Hundreds rally in support of senator who defected to PDP

Hundreds on Thursday from Jigawa North-east senatorial district staged a rally round the streets of Hadejia Local Government Area in support of the defection of their senator, Ubale Shitu, to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PREMIUM TIMES reported how supporters of Governor Mohammed Badaru from the district protested against the senator last Sunday. Mr Shitu is among the 15 senators who defected to the PDP.

Mr Shitu was not present at the rally because he was engaged in another important national assignment in Abuja, his spokesperson, Bala Aji, said.

The convener of the rally, Tijjani Usman, told the gathering that the rally was organised to show support for the senator.

He added that the constituents ‘instructed’ Mr Shitu to defect from APC because Mr Badaru “didn’t keep his promise, thus can’t be trusted”.

Mr Usman said prior to 2015 general election, they supported President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr Badaru with the hope that they (duo) will support their people “but unfortunately most of them are saboteurs to President Buhari and governor Badaru inclusive.”

“Mr Badaru deceived our senatorial district because since he came on board he didn’t commission a single project at Hadejia emirate, all the projects in this district are inherited ones and they are still ongoing three years after,” Mr Usman explained.

Mr Usman viewed Mr Badaru’s style of politics as deceitful because according to him “Mr Badaru flagged-off a school of nursing at Hadejia with only N50 million and went to his hometown and flagged-off school of nursing and midwifery with N2 billion”.

“For God’s sake this is purely injustice and deceive (deception), we will not allow such to continue beyound 2019.

“What I will like Governor Badaru to understand is that, even white colonial masters were defeated in Hadejia because our people are not gullible. Governor Badaru will be the easiest person to be defeated in 2019,” he added.

The convener explained that the relationship between Senate President Bukola Saraki and Mr Shitu is ‘fruitful’ because Jigawa North-east senatorial district experienced more dividends of democracy courtesy of Mr Saraki “who helps actualise his dreams in the constituency”.

Jigawa North-east senatorial zone is the political nerve of the state. It consists of eight local council areas which: Hadejia, Mallamadori, Kaugama, Kafin-hausa, Auyo, Kirikassama, Guri and Birniwa.

Meanwhile, Bello Zaki, the spokesperson of Governor Badaru said in response that Mr Shitu is just an attention seeker, “because Hadejia emirate benefits more than any other zone in the state”.

“Two days after governor Mohammed was sworn as a governor in 2015, flood swept off Hadejia town because of lack of drainage. Mr Badaru ordered for the construction of roads and drainages, as a result of this, there were never issues of flood in the town (again).

“More so, this administration constructed roads at Kafin-hausa, and Baturiya which are all under the zone. We renovated and upgraded hospitals in the zone,” Mr Zaki said in a brief statement.