The Vacant Ministerial slot produced by the recent Appeal Court decision declaring the immediate former Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, as the victor of the Plateau South Senatorial Zone election is causing ripples inside the All Progressives Congress (APC) family fold in Plateau state.
As Lalong, who is currently the Minister for Labour and Employment, is rumoured to be working on leaving his Ministerial position for a Senatorial seat now that the Appeal Court has ruled in his favour as the duly elected candidate of the party in the plateau state’s Southern Senatorial district.
However, Simon Lalong’s move, which has created a vacancy in the Ministerial position, has pitted APC members against each other, as the member representing Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam in the House of Representatives, honourable Yusuf Adamu Gadi, is accused of putting forward his preferred candidate, Professor Galadima, for the position.
According to a press conference held under the auspices of Kanam Progressive Youth on the 29th of November 2023 at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (Nuj) Secretariat Plateau State Council and signed by the group’s Chairman Hon Ali Abdullahi and Secretary Hon. Buhari Zakari.
According to the organisation, SMG Kanam is more suited and qualified for the Ministerial Position because to his undeniable history as a law professor, as well as his experience as a member of the Federal Executive Council in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Cabinet.
Saleh Mohammed Galadima Kanam was also regarded by the committee as one of the APC’s finest members in the state, with a track record of excellence in service, tenacity, capacity, and administrative acumen to deliver if given the opportunity as minister.
He emphasised that he is a detribalised Nigerian whose personality is synonymous with discipline and decorum, as well as a staunch supporter of the APC and its president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The professor’s academic pedigree and contributions to political fights throughout the years cannot be hidden in modern political realm.
According to the group, he ran for and was elected to the position of Kanam local government in plateau state from 2008 to 2011, where his performance garnered him respect and popularity inside the state and beyond.
As a progressive, the organisation noted that his political agility is evident in the manner in which he pursued his Senatorial campaign to represent the North Central Zone in 2011.
The group persists, “Given Professor Galadima’s achievements, and the fact that many vested interests may be eyeing the same position, we want to quickly remind the APC that as party members who are nominated by the party Exco and stakeholders at their respective wards, LGC’s, and state levels.
He was also a member of the Governorning Board of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPPADEC) from 2020 to 2023, and his achievements and contributions are highly regarded.
The group utilised the press conference to highlight Professor Galadima’s achievements in the plateau state APC, which includes being a founding member of the party in the state and contributing significantly to the party’s expansion.
He has unilaterally supported all party programmes, including party Congress elections and member registration in all Kanam wards, as well as providing furniture and other office amenities.
He volunteered and ran for the job of local government council chairman under the party while it was in its early stages, and he publicised the party throughout the local government and state.
In 2015, he sponsored candidates for House of Representatives and Senate seats, which his candidate won in Degi Constituency and went on to become the Deputy Speaker of the state house of assembly.
Professor Galadima’s other accomplishments include strong campaigning for APC candidates in the state, from the presidential to local government elections.
He was the Secretary of the plateau state APC campaign council, which was responsible for electing his Excellency, Barr Simon Lalong, as Governor in 2015 and 2019.
In 2021, he successfully led the three-man APC Membership Registration Committee for Sokoto State.
The briefing was used by the group to inform APC stakeholders in the state to stick to their decision of proposing only Party members who have been nominated by the Party EXCO and stakeholders in their respective wards, LGCs, and state levels.
In the interest of justice and fairness, all stakeholders in the state, party stalwarts, and all believers in the Renewed Hope Agenda are urged to reward Galadima for his faithfulness, hardwork, and loyalty to the party by recommending him to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as Minister to replace now Senator Bako Lalong as member of the Federal Executive Council.
