The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Atah, has fired back at the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioning against turning the party’s internal matters into a national controversy.
The warning follows a letter from Kano APC, signed by State Chairman Abdullahi Abbas, which accused Atah of “acting as the mouthpiece of the party and making remarks capable of causing disaffection among members,” Gossip News Now reports.
In response, Atah, through his publicity aide Seyi Olorunsola, described the party’s claims as a needless distraction from pressing national issues, including the country’s insecurity challenges. He maintained that his recent statements fall within his democratic rights and were not intended to create friction within the party.
“The Honourable Minister views the decision to draft and circulate such a letter, particularly one copied to the President during a declared national security emergency, as an unnecessary distraction,” the statement read.
Atah highlighted that with President Bola Tinubu suspending international engagements—including the G-20 Summit in South Africa and a planned AU meeting in Angola—to address urgent security matters, the priority for patriotic leaders should be unity, focus, and unwavering support for the Commander-in-Chief.
The Minister reaffirmed his loyalty to both the APC and the President, stressing that his constitutional right to freedom of expression allows him to offer opinions on the party’s future direction.
“The minister’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the APC is unquestionable, demonstrated consistently through sacrifice and commitment to the party’s ideals. Any suggestion that his comments amount to ‘disaffection’ or an attempt to claim party leadership is unfounded and reflects a misunderstanding of democratic rights and internal party dynamics,” the statement said.
Atah concluded boldly, “If offering a sincere, well-reasoned, and patriotic opinion on the future direction of the party ahead of the 2027 elections is considered wrongdoing, then I stand ‘guilty as charged’—guilty only of loving my party enough to speak truthfully and strategically at a crucial moment.”
