Written by Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: Chief Oliver Okpala, a key adviser to former APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, unleashed a vicious verbal attack on NNPP leader Buba Galadima on Tuesday, deepening the rift between the All Progressives Congress APC and the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP.
In a strongly worded statement, Okpala urged Galadima to stop his “media antics” and concentrate on the advancement of his home state, calling him a “television politician” with no local political constituency.
The conflict stems from Galadima’s recent claims that Ganduje insulted and disrespected former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Galadima went on to say that Ganduje’s “disgrace” and his failure to appoint a successor in Kano State during the 2023 elections were caused by this alleged disrespect.
These allegations were strongly refuted by Okpala, the former APC chairman’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, who called them a “mischievous fabrication.”
As a nationalist, Dr. Ganduje is renowned for his high standards of political discipline and etiquette. He said, “It is absurd that someone who has never run for office or won one is making such accusations.”
Okpala maintained that Ganduje was never humiliated, pointing out that he successfully completed two terms as Kano State’s governor and left behind a “sprawling legacy” of social and infrastructural advancement.
The statement referred to the former governor as a “democrat with towering records of excellence” and denied allegations that Ganduje organized security forces to thwart the NNPP in 2023.
Regarding the Buhari relationship, Okpala claimed that Galadima is only attempting to “curry favor” by using Buhari’s name—the same leader who, in Okpala’s words, “dumped Galadima like trash” years ago.
Regarding Galadima’s reputation, Chief Okpala did not hold back, calling him a “sadistic personality” who has a poor perspective on national affairs.
He said that a “major bane” of Nigerian politics is Galadima’s failure to develop into a reputable elder statesman.
“Incorrect political narratives have always been foretold by Buba Galadima. He has refused to grow up. He works as a blackmailer, but he should be reminded that Ganduje is revered as a political leader in Kano.
According to Okpala, “it is time for our elder statesmen to embrace the path of political rectitude so they can leave a clean political space to the younger generation.”
