Mai Mala Buni
By Ben Adaji, Jalingo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State, Mr. Daniel Musa, has faulted the decision of the North-East Zonal Coordinator of the party and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, for scheduling a crucial party meeting at 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday— a time most Christians attend worship services.
Speaking to journalists in Jalingo on Friday, Musa described the move as insensitive and potentially divisive, warning that such actions could alienate a significant segment of the party’s membership in the region.
“I understand that the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, who also serves as the Coordinating Chairman of the APC in the North-East, has convened a consultative forum of the party for Sunday, 15th June 2025 at 11 a.m. I want to believe this is simply a costly oversight that will be corrected immediately,” Musa said.
“However, if this is a deliberate decision and it is not corrected, it sends a very dangerous signal. It will suggest that the party does not regard its Christian members in the region, and that is extremely concerning. It raises suspicions of calculated exclusion to achieve ulterior motives.”
Musa emphasized that the APC must reflect Nigeria’s religious and cultural diversity in its operations, warning that any perception of bias or exclusion could damage the party’s credibility and unity.
“The APC has already been unfairly tagged a ‘Muslim party’ by some critics. Actions like this only serve to reinforce those suspicions. No politician who truly has the party’s interest at heart would risk deepening that narrative,” he added.
He questioned whether such a meeting would ever be scheduled for Friday at Muslim prayer time, noting that Governor Buni would likely avoid such a clash out of respect.
The APC stalwart therefore urged Governor Buni and the zonal leadership to reschedule the meeting to a time that is convenient and respectful of both Christian and Muslim worship schedules.