Kebbi 2023: Malami Shares 30 Benz, 20 Prado SUV To APC State Exco

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami (SAN) yesterday shared 30 Mercedes Benz GLK and 20 Toyota Prado to Kebbi State All Progressives Congress (APC) state executive members and some delegates for state congress.

Last week, Mr Malami, after months of speculation, officially declared he would run for governor in his native Kebbi State.

Mr Malami made the announcement Thursday at the presidential lodge in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, during a factional APC’s stakeholders’ meeting attended by the state governor, Atiku Bagudu.

He said he accepted and decided to run for the position following calls from the people of the state for him to run.

“Since you want me to contest the governorship position of the state, I hereby accept your demand since you want me to do so,” he said.

“People from the state have been pressuring me to contest the governorship position in 2023.

“Going by my proper upbringing as the son of an Islamic teacher, I will not show interest to contest for any position or judge myself as qualify for any position except the people of the state want me to.

“If you will support me and accept me, I wish to say I am interested in becoming the next governor of Kebbi if you permit me,” Mr Malami said at the gathering.

The state executives of the ruling APC loyal to the governor of the state endorsed Mr Malami’s declaration.

The party’s leadership in the state is divided between two factions – one loyal to Mr Bagudu and the other loyal to a former governor, Adamu Aliero.

During the event, Mr Bagudu praises Mr Malami for distinguishing himself among his peers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet. He also praised him for the success of the 25th March National Convention of the party.

“The governor expressed wholehearted support to the yearnings of APC members and other people of Kebbi State for the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to contest the governorship of the state in the 2023 general elections under the platform of the party,” the media aide to the governor, Yahaya Sarki, said in a statement.

Unsurprisingly, the faction of the party loyal to Mr Aliero boycotted the declaration. Mr Aliero is the incumbent senator for Kebbi Central. Abdullahi Yahaya, the incumbent senator from Kebbi North, backs his faction. Both men believe Mr Bagudu is trying to impose Mr Malami as his successor.

Mr. Malami, who has been Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice for the last seven years was said to have described the car ‘gift” as a motivation for the party executive members to work assiduously to return the party to power in the forthcoming general election.