Former Kano State Governor Kabiru Gaya has explained why he recently met President Bola Tinubu in Abuja alongside Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senator Rufai Hanga.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Gaya said the meeting followed visits to his residence by the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, and former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who encouraged him to return to the ruling party.
According to Gaya, Yilwatda told him that President Tinubu and other APC leaders were fully aware of his contributions to the party.
Recalling the formation of the APC, Gaya said he was one of the party’s founding members alongside Tinubu.
According to him, “We first met to discuss the APC. I was one of those who founded the party. President Tinubu and I were members, and he chaired the committee that selected the party’s symbol.
He added, “We considered different options before choosing the broom. We formed the party, contested the election, and won.”
Gaya said that after Ganduje’s visit, he received an invitation from the Presidency to meet Tinubu alongside Barau Jibrin and Rufai Hanga.
During the meeting, Gaya said he told the President that some founding members of the APC had been neglected after the party came to power.
He added that there were no discussions about conditions, promises or political appointments if they returned to the APC. Instead, Tinubu encouraged them to remain part of the government they helped establish.
Explaining his decision to rejoin the APC, Gaya said it was driven by patriotism and his desire to continue serving Nigerians.
“At this point, the issue of contesting for the Senate is over because the primaries have been concluded and candidates have already emerged. There is nothing left,” he said.
He also said he was ready to accept any responsibility the APC assigns to him in the interest of his people.