I humbly request that my former speaker, Balarabe, who is also my elder brother and superior, consider forgiving me. – Ibrahim Sa’ad
The member representing Umaisha/Ugya constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Sa’ad Ibrahim Abdullahi, has asked the Nasarawa State, All Progressives Congress (APC) executive council members to beg the former Speaker, Ibrahim Abdullahi Balarabe, to forgive him, enabling them to work together for the state’s progress.
He made the appeal at his office shortly after defecting from the PDP to the ruling APC at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly last Tuesday.
Sa’ad told the APC Secretary, Yarius Dagusa, the Organizing Secretary, Barrister Wali, and the Women and Youth Leaders of the party, who witnessed his defection and the subsequent change of flag from PDP to APC, that people know how he became a member of the House of Assembly. Hence, he requested their assistance in reconciling with Balarabe, whom he described as his boss and elder brother.
“You people know how I came in. I want you to help me appeal to my elder brother and leader in the constituency and local government, the former Speaker, Right Honorable Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, with whom I coincidentally share almost the same name,” he said.
The lawmaker recalled that during the tribunal case at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the judge referred to them as brothers, which is true. This further reminded him of the need to work closely with each other for the progress of Toto Local Government Area and the state at large.
“Even when we were at the tribunal, the judge was telling me, ‘Ah, your name is Ibrahim Abdullahi Sa’ad, his name is Ibrahim Abdullahi Balarabe; you guys are from the same family.’ I said yes, the only difference is Balarabe and Sa’ad. So, he’s my leader, my boss, and elder brother. For that matter, I will continue to respect him”.
I didn’t come to fight him; God knows this. I have come to support him so we can actualize the governor’s dream. We will put our hands together, and I will respect him, and I want him to respect me too.”
According to him, his defection to APC shouldn’t have taken place without reconciling with Balarabe, but it was due to the circumstances he found himself in. However, he promised to meet with Balarabe for the progress of the Umaisha community.
“This defection shouldn’t have come in the first place without meeting him, but because the condition I found myself in was tight, I couldn’t meet with him first. But I’m ready to meet him anywhere so I can beg him. Whatever happened between me and him, he should forget it. Let’s agree to work together as a family. If we work together as a family, I think we won’t have any issues.”
The APC Secretary, Yarius Dagusa, responded that the party would intervene to ensure both political bigwigs work together to project the party’s image and assured Sa’ad Ibrahim that the party would ensure unity among their supporters.
