By Paul Odenyi, Abuja
Apparently miffed by what he saw as an attempt to denigrate or belittle him and other northern elements within the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, former Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa yesterday gave reasons why he left the ACN, a party he sought to fly its flag for the last April Presidential election saying the party no longer serves his needs and those of his supporters, as it is being run by a cabal whose main interest was to amass wealth and power at the detriment of other Nigerians.

He also reminded the ACN that he was never an employee of it and therefore cannot be issued with querries in the manner of superiors and subordinates.

He told Saturday Vanguard yesterday that upon his return from Hajj on Sunday November 13, 2011 he received a query dated November 9, 2011 and signed by the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Mr. Boss Mustapha asking him to explain why he had stayed away from the activities of the party since after the party’s national convention in Lagos despite several invitations to him to attend such events.

He was also asked to explain why he has been deploying his resources to organize some elements within the party in the northern part of the country, a move which the party sees as detracting from cohesion and discipline which the party is known for.

The ACN query to Bafarawa reads: “it would be recalled that after the ACN 2011 Presidential Convention held in Lagos, you have inspite of many contacts stayed away from all the activities of the party, including attending meetings of the National Caucus to which you have contributed to in the past.

’’Whilst the party decided to wait inorder to give you room to address whatever misgivings being nursed against our party leaders, and also enable effective and genuine reconciliation, we have observed in recent months that you are deploying your enormous resources in attempting to group together states’ apparatuses of our party in the Northwest zone with a view to undermining its structure.

“This action of yours is certainly not in the interest of the party and neither can it be in your own long term interest and would therefore not be tolerated. This letter is therefore, to seek your explanation and to state for the umpteenth time that as a leading opposition party, it is only discipline, total dedication and commitment that can enable our party stand up to the marauding PDP government and ultimately take over power from them.

“While appreciating your past contributions, it would be appreciated if your comments can reach us not later than one week from now.”

For the former Presidential candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, the query from his party was insulting and he therefore, resigned.

His resignation letter addressed to Chief Bisi Akande, National Chairman of the party and dated November 14, 2011 was received at the ACN headquarters last Tuesday.

Bafarawa explained in his letter that his decision to quit the party along with his supporters stemmed from the belief that the ACN platform no longer served their need. He reminded chief Akande that his entry into the party followed talks between him and other political big wigs including the former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on the possibility forming a broad based political party which unfortunately never materialized.

He said that with the abortion of that plan, he had remained with the ACN in clear manifestation of his character to stay with anything he was committed to.

‘’As you may recall, former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and I, were among those who joined hands with you to form the mega party capable of wresting power from the PDP. At some point, Gen Buhari and VP Atiku Abubakar left. I remained. That is clear manifestation of my character; once committed to anything I give it my all. It is therefore an insult for anybody to suggest that I would pull down, from inside, a house I contributed in building.

“The letter directed me to respond within one week to the spurious allegations. This attitude reminds me of what my supporters and I, suffered during the last party primaries. Some powerful people made plans and afterwards orchestrated a sham and called it primaries. Since the rest of us were not informed of these machinations, we went round the country soliciting for support not knowing that we were sent out to dance in the rain by a cabal. I can no longer be part of the joke.

“The effect of what I stated above is that ACN consolidated as a regional party. Those of us from the North wanted to be members of a party with national spread. This unfortunate trend continues till date. Some people feel the party is their personal estate, designed for the amassing of power and wealth to the detriment of members and Nigerians,” Alhaji Bafarawa concluded.