El-rufai, Sani rift deepens, women leader suspended for taking sides

Hajiya Maryam Mai-Rusau, the women leader of All Progressives Congress in Badarawa/Malali ward of Kaduna has been suspended for taking sides with the former governor of the State, Nasir El-Rufai in the controversies over over the debt he left behind for his successor, Uba Sani.

Speaking Uba at a town hall meeting in Kaduna on Friday Sani had blamed the high debt he inherited from El-Rufai as one of the reasons he couldn’t pay salaries and meet other obligations to the people of the state.

Sani, who took over from El-Rufai on 29, May 2023 told the people at the town hall meeting that his predecessor left a debt burden of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual liabilities behind for him.

However, Mai-Rusau had in a viral video clip released on 30th March, 2024 via social networks; Facebook, Whats-app, and Tiktok, criticized the Governor over the claims against his predecessor.

Reacting to her action, the APC in a letter co-signed by the Ward Chairman and Secretary, Ali Maishago and Zakka Bassahuwa, respectively and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Kaduna accused her of breaching article 21.2 (v) of the party’s constitution.

The party also accused Mai-Rusau of defaming Governor Sani in a social media post, which, according to it, went viral.

It said: “The Badarawa/Malali Ward APC Executive Committee after due deliberations and careful examinations on the viral video clip released on 30th March, 2024 via social networks; Facebook, Whats-app, and Tiktok, which is against the constitution of our dear party, APC as stated in article 21.2 (v).

“In view of the above, below are the gross misconducts where the subsequent suspension relied upon:

“Defamation of the character of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Uba Sani. Unauthorized publicity of the party’s dispute that discredited the personality of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.”