The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has fired back at the 2023 New Nigeria Peoples Democratic, NNPP, governorship candidate, Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, over what it described as a desperate smear campaign against former Governor Sule Lamido.
This comes after Ringim publicly criticized Lamido’s newly released autobiography, Being True to Myself, and issued a veiled threat to reveal personal and political secrets that could “expose him to public shame.”
The PDP, in a strongly worded statement signed by its Jigawa State Publicity Secretary, Umar Kiyari, accused Ringim of launching a desperate tour across local government areas to peddle falsehoods and salvage his sinking political boat after what the party described as his “abysmal outing” in the 2023 elections.
Kiyari said: “It is quite unfortunate—and indeed shameful—that someone who has been a prominent figure in Jigawa politics since the state’s creation could only secure a little over 35,000 votes across the entire state.
“This poor showing reflects the widespread rejection of both his candidacy and the NNPP by the good people of Jigawa.”
Kiyari added that Ringim’s latest public outburst was driven by frustration over his political irrelevance.
“Rather than accept the verdict of the people with humility, Alhaji Ringim has chosen to mislead the public with baseless attacks, misinformation, and petty propaganda.
“His outbursts are nothing more than a reaction to a political reality he continues to deny,” he stated.
Ringim’s counterattack was delivered at an NNPP gathering in Taura Local Government Area, where he accused Lamido of distorting history and misrepresenting facts in his autobiography.
He said the former governor’s portrayal of him in the chapter titled Intrigues, Lies, and Fetishism was not only false but damaging.
Ringim said: “In the book, Lamido portrays himself as a trustworthy leader who never wronged anyone throughout his political career, which is far from the truth.
“If he continues to defame me, I may be forced to reveal things that will expose him to public shame.”
Ringim also challenged Lamido’s claims that the PDP lost the 2015 governorship election because of his supposed “malicious nature,” alleging instead that Lamido himself played a key role in the party’s failure at the polls.
The chapter in question from Lamido’s autobiography paints a vivid picture of political mischief during his time as governor.
It recounts how certain actors allegedly tried to destabilize his administration by sowing distrust between him and his Chief of Staff—none other than Ringim himself.
Lamido wrote: “I was told repeatedly that Aminu was using diabolical powers to control me.
“There were even stories that he buried a black donkey within the Government House grounds to exert spiritual control over me. But I was never shaken. The only thing that would concern me was if he used such powers to steal public funds—but the records showed that not a single kobo was missing.”
Lamido further recounted confronting Ringim directly on the matter in the presence of the state’s Finance Commissioner, sarcastically telling him to “go on with your wizardry” since the state treasury was intact.
But, the PDP dismissed Ringim’s threats and accusations, describing them as “last kicks of a dying political horse,” while reaffirming its commitment to credible leadership and unity within its ranks.
“We refuse to be distracted by desperate politicians looking for who to blame for their self-inflicted failures,” Kiyari concluded.
