By Gideon Njoku
“We must never confuse loyalty with slavery. This man yearned for that and put me through a mentally draining phase in my life that I had to step aside to reflect on my political choices. It’s unsurprising that all his political principals and lieutenants are deserting him and he risks becoming an island at the end of his stewardship”
The sudden dumping of a former House of Representatives Member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdulmumin Jibrin, took many people by surprise.
It was difficult to believe because Abdulmumin, aside from being a top member of the APC, was a devoted, chief campaigner for the Presidential ambition of APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu.
He was all over the print and electronic media defending Tinubu over one allegation or other. But suddenly, he abandoned all that, and quit the APC.
Speculations were rife as to why he dumped everything. Not a few people said he had a spat with Tinubu. Others said he decided to bail out early because he saw Tinubu’s ambition falling apart, especially, with the entrance into the race by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
But, in a statement on Saturday, May 14, 2022, Abdulmumin who a couple of days ago, joined the NNPP, a Party founded by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, revealed that his relationship with Tinubu remains very close. He said Tinubu’s political machines were so strong, so formidable, it is unbreakable. He said it would be difficult for any Presidential Aspirant to push Tinubu. For his sudden exit, Abdulmumin said he had apologised to Tinubu.
So, why did he leave then? The academic from Kano attributed his exit to what he described as his horrifying experience in the APC. He said he lost all in the party and, almost, lost his self-esteem. He heaped his horrific experience on the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, who he says suffers from inferiority complex. He accused him of treating his followers and associates like slaves in order to have a feeling of superiority and said it was why his political associates are now deserting him in droves. Ganduje, he said, has a sickening overbearing attitude.
Abdulmumin: “In my twenty-three years of postgraduate experience, the last seven years were my most unremarkable, so much that my long-established career almost reached a point of utter implosion.
“The horrifying disappointments of my past seven years revolved around this character who s determined to destroy anybody that activates his glaring inferiority complex. His sadistic instincts make him quite a frightening ally, so much that he feels the need to treat his allies as the marginalized black Africans in apartheid-era South Africans to feel a sense of superiority and misguided advantage.
“I dedicated everything to the political interests of this man, but he kept asking for more. This circus became too embarrassing that I had to take a step back for soul-searching to redeem myself. There’s a difference between service for the common good and a quest to be worshipped by one’s allies. We must never confuse loyalty with slavery.
“This man yearned for that and put me through a mentally draining phase in my life that I had to step aside to reflect on my political choices. It’s unsurprising that all his political principals and lieutenants are deserting him, and he risks becoming an island at the end of his stewardship.
“When he tried to lure me back a few days ago in a lengthy phone conversation, I asked him a question to stir up deep introspection on his demoralizing interpersonal relations. I asked if, as a father, he would want others to treat his children in the fashion he treats us his political allies and lieutenants. At the appropriate time, I intend to discuss the viciousness of this man in detail.
“However, my exit from the APC means I’ve ceased to be involved in the presidential campaign of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The fact is, no individual can be a significant minus in Asiwaju’s campaign. The campaign is armor-built and designed to excel even without me. Based on the passion and dedication of the team invested in his aspiration, not even Asiwaju can stop his campaign let alone an Abdulmumin Jibrin.
“I want to appeal to the public to avoid overestimating my relevance to the team and stop the rumour and creating all sort of theories around this matter. I have my value but it will not take away anything from the menu I saw on the BAT campaign table.
“For the avoidance of doubt, let me clarify that I have no problem whatsoever with Asiwaju. We have never for once had issues. My problems were local and all politics are local. Asiwaju took a sincere interest in me and gave me the free hands to participate in his project, and my exit from the party doesn’t erase my respect for him and belief in his capacity and vision to redeem the fortunes of Nigeria.
“Asiwaju did his best to intervene to prevent my exit from the party. Not because it would affect his campaign in any way but for the genuine likeness he has for me. Unfortunately, wherever this man after my career function, I feel a sense of obligation to flee for my political safety.
“It’s one toxicity I’m no longer prepared to endure, and I do want to use this opportunity to apologize to the entire BAT family across the country for whatever embarrassment or inconvenience my sudden exit from the APC must’ve caused. I have already met Asiwaju to tender my apology, and he will continue to be a father to me and his house, my home.”
