POLITICS: APC quizzes Kwankwaso over North-West crisis

John Alechenu, Abuja Following the crisis of confidence which engulfed the North-West chapter of the All Progressives Congress, the party’ s national leadership has quizzed Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso over the issue. The meeting, which held at the party’s National Secretariat , in Abuja , on Thursday, was chaired by the party’s National Chairman , Chief John Odigie -Oyegun. Although details of the meeting were sketchy as of the time of filing this report; it was gathered that the party leadership summoned the senator to hear his side of the story . The APC National Vice -Chairman ( North-West) , Inuwa Abdulkadir, had about a week ago , alleged that Kwankwaso and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el -Rufai , were destabilising the party in the zone in pursuit of their personal ambitions . It was learnt that the meeting which held behind closed doors for a little over 30 minutes , was held at the instance of the party’s national chairman . It was gathered that Kwankwaso expressed displeasure with the way the crisis in the Kano State chapter was handled by the Senator Mohammed Magoro -led committee which investigated the removal of his ally , the former Chairman of the State chapter of the party, Haruna Doguwa. A source privy to the meeting said, “The former governor used the opportunity to correct some misinformation about him because he would only speak for himself . He affirmed his loyalty to the party after giving them a piece of his mind about happenings in Kano .” None of the party leaders spoke to reporters after the brief meeting which had some members of the party’s National Working Committee in attendance. The North-West APC Zonal Woman Leader, Hajiya Aisha Kaita , had accused Abdulkadir of misappropriating N 21m meant for the purchase of office furniture for the party’s zonal office. She also accused him of partisanship in the handling of the crisis in the Kano and Kaduna state chapters of the party. Abdulkadir denied the charges arguing that the woman leader was simply acting out a script written for her by Kwankwaso and El-Rufai who were out to settle scores . He also alleged that the Kaduna State governor threatened to physically attack him. Meanwhile , the Deputy Senate Leader , Bala Ibn Na ’allah , said he had no idea about the removal of Ali Ndume as the Senate Leader. Na ’allah said he was in Germany and only just returned to the country as such could not comment on the issue. He said, “All these things happened when I was out of the country . I was in Germany and it is not in my character to speak about what I don ’t know. “I am telling you that I was out of the country when all these things happened and there is nothing I can say that will be accurate in view of the fact that I wasn ’t around when all the politicking took place.” On the issue of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Na ’ Allah said , “The APC is a big family and everybody is welcome . We are strengthening the party based on our belief that this country needs to be united at this critical time of our history . “So, I am absolutely sure that it will be a very nice thing if he decides to join the APC.” Speaking on why he was at the party’ s National Secretariat , he said, “This is the headquarters of my party and my national chairman requested to see me . That is why I am here . It has nothing to do with what transpired in the Senate. “ If you want me to tell you why I am here, we have a primary in Edo State to fill the vacancy left by the deputy governor who left the House of Representatives and I am the chairman of the committee and I just came to receive the normal briefing from my party.”