A former Chief of Air Staff, Saddique Abubakar, has announced his retirement from active politics after spending five years in the political arena.
Abubakar disclosed this in a short video message delivered in Hausa to his supporters on Saturday, describing the decision as painful but necessary.
According to him, personal reasons informed his decision to step away from partisan politics.
“Today, with a heavy heart, I have made the difficult decision to quit politics for personal reasons,” he said.
The retired Air Marshal apologised to his political associates and supporters, noting that the decision did not come easily considering the support he received since joining politics in 2021.
“I sincerely apologise to all my supporters and well-wishers for this difficult decision, and I wish everyone the very best,” he added.
Abubakar joined active politics shortly after retiring from the Nigerian Air Force in 2021. He later emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bauchi State during the 2023 general elections but lost to the incumbent governor, Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Political observers had earlier speculated that the former service chief was preparing to contest future elections under the Action Democratic Party, ADP.
Despite quitting politics, Abubakar assured supporters of his continued commitment to the development of Bauchi State, saying he would focus on community-based interventions in healthcare and education through his philanthropic platform, the Marshal Care Foundation.
He served as Chief of Air Staff between 2015 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. After leaving office, he briefly served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Niger Republic before resigning to pursue his governorship ambition.
His decision to exit politics comes amid legal challenges involving his wife, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on May 9 declared Umar-Farouq wanted over alleged financial misconduct linked to social intervention programmes.
The anti-graft agency filed 21 counts against her and a former permanent secretary in the ministry, Bashir Alkali, bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, abuse of office and diversion of public funds amounting to about $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million.
The charges are connected to funds reportedly handled under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office.
An arrest warrant was earlier issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, following the failure of the defendants to appear for arraignment.
