By Mahmoud Muhammad Kano
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, has rejected the warning issued to him by the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, insisting that his recent political comments were made within his constitutional rights and without any intention to create disaffection within the party.
The state APC leadership, led by Chairman Abdullahi Abbas, had earlier accused Mr Ata of “acting as the mouthpiece of the party” and making “uncomplimentary and derogatory public pronouncements capable of causing disaffection among members.”
The party warned that continued public remarks of such nature could lead to disciplinary action. The letter was copied to President Bola Tinubu and the APC national secretariat.
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However, in a statement issued by his publicity aide, Seyi Olorunsola, the minister said his response was necessary for public clarity, education, and to reaffirm his unwavering loyalty to both the APC and President Tinubu.
Mr Ata described the decision to draft and circulate such a letter — particularly one copied to the president — as “an unnecessary distraction” at a time when the country is facing serious security challenges.
“The Honourable Minister views the decision to draft and circulate such a letter—especially one copied to the president—at a time when Nigeria faces a declared national security emergency, as an unnecessary distraction,” the statement read.
He noted that with President Tinubu now suspending his international engagements — including the G-20 Summit in South Africa and a planned AU meeting in Angola — to focus on urgent security matters, patriotic party leaders should be prioritising unity and support for the Commander-in-Chief.
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Mr Ata further stressed that as a Nigerian citizen, he is entitled to constitutionally protected freedom of expression and opinion.
“The minister’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the APC is unquestionable… Any suggestion that his recent public comments amount to ‘disaffection’ or an attempt to arrogate party leadership to himself reflects a narrow and erroneous understanding of democratic rights and internal party dynamics,” the statement added.
The controversy followed Mr Ata’s endorsement of Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau as the APC’s most viable governorship candidate in Kano ahead of the 2027 election — a stance that reportedly triggered the warning from the state party leadership.
Clarifying his position, the minister said his comments were purely a personal political assessment, not an official party declaration.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister’s recent comments on the suitability of Senator Barau Jibrin as the most viable gubernatorial candidate for the APC in 2027 were personal and patriotic assessments—not official party declarations.”
He added that Senator Barau represents, in his view, the strongest and most unifying candidate with the capacity to return the APC to Government House Kano, citing years of grassroots political experience and engagement.
“If offering a sincere, well-reasoned, and patriotic opinion on the future direction of the party ahead of the 2027 elections is what the writers of the letter consider a wrongdoing, then the Minister stands ‘guilty as charged’—guilty only of loving his party enough to speak truthfully and strategically at a crucial moment.”
The minister maintained that he remains fully committed to President Tinubu, the APC, and the peace and progress of Kano State.
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