Bauchi Deputy Governor, Nuhu Gidado recently resigned following irreconcilable differences with his boss, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, writes Segun Awofadeji
In what came as the last ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ following irreconcilable political differences, Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Mr Nuhu Gidado last Wednesday resigned with immediate effect .
THISDAY POLITICS found that Gidado submitted his letter of resignation to the State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar late Wednesday night , citing “waning enthusiasm for the job” as reason for leaving.
Gidado’s resignation is seen by many political followers in the state as a major setback for the governor’s bid for a second term.
The deputy governor had previously threatened to resign from office in the past but was prevailed upon to remain. He had contested and lost the party gubernatorial primaries in 2015.
The letter containing Gidado’s resignation was submitted to the state governor on Wednesday, May 16, 2018,however, THISDAY learnt that Gidado threw in the towel because he was no longer comfortable with doing nothing.
According to several sources who are conversant with the deputy governor’s decision to throw in the towel, Gidado had lost the zeal to just show up at work only to spend the rest of the day reading newspapers; or wait to be told what to do by the governor.
The deputy governor, in his resignation letter, wrote: “Ordinarily, I should have remained up to the end of the tenure, but, with the currently dampened spirit and waning zeal as it relates to my official engagements, my continued stay will not be fair and truthful to you as my brother and leader.”
He declared that he had lost interest in the job and extended his appreciation to the people of the state for giving him the opportunity to serve.
Even though unconfirmed, our sources also disclosed that Gidado had fallen out with Abubakar over irreconcilable differences a long time ago but held on thinking things would change for better.
The shocking move taken by Gidado, has further depleted the camp and chances of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi State considering the fact that a number of high-ranking officials have since dumped the cabinet of the governor in the past following political differences that could not be resolved.
Sometimes in 2017, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Shehu Barau Ningi, resigned from his position because according to him, “the governor did not encourage members of his cabinet to offer advice on how to run the state”.
The governor ran the affairs of the state for a very long time after sacking his cabinet.
Ningi, while briefing news men on the reason why he resigned his appointment explained that, “ the environment in which I would have exercised my advisory role as member of the State Executive Council was unaccommodating, debilitating and unfriendly”.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment, Samaila Sanusi, as well as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Scheduling, Ibrahim Tahir Ibrahim resigned due to what they described as, “unfriendly working environment” saying that all avenues to hold talks with the governor on official issues and development were unsuccessful.
It appears there is a plot to isolate the governor as the 2019 general election draws closer.
Amidst these resignations, the governor has been facing stiff political opposition from chieftains of his own party, the APC. Right from the beginning of his administration, the governor has been battling with opposition from members of the National Assembly from Bauchi due to what has been described as his political style of leadership which excludes them from the leadership in the state.