The Jigawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2027 Campaign Council has expressed concern over the involvement of Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, a Katsina State indigene and Special Adviser on Political Affairs to President Bola Tinubu, in the internal affairs of Jigawa. The council stated that Masari's actions are an attempt to politicize the academic community and interfere in the state's politics. This was made known in a statement by Honourable Nasiru Mohammed on behalf of the PDP Campaign Council.
The council observed that Masari addressed a gathering of academicians in Jigawa State, including top functionaries of various tertiary institutions, at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Dutse. The meeting was reportedly about matters connected to the 2027 elections. While the council acknowledged the right of any political party to strategize ahead of future elections, it lamented the manner in which the state governor, Dan Modi, through Masari, is dragging the academia into partisan politics.
The PDP campaign council emphasized that tertiary institutions should not become campaign grounds, and heads of such institutions and lecturers should not play the role of political canvassers. The council stated that the classroom and the convocation square must never be converted into an annex of the Government House or the APC secretariat. This, according to the council, is an attempt to undermine the integrity and academic freedom of the academic community.
The council claimed that Masari routinely arrives in Jigawa State aboard a presidential aircraft to hold private meetings with Governor Dan Modi. It asked in which capacity a Katsina State indigene is addressing the academia of Jigawa State on the state's political future. The council also alleged that Governor Dan Modi, who had fallen out with former Governor Badaru, seems to be adopting Masari as a political godfather.
The PDP campaign council described Masari as a self-appointed godfather from Katsina State who has no official position in Jigawa State. It noted that the people of Jigawa State are politically educated and sophisticated, and they do not need external influence to determine their political choices. The council emphasized that the 2027 elections will be decided by the good people of Jigawa State, not by a godfather from Katsina.
The council vowed to continue standing with the people in resisting every form of political imperialism and the unwholesome politicization of cherished institutions. It accused Masari of lowering the authority of the governor's office and the dignity of the people of Jigawa State by attempting to turn the state into his political backyard.
The PDP campaign council's statement reflects growing tensions between the PDP and the APC in Jigawa State ahead of the 2027 elections. The council's criticism of Masari's involvement in state politics and his address to the academic community has sparked a debate about the role of external influences in state politics and the politicization of academic institutions.
Key points
- The Jigawa PDP campaign council accuses Alhaji Ibrahim Masari of interfering in state politics and politicizing the academic community.
- The council claims Masari has no official position in Jigawa State and is a self-appointed godfather from Katsina State.
- The 2027 elections will be decided by the people of Jigawa State, not by external influences, according to the council.
