The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Atah, has responded to a warning issued to him by the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress.

This is as he insisted that his recent statements were made within his democratic rights and were not intended to create friction within the party.

Recall that Kano APC, in a letter signed by its state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, had accused Atah of ?acting as the mouthpiece of the party and making remarks capable of causing disaffection among members.?

The letter read In part: ?The party observed that you (minister) are in the habit of making such uncomplimentary and derogatory public pronouncements and therefore has no alternative but to warn you to refrain from such behaviour, failure in which the party may be compelled to take disciplinary action against you.?

The letter was copied to President Bola Tinubu and the national secretariat of the APC.

However, in a statement released on Saturday signed by his publicity aide, Seyi Olorunsola, Atah said he was responding formally for clarity, public education, and to restate his unwavering loyalty to the party and the president.

Atah cautioned against dragging internal party matters into the national spotlight at a time when the country is facing urgent security concerns.

The statement said: ?The Honourable Minister views the decision to draft and circulate such a letter?especially one copied to the President?at a time when Nigeria faces a declared national security emergency, as an unnecessary distraction.

?With the President suspending his international engagements, including the G-20 Summit in South Africa and a planned AU meeting in Angola, in order to attend to urgent state security matters, the priority of every patriotic leader should be unity, focus, and unwavering support for the Commander-in-Chief.

?The minister wishes to reaffirm that, beyond being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a proud member of the APC in Kano State, he is first and foremost a citizen of Nigeria with constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and opinion.

?The minister?s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the APC is unquestionable and has been demonstrated consistently through sacrifice and commitment to the party?s ideals.

?Therefore, any suggestion that his recent public comments amount to ?disaffection? or an attempt to arrogate party leadership to himself is not only unfounded but reflects a narrow and erroneous understanding of democratic rights and internal party dynamics.

?If offering a sincere, well-reasoned, and patriotic opinion on the future direction of the party ahead of the 2027 elections is what the writers of the letter consider a wrongdoing, then the Minister stands ?guilty as charged??guilty only of loving his party enough to speak truthfully and strategically at a crucial moment.?

Atah also addressed concerns arising from his recent endorsement of Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau?s 2027 governorship ambition, which party members said prompted the warning.

?For the avoidance of doubt, the minister?s recent comments on the suitability of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, as the most viable gubernatorial candidate for the APC in 2027, were personal and patriotic assessments?not official party declarations.

?Senator Barau represents, in the minister?s view, the strongest and most unifying choice for the APC to reclaim Government House Kano at the 2027 general election.

?This assessment is based on sound political foresight and decades of engagement with the grassroots.

?The minister believes party leaders should welcome strategic thinking that positions the APC for victory before formal nomination processes begin.

?His comments were never intended to usurp the powers of party organs, rather, they were reflections of democratic analysis?open to debate, disagreement, or acceptance by party members.

?The Minister remains committed to the APC, to the President, and to the peace and progress of Kano State,? the statement concluded. (Saturday PUNCH)

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