In the backdrop of the controversial conclusion to the Osun governorship election which the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola was declared winner as well as the suspension of several high ranking members of the Lagos chapter of the party; the APC has lost another big wig and woman leader in the party.
The Nigerian Minister of women affairs Aisha Alhassan popularly known as ‘mama taraba’ has resigned from the APC led government of President Muhammadu Buhari just a few weeks to the 2019 General elections.
The resignation of the minster of women affairs makes it the second Minister and woman to resign from the cabinet of President Buhari. The first being Kemi Adeosun stepped down as finance minister earlier this month over the alleged forgery of a document exempting her from compulsory national service.
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The women affairs Minister and strong woman of politics in Taraba state for which she is called ‘mama taraba’ not only resigned as Minister, she also quit the APC.
She announced her deceision via a tweet from her social media account;
“Today, the 29th of September 2018, I wish to transmit to the President my decision to resign as the Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and withdraw my membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC),” Alhassan tweeted.
Prior to her tweet, she had written a letter to President Buhari stating that she had decided to call it quits with the APC because the national leadership of the party had disqualified her from running for governor in Taraba state.
“I received with shock and dismay that I was disqualified and not cleared to contest,” Alhassan said in the letter. “No reason was given for my disqualification Sir.” She wrote.
Trouble had started for ‘mama taraba’ within the APC when she declared her loyalty to former vice- president Atiku Abubakar whom she called her mentor.
She had stated that she would rather support Atiku for the Presidency in 2019 rather than incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari.