By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
Zamfara State former Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, has said his aspirations to become the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) subsists despite the defection of the incumbent Governor of the State, Bello Matawalle, from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the party.
Hon. Yari, who spoke to journalists in Kaduna yesterday, expressed optimism that he would clinch the ticket if APC zones its national chairmanship to his zone, even as he expressed hope that he would do better than past APC national chairman.
He said “It is not a self appointment. My aspiration is still in top gear, his (Matawalle) joining APC will not jeopardize it. If the zoning favours my zone then it is 100%. Two things I am bringing to the party are reconciliation and unity.
“I’m still pushing to be APC National chairman because I know I can do better than most of the people as a former state party secretary, state party chairman, House of Representatives member, two terms governor and chairman Governors Forum.”
Disclosing why he initially kicked against Matawalle joining the APC, Yari said the manner in which they received the information made him kick against the governor’s decision.
“I kicked against his joining the party initially because of the nature of the way the information reached us but whatever my reasons are because of my people. Some of our people who I am representing are against his joining our party because they believe it would affect the oneness of the party,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yahi yesterday defected from the opposition PDP to the ruling APC in an elaborate political ceremony to welcome him into the ruling party, where he was received by Governors of the APC, including the chairman of the party’s CECPC, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and other Governor, including Kebbi, Jigawa, Gombe, among others.
