Bafarawa: We drafted APC constitution… the party is the mother of corruption

Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto state, says the constitution of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is “the mother of corruption”.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Bafarawa recalled that he was part of the team that drafted the party’s constitution, adding that he foresaw the crisis rocking it.

He said the problem started in 2014 when the party handed over its structure to the five governors who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Back then, those who moved were Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).

Bafarawa alleged that the ruling party accepted them because of the money they brought along, claiming that each of them donated N100 million to the APC.

“APC government says it is fighting corruption, but it is the mother of corruption; it has been the mother of corruption since the day it opened its gates to those five governors from the new PDP,” he said.

“When they (five governors) came into the APC, they were warmly received because they had the money to contribute N100 million each.

“When I, a founding member and acting chairman of the party’s constitution drafting committee, queried why they were expressly allowed entry, I was bluntly told they had money to give. I then offered to also contribute N100 million but my own contribution was rejected.

“Those five governors entered APC to corrupt the party, and they succeeded in doing so. This is why I say APC is the mother of corruption.

“I foresaw that they would hijack the party and attempt to do whatever they want. If they are allowed to do whatever they want, there will be problem in the politics of the country; if they are not allowed, which is the situation now, there will be a rift between them and the government, they will be disloyal and impudent to the government, and this will cost the country immense problem in terms of progress.”

Daily Trust said three of the governors it contacted have denied Bafarawa’s allegations.