Supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the aegis of BAT Support Group, have commended Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani’s governance style for reversing the fortune of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Southern Kaduna.

This followed the defection of hundreds of people from different political parties led by Senator Danjuma Laar and Hon Godfrey Ali Gaiya, a former member of the House of Representatives.

A statement by the group blamed the APC’s lack of a foothold in Southern Kaduna on former governor Nasir El-Rufai, whom they blamed for highhandedness, exclusion of the zone from development, and ignoring insecurity in the zone under the guise of politics.

The group’s executive director, Chief Atoyebi Bamidele, assured the defectors that they were welcome to the party, having taken the right step. He added that having come under the president’s umbrella, they would enjoy all the fruits of his care and political kindness, which he said had started with the siting of a university in the area.

“It is trite that success has extended family and relations while failure is an orphan; that will be a fair attempt at explaining what is happening in Kaduna State, with the latest trooping into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Southern Kaduna used to be a bastion of opposition, to the extent that the former administration of the diminutive Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in frustration, allowed insecurity to fester there because he couldn’t get a foothold there. He has now turned to the APC.

“BAT Ideological Group (BIG), therefore, is happy to welcome them to the party with the assurance that they are now part of a big family under the Umbrella of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who will ensure that their suffering and suppression stops.

“That has already started with the approval of a university in the area, ” the group stated.

Assuring them that it was an opportunity to right the wrongs inflicted on the area in the past, they commended the government of Uba Sani for playing better politics than his predecessor.

“Your coming to the party is a testament to the good administrative strategy of President Tinubu, and it shows that as the father of all, he will continue to ensure national cohesion and protect every part of the country as father of the nation,” he added.

The member representing Ideato North/South federal constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has said that Deputy Speaker of the House Benjamin Okezie Kalu, enjoyed maximum confidence of southern political class because of his leadership style and character.

Ugochinyere, who is the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that Kalu was building sustainable bridges for emerging leaders from the South-East region.

 

Ugochinyere lauded the deputy speaker’s role in establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), which is a recipe for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation of the once war-torn region and other legislative praxis such as committee integration.

 

He also commended Kalu’s tireless efforts in bringing peace to the region through his initiative, Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P), a peace-building and development programme designed to address the complex socio-economic challenges and security issues facing the Southeast region of Nigeria.

 

According to him, the deputy speaker has also, more than any South-East leader, presently taken upon himself the duty of clamouring for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention as panacea for peace in the South-East.

 

“The Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, the Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, enjoys maximum confidence of southern political class because of his leadership style and character. He is also building sustainable bridges for emerging leaders from the region.

 

“His role in the passage and assent to the bill which has established South-East Development Commission (SEDC). With this commission whose board has been constituted and confirmed by the National Assembly with over N340 billion allocated to it in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presently before the parliament to long walk to the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation of the once war-torn region is almost completed.

“A man of peace, Kalu has been at the forefront of the return of peace to our geopolitical zone. For instance, the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), an initiative of the Deputy Speaker, is a peace-building and development program designed to address the complex socio-economic challenges and security issues facing the South East region of Nigeria.

 

“Developed in response to the growing impact of agitations, economic decline, and security threats, PISE-P seeks to restore peace and stimulate development through a multi-stakeholder approach. The impact of PISE-P is already being felt in the region just a year since coming into existence.

 

“Beyond PISE-P, the deputy has been taken upon himself the duty of clamoring for the release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention as panacea for peace in the southeast. Few days ago, he appealed to President Bola Tinubu to temper justice with mercy and release the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.

 

“Kalu had noted that when Kanu is released, insecurity in the region will be reduced and as well, spring up development that the SEDC is going to bring.”

The president of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Worldwide, Rev Dr  Ayuba Malam Job Bagat, has passed a vote of confidence on Kaduna State governor Uba Sani, saying he gave succour to the neglected people of Southern Kaduna.

The ECWA president lamented that the immediate past administration of the state totally neglected Southern Kaduna.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, ECWA president said Governor Sani’s leadership has demonstrated commitment to good governance and inclusivity, infrastructural and human capital development, as well as proactiveness in handling security matters in Kaduna State.

He further said the governor’s application of a non-kinetic approach to solving security and his administration’s collaboration with the Nigerian army were testaments to his unwavering dedication to providing a happy and prosperous society.

Rev. Bagat noted that the governor’s inclusive leadership style and how he  embraced diversity, ‘’make everyone feel valued, comfortable, and welcomed in the state. Generally speaking, all citizens of Kaduna State now have a sense of belonging under your administration.’’

“You have given succour to other parts of the state such as the people of southern Kaduna who were almost totally neglected in the immediate past regime” ECWA president added.

Responding, Governor Uba Sani who thanked the ECWA president and his entourage for the visit, reiterated his administration’s commitment to be fair, just and equitable to all people of Kaduna State, irrespective of their  ethnicity or religious beliefs.