Kebbi Govt dismisses Maidoki’s claim of victimisation over insecurity concerns

The Kebbi State Government has dismissed allegations by Senator Garba Musa Maidoki that Governor Nasir Idris denied him a return ticket and turned against him for speaking out on insecurity in the state.

Reacting to the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, described the claim as unfounded and an attempt to justify the senator’s political setback.

Maidoki, who represents Kebbi South Senatorial District, had recently accused the governor of victimising him after he raised concerns over bandit attacks and other security challenges affecting communities in the senatorial district.

The lawmaker made the allegation shortly after defecting from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, citing alleged injustice and lingering internal crisis within the ruling party.

The state government, however, said it was misleading for the senator to suggest that he was denied a return ticket because of his comments on insecurity.

According to the statement, the fight against insecurity is a collective responsibility involving governments, security agencies, traditional institutions and citizens, and cannot be attributed to the efforts of a single individual.

“It is therefore misleading for Senator Maidoki to suggest that he was denied a return ticket simply because he spoke about insecurity.

Such a claim amounts to an excuse for his lack of performance and inability to maintain the confidence of his constituents,” the statement said.

The government maintained that Governor Idris does not determine the political fate of elected officials, insisting that political fortunes are shaped by performance, acceptance and the confidence of party members and voters.

It also rejected suggestions that the governor influenced the outcome of the APC primaries in the state, stressing that candidates emerged through established democratic processes.

“The Governor firmly believes in democratic principles and respects the will of party members and stakeholders. To attribute one’s political misfortune to the Governor is both unfair and unfounded,” the statement added.

The government urged Maidoki to accept the outcome of the party’s primary elections in good faith and refrain from making allegations capable of misleading the public.