•Dr Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan
Former Caucus Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kaduna State, Dr Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, has stated that he has decided to formally bow out of partisan politics after more than four decades on the political turf.
Ramalan who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen, said it was time to take what he described as a well-deserved rest and allow a new generation of leaders to take responsibility for the country’s political direction.
He noted that while he would continue to play his role as a stakeholder in the Nigeria project, it was a privilege to serve Kaduna State, Nigeria, and different political parties in various capacities, since his days in the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), reports Saturday Independent.
According to Ramalan, the decision followed “deep reflection” and a profound sense of fulfilment after many years of contributing to the State, regional and national development.
“It has been a rare privilege to serve Kaduna, our nation and different political parties in various capacities”, since the NPN days to my last assignment in the Progressives hub as the APC Head of News Directorate of the Tinubu/Shettima Independent Grassroots Campings Committee (T/SG ICC) in 2023 Elections.”
Reflecting on his political journey, Ramalan said he had witnessed Nigeria’s “trials and triumphs”, and remains grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the development of Nigeria in many areas, including proposal on Option A-4 in selecting political party candidates during ex-President General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd)’s political transitional program years.
Ramalan said, “From my early days in party politics as Chairman Kaduna State, and later elected ex-Officio member of the National Republican Convention (NRC); Chairman, United Nigerian Congress Party, (UNCP), all during Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abacha military administrations to my two tenures as Executive Chairman of Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council as well as Pioneer Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), are few examples of my humble contribution to public service.”
While bowing out of partisan politics, he pledged to remain committed to the ideals of national unity, promoting democracy and good governance.
He thanked all political parties’ colleagues, associates, supporters, and associate members of the Kaduna Restoration Group for their loyalty over the years.
His words: “I shall continue to play my part as a stakeholder in the Nigeria Project; and my experience will always be available whenever my guidance is required or not, in promoting national interest and sovereign narratives, through my private and independent media platforms: Liberty TV FM Stations and Voice of Liberty and Muryar Yanci online newspapers”, he assured.
Ramalan was a Foundation member of NRC, UNCP, PDP and the APC, and was regarded as one of the influential figures who shaped the PDP and APC in Kaduna state during their dominant years in power during the tenure of former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i, present Progressive Kaduna Governor Uba Sani, Muhammadu Buhari’s tenures and the present leadership.
Beyond partisan politics, Ramalan played strategic roles in the local and International Maritime Labour Reforms in the Nigerian Seaports; International Labour Organisation ((ILO) Geneva and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) London Maritime and in the establishments of IMO Security & Safety Code, ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), and the enactment of the Nigerian Cabotage and NIMASA Acts.
