THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has suspended its women leader, Maryam Suleiman, for criticising the state governor, Uba Sani, over comments he made suggesting that his administration could not pay workers their salaries due to debts inherited from the previous government.
Suleiman’s suspension is contained in a letter dated March 31, 2024, signed by the Kaduna APC Chairman Ali Maishago and Secretary Zakkah Basahuwa.
In the letter, she was accused of gross misconduct, including “defamation of character of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State Malam Uba Sani,” and “unauthorised publicity of the party dispute that discredited the personality of the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.
“Furthermore, from today, Sunday 31st of March, 2024, the leadership of APC Badarawa/Maiali Ward unanimously resolved to suspend Hajiya Maryam Suleiman (Mal Rusau) from the Party pending the further investigation on the matter from the constituted authority,” the letter read.
Suleiman had been captured in a viral video criticising the Sani’s statement in the Hausa language. She accused Sani of maladministration and urged him to step down if he could not govern the state.
“If he is saying there is no money in Kaduna state, he should explain where the money coming into the state is going exactly,” she said in Hausa language.
On Saturday, March 30, Sani announced that his government would not be able to pay workers their salaries and blamed the development on the debts he inherited from the previous administration led by Nasir El-Rufai.
The statement attracted criticism from many Nigerians, including El-Rufai’s son Bashir, who described the governor as incompetent.
Bashir El-Rufai also said Sani was only making excuses, as he was one of the senators who pushed for the approval of loans for the state in the previous government.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.