Siblings guber tussle: Dad backs Moshood Mustapha, drops Sobi FM boss – MM’s Aide

By Mumini AbdulKareem

The race for who gets the family’s nod for the gubernatorial ticket between Hon Moshood Mustapha and his sibling, Lukman Mustapha took a new twist, last night, as both camps traded words over the their father’s purported endorsement of one of them.

Media aide to the senior Mustapha popularly known as MM, Abdulazeez Kayode stirred the political waters when he issued an online post alleging that their aged father and the Wali of Ilorin, Alhaji Usman Mustapha had successfully prevailed on younger Mustapha who is also the Sobi FM boss to drop his governorship ambition and support his brother.

The post which went viral on the social media and many online platforms on Tuesday alleged that the father who has hitherto been quiet about the ambitions of his sons at a meeting held at his Abdulrazaq Road, GRA Ilorin residence, has thrown his weight behind Moshood Mustapha and called on the siblings to team up for the sake of the people of the state who are yearning for genuine change in 2019.

Titled “Peace finally returns to the Mustapha’s family”, Kayode said the father during the meeting urged every member of the family both home and abroad to come together as a united front to make Moshood Mustapha’s gubernatorial ambition a huge success.

But shortly after the piece was released, Sobi FM boss, Lukman countered the report with an online statement he personally signed debunking the purported endorsement.

According to the statement which was titled ‘Mustapha family is one, indivisible’, Lukman said he was never part of a meeting where such issue was discussed talk less of instructing him to jettison his gubernatorial ambition.

He described the issue as the handiwork of those he described as fifth columnist who wanted to sow seed of discord in the family.

“I have been inundated with calls seeking clarifications on rumours making the rounds of an imaginary division in the Mustapha family, which is nothing but a naked lie.

“I must admit this is an emotional period for me and the entire Mustapha family, owing to the death of one of our respected wives, Hajia Ramata who was a mother figure, while yesterday also marked the 36th year remembrance of the departure of my dearly beloved mother, Hajia Adijat Mustapha, therefore, this isn’t the best of times to discuss politics.

“However, I had to rescind my decision of maintaining a graveyard silence in respect of the departed souls by ignoring the obvious falsehood of an imaginary division within the Mutapha family.

“I must emphasise for the umpteenth time that the cordial blood relationship between all Mustaphas are as strong as ever, our umbilical cord is water tight and can never be broken by politics or whatever.

“It is only the imagination of mischief makers to ever think the different perception of governance in the State between siblings will lead to disharmony and discord in the Mustapha family.

“On my alleged instruction to step down my gubernatorial ambition which was abinitio never personal, but a clarion call to come contribute towards rescuing the State from near abyss, I can’t but marvel at the ingenuity of fifth columnist to always want to score own goal unwittingly.

“For the records, I was never part of any such meeting, nor privy to any family meeting where such issues were discussed in recent times talk less of instructing me to jettison my gubernatorial ambition, knowing fully that the family is presently mourning one of its beloved wives.

“I want to advice agents of disunity and disharmony to please respect the enviable name of the Mustapha family by detaching it from politics of falsehood and division”, the statement submitted.

But when contacted on Lukman’s rebuttal, MM’s media aide, AbdulAzeez Kayode maintained his position on the matter.

In a text message to this reporter, he said although his reaction on the issue is personal, Lukman’s statement was “a shabby attempt at denying an obvious truth.

“For the records, my write-up was a personal write-up, not a press release and therefore, not that of my principal. (However) the information I passed across was reliably gathered and deep down in his heart, Alhaji Lukman Mustapha knows that his press release was just a shabby attempt at denying an obvious truth. He certainly can’t deny the fact that his dad has instructed the Mustapha family to support Hon. MM’s gubernatorial ambition but whether or not he wants to heed his dad’s advice is left to him”, he added.

Kayode said MM’s suspension by the Alanamu ward APC is in futility adding that those who purport to suspend the former lawmaker are only making a mockery of themselves and their paymasters.

“MM remains not only a member but a pillar of APC and will continue to fund and participate in all APC activities, (including the state congress).

Meanwhile, the Ilorin West Local Government chapter of the APC has affirmed the suspension of Moshood Mustapha by the ward.

In the letter by the council dated 20th April, 2018 which was exclusively obtained by National Pilot, the party affirmed the suspension.

The content of the letter which was signed by the council Chairman and Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Bala Olanrewaju and Kabir Omodara read: Suspension of Hon Moshood Mustapha: This is to notify you about the suspension of Hon Moshood Mustapha…. Who was alleged of anti-party activities and refused to clear the air as regard the allegation levelled against him but failed to show up prompting his suspension.

Speaking on the development, the state Secretary of the APC, Chief Bode Adekanye who confirmed the receipt of the letters said the party will look at it and do the needful in line with the constitutional provision.