DUTSE—The war of words between Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and ex-Minister of Internal Affairs in the Second Republic, Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf, over Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign funds heightened yesterday, as the governor vowed to jail Yusuf before leaving office on May 29.
Senator Yusuf, aside from dragging the leadership of PDP in Jigawa State before a Federal High Court in Dutse for defamation and character assassination, also vowed to expose the governor’s activities and release the threat message sent him by the governor.
The governor and PDP had accused Senator Yusuf of diverting the money given him to distribute to the electorate in his constituency to mobilize them to vote for the party, but was angry that the Senator did not only divert the money but also defected to All Progressives Congress, APC.
Governor Lamido’s text message, according to Senator Yusuf, read: “True, I have only five weeks to go, but I will jail you before I go.
“We also, today (yesterday) at council meeting, discussed Garun Gabas road contract and by council authority sent all related documents to EFCC and copied same to Buhari, the President-elect.”
Effort to contact Commissioner of Information, Babandi Ibrahim, for further comments on the issue proved abortive as he did not pick several calls made to his line.
Let’s see who ‘ll be jailed—YUSUF
However, in a swift reaction, Senator Yusuf explained that no amount of threat and intimidation from Governor Lamido would deter him.
He said: “He is just not happy with my defection to APC and if he continues to threaten me, I will expose some of his shady deals. So we will see who will be jailed.”
Meanwhile, Senator Yusuf has sued PDP for defaming his character, having alleged that he diverted N15 million campaign fund given to him to distribute to the electorate in his constituency.
In a statement by Yusuf’s Media Consultant, Mohammed Ismail, he is seeking for an order of perpetual injunction at the Federal High Court, Dutse, against the defendants for defamation of character, asking for N1 billion damages.
Yusuf said: “Did they give me cash or cheque? Sule Lamido will never forgive me because he felt I was the one who brought him down.
“Why should he give me money for campaign? Am I a leader of his party? What kind of money?
“This is a person who will never want go down alone. I swear by Allah, he will never relent to want to tear my name.
“Do you remember five years ago, when he revoked a road contract and said I had to refund some money, which turned out to be false?
“He is just blackmailing me for leaving PDP to join APC and to help in its victory in the just-concluded elections. The whole thing is his fabrication.”
Source: Vanguard
