannot be the leader of the party, Habu said, " Goje has fought with all known prominent politicians and eminent persons of Gombe State whenever his selfish interest is at stake".
He added that "Governor Inuwa has remained loyal to Goje right after the 2019 election and among many other ways, was that he gave Goje his cabinet list, appointed his daughter and son-in-law in the cabinet yet, Goje's quest for power is insatiable".
Speaking also, a member representing Akko Federal Constituency, Usman Bello Kumo, said the stakeholders mobilized the meeting without Governor Inuwa's financial contribution to rally support for the Governor and unite the party.
"Inuwa Yahaya remains the leader of the party just the way Yobe Governor is the leader in Yobe State even with the Senate President is from Yobe State. The same with Plateau and Lagos States who have key Federal Government positions from their States. Any APC member in Gombe State who cannot be loyal to Governor Inuwa Yahaya as party leader should look for his own state elsewhere", Usman Bello stressed.
At the end of the meeting, a member representing Yamaltu-Deba federal constituency, Ahmed Abubakar Yunus, read the communiqué of the stakeholders who passed a vote of confidence on Governor Inuwa Yahaya and pledged their unalloyed loyalty and support to him. NNL.
