*Says it’s concocted lies to tarnish his image
By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Gabriel Saleh has debunked stories making rounds in the media about some students, who claimed they were promised scholarships and not paid at the end .
The lawmaker described the allegations raised by the students in the “sponsored” write-up as not only frivolous, but also concocted lies to tarnish his hard earned political image.
In the published story, some medical students and other science students from Kachia Kagarko Federal Constituency cried out over, ‘Political gimmick’ of the former member and vowed to vote him out.
Reacting in a statement personally signed by Hon. Gabriel Saleh, he said he never made any promise of sorts and failed during the course during his stay as House of Reps member and entire political career. .
He further explained, “I was popularly voted by the good people of Kachia/Kagarko to represented them in the House of Representatives and I did my very best to do so,while my tenure lasted.
“For the records, they should cross check again in Kaduna State University (KASU), my team went to pay scholarships for students that were captured, located and paid accordingly. Anyone in doubt should go to KASU and ask the Student Captured if they got it or not.
“All that I did were documented and there was no time that I promised and failed our people.
“Those that were captured for scholarships by the team were shortlisted and paid to KASU. Before going to press, I expected those who carried such frivolous stories to confirm whether those captured got it or not.”
The lawmaker who expressed displeasure over the story, noted, “I have four years tenure, how would I promise to take off tuition fees for medical students who will be in school after my four years tenure”.
While describing the story as the handiwork of political enemies, who are threatened by his popularity, he said, “It’s a matter of time, God will vindicate me and expose their evil machinations.”
Speaking about the petition with claims that he supported Labour Party presidential candidate during the elections, Hon. Saleh simply referred the detractors to Hon. Faleke.
He however, stressed, “Anyone in doubt about my contributions to Asiwaju’s campaign and election victory should ask my colleague Faleke, who was then the Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council of Asiwaju.”
According to him, the public should know that the faceless group which wrote the petition under guise of ‘Concerned APC Members Kaduna State’ (Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency) was sponsored to de-campaign him.
He added that If there was a need for a petition, it should come from the party chairman of the polling unit, ward or even the state office.
He explained further, “There are 22 wards, why is it that there are no signatures from the wards? That is to show that the whole idea is a lie and calculated attempt to reduce my popularity ahead of the by-election.
Meanwhile, he disclosed, “My campaign is going on and will continue until the D-Day of the by-election.”
On his achievements, Hon. Saleh said, “We provided 36 major projects, ranging from hospitals; schools boreholes and also sponsored a bill to create a Federal College of Agriculture, Kagarko, which has gone through the second reading and ready for public hearing.
He also revealed, “We touched lives of so many people, including widows, orphans, youths, students traditional and religious leaders.
“We organized an annual programme tagged, “Peace Conference” where lectures on peace and conflict resolution are taught while at the end fertilizers and rice were shared to farmers and the less privileged with cash donations to indigent families. Over 110 motorcycles and some vehicles were distributed and good number of our youths employed in critical positions.
“And these good works ,we have promised to continue to do if re-elected.”
In a reaction to the issue of petition against Hon. Saleh via telephone, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Kachia Local Government Area, explained, “In the first place, most of those who signed the petition are not our party members. How did they arrive at the conclusion that Hon. Gabriel Saleh Har was engaged in anti party activities at any time ,when they not members of the party?
“One name we saw on the so called petition, Junaidu is a suspended member of the party. He was caught red- handed on video, working against our lawmaker for the upcoming rerun election. Another person who signed, was the former party secretary, Mr. Daniel Ibrahim, who has debunked signing the petition and the other persons are not our members. The petition does not hold water as far as we are concerned, thus should be disregarded .
“On the the forthcoming rerun election for Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency, the Chairman said, “APC is battle ready for landslide victory. All we know is that Hon Gabriel Saleh Har is a loyal party member, who has always sponsored the party and its activities without looking back. We know him as one who takes care of the party. Of course, if you’re in power, you will have more enemies, more so, that he’s widely known for giving to people and helping the less privileged .
“Ahead of the rerun the party, we are more determined and working tirelessly to ensure overwhelming victory God willing.”
Similarly, the APC Chairman Kagarko Local Government Area, Mr. Christopher Mailafiya discredited the petition and described it as a “Fiction of imagination” of the writers.
” We can’t allow such shenanigans to distract us from winning the forthcoming rerun election. Hon. remains the candidate to beat and the party is leaving no stone unturned to make sure Hon. is again returned as our House of Representatives member.”
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