NNPP crisis: Gov Yusuf resolves conflict between SSG, others

By Jude Opara, Abuja

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state has brokered peace between stakeholders in New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and top echelons of the ‘Kwankwasiyya movement’ in the state.
The reconciliation which was done behind closed doors at the Governor’s office Monday evening may have put to rest the lingering crisis rocking the internal structure of the party in the state.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature disclosed that key figures involved in the reconciliation included the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Dr. Baffa Bichi, and the Bichi Local Government Chairmanship aspirant, Hon. Hamza Sule Maifata.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting, the SSG, Dr. Bichi accepted the intervention of Governor Yusuf and promised to resolve his difference with the factional group in his Bichi constituency and groups claiming to be his critics.
Dr. Bichi subsequently dissociated himself from the deviance group said to be calling for division between the governor and the party’s national leader Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to Bichi, “I have since submitted myself and all my activities to Governor Abba Yusuf as our leader and accepted all that he wanted; I am ready to abide with. On the factional group they are talking about, I have nothing to do with them”.
On the issue of reconciliation, he said, “the Governor has already intervened and everything is over. We are all his loyalists and we are ready to abide by whatever he wants.
On his part, the Chairmanship candidate of the NNPP in Bichi Local Government, Hon Hamza Sule Maifata also expressed commitment to embrace peace and settle the discord with the SSG.
“We have sat today with the Governor, SSG and other stakeholders and we have voiced our grievances which we later came to understand that it was just being peddled by rumour mongers and enemies of the party.
“We have now forgiven each other and embraced peace. We would now work together like we used to and this reconciliation brokered by the governor has put it out permanently.
“And I want is to promise the governor, our party leaders and other stakeholders including the leadership of the House of Assembly especially the Speaker that everything has been put behind bars. I appreciate the intervention of the governor and all those that brought the matter up for reconciliation”. Maifata said.
The statement added that the meeting was held at the instance of the Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Jibrin Ismail Falgore, alongside the leadership of the house, who had prevailed on the intervention of the governor to stop the crisis from escalating.