By Rayyanu Bala

While it is not my intention to join issues with anyone over the article I wrote titled “Lafia Political Crisis and the Battle for the Soul of Nasarawa APC,” I feel compelled to clarify certain issues not only to set the record straight but also to disabuse the minds of those who think I am against Senator Al-Makura.

There is no way I could be against him. Anyone who carefully reads the article will clearly see that I hold Senator Al-Makura in the highest regard. I stated explicitly that he is my elder brother, someone who has known me since childhood.

If anyone is in doubt regarding my respect for Senator Al-makura, he should Google the article I wrote after receiving an award at the maiden Media Excellence Awards instituted by Engr. Abdullahi Sule, in which I dedicated my award to Senator Al-Makura. The title of the article is Why I Dedicated My Media Excellence Award to Senator Al-makura.

Yes, Senator Al-Makura dropped me as his SSA on Media in 2015.
Yes, I lobbied him to appoint me as Permanent Secretary, and I was aware that some people within the same civil service were appointed despite being far below the prescribed civil service requirements. That was why I also lobbied to be appointed. He assured me that I would be appointed, but he failed to fulfill that promise.

Now close to over a decade ago. If I had any grievances against him, I would have voiced them long before now. In that same write-up, I made it clear that I was driven by nothing other than the desire to speak the truth. Who, in all honesty, would deny that there is no tension or misunderstanding between Senator Al-Makura and Engr. Sule especially with regards to 2027. Engr. Sule has consistently maintained that he is a product of zoning and, as such, will not jettison that arrangement. On the other hand, Al-Makura is actively working against zoning. Given these positions, it is only honest to admit that there is no middle ground between the two leaders.

Furthermore, if I truly had anything against Senator Al-Makura, I would not have written the article using my real name. I could easily have adopted a pseudonym and vented any perceived anger anonymously. I used my real name because my intentions were genuine and well-meaning.

Therefore, If Audu Lafia he truly believes in what he has written, should have come out openly with his real name instead of hiding under a pseudonym.

Now, let us get to the meat of the issue.

Audu Lafia in his write up raises more questions than answers and appears more concerned with sanctifying personality than engaging with the substance of the issues I raised.

In a democratic setting, no individual, regardless of past office or political pedigree should be insulated from scrutiny or legitimate criticism.

First, it is important to clarify that raising concerns about political developments within Lafia or the Nasarawa APC does not, by itself, amount to “injecting venom” into the political landscape. Healthy democracies thrive on open debate, dissenting opinions, and the interrogation of power dynamics. To dismiss opposing views as “fabrications” without transparently addressing their factual basis is to substitute reasons for emotions.

While Senator Al-Makura’s contributions to Nasarawa State and the APC are well documented and deserving of acknowledgment, political legacies are not static monuments immune to present-day evaluation. Being a founding father of the party does not automatically absolve anyone from allegations of undue influence, factional alignment, or political maneuvering, especially in the highly sensitive build-up to a future governorship contest in Nasarawa state. Respect for past service must coexist with vigilance over current political conduct.

The attempt to discredit me by resurrecting alleged personal grievances from the Al-Makura administration is particularly troubling. This line of argument shifts the discourse from issues. Even though I have explained myself earlier in this write up why I decided to write but assuming Audu Lafia’s claims were accurate, they do not, in themselves, invalidate the concerns I raised. Arguments should be judged on their merit, not on my past disappointments.

The assertion that the political atmosphere in Lafia is entirely peaceful and tension-free may be an oversimplification. Political unease does not always take the form of open conflict; it often begins subtly through alignments, endorsements, and strategic positioning long before elections. The questions that naturally arise is: does Senator Al-Makura support zoning or not? Does he back former IGP Adamu’s political aspiration or not? This questions constituted the backbone of my article and should not be misconstrued as an attempt to destabilize the state, as Audu Lafia seems to suggest.

By urging the public to “completely disregard” my dissenting voice sets a dangerous precedent. Democracy is not strengthened by silence or selective hearing, but by openness, transparency, and the willingness of leaders and their supporters to engage critics constructively. Labelling all criticism as the handiwork of “embittered individuals” risks alienating party members and citizens who genuinely seek clarity and accountability.

Nasarawa State indeed deserves peace, progress, and unity. However, these goals are best served not by unquestioning defence of political figures, but by fostering an environment where issues can be discussed freely, disagreements managed maturely, and leaders past and present held to the same standards of accountability. Only then that we can truly claim our leaders are indeed, vehicles for inclusive governance and sustainable development.