Al-Makura’s name submitted to Tinubu for ministerial slot

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, says it is untrue that he blocked the chances of a former governor of the state, Tanko Al-Makura, to be one of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees.

Sule said, rather, Al-Makura’s name featured prominently on the list of three Nasarawa All Progressives Congress stalwarts he submitted to the President to consider for ministerial appointment.

This was as he also dismissed insinuations that he masterminded the political misfortune of a former governor of the state and immediate-past National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The governor spoke to journalists through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, at a press briefing in Lafia on Tuesday.

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He was reacting to a media report (not by The PUNCH) titled, “How Gov Sule Plotted the Exit of Adamu, Al-Makura in Nasarawa Politics.”

While describing the report as false, Ahemba maintained that Sule was committed to working with his predecessors to make Nasarawa State a better place for all.

Speaking on why Al-Makura did not make Tinubu’s ministerial list, Ahemba said, “Recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requested all governors of the APC-controlled states to submit three names each, for him to consider one out of the names and nominate/appoint as minister and Senator Tanko Al-Makura’s name featured prominently on the list that was submitted.

“The appointment of ministers is solely the prerogative of Mr  President to consider and appoint whoever he wants from each state as a member of the Federal Executive Council, and Governor Sule’s powers to determine who is appointed a minister is limited. This is a fact everyone, including the author of the ill-intended publication, should know.”

Addressing the case of Adamu, who tendered his resignation as the APC National Chairman after what was believed to be intense pressure, Ahemba said, “It is pertinent to state that Governor Sule has no hand in the political squabbles that led to Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s resignation as National Chairman of the APC.

“It is mischievous for anyone to insinuate or accuse the governor of being responsible for the internal disagreement among members of the National Working Committee of the party that led to the voluntary resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu. The unfortunate development has nothing absolutely to do with the Governor.

“It is on record that Governor Sule was the first APC Governor to openly declare support for Nasarawa State to have the position of National Chairman of the ruling party and worked relentlessly for its realisation. How then will the governor turn around to destroy the house he contributed immensely in the building?

“The former governors should be wary of mischief makers and disregard the said publication in its entirety as it has no iota of truth. It is baseless, unfounded and a failed attempt by enemies of the state who are bent on causing unnecessary acrimony among political leaders in the state.”