Zaria resident: Real reason I held Speaker Abbas’ attire on podium

A supporter of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Ahmad Saidu, has apologized for grabbing the Speaker’s attire during a re-election declaration in Zaria, explaining the act was a desperate plea for medical assistance for a severely fractured hand he could no longer afford to treat.

Ahmad Saidu, a supporter of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has publicly clarified the circumstances surrounding a viral incident where he was seen holding the Speaker’s gown during a political event in Zaria. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Saidu, popularly known as Abba, explained that his actions at the Mallawa Eid Ground were born out of a desperate attempt to seek financial aid for a serious hand fracture. Saidu revealed that his right hand had been broken in three places following an accident and that he had exhausted his resources after undergoing unsuccessful treatments at various hospitals, including the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna.

Saidu expressed deep regret over the encounter, noting that he had hoped to personally appeal to the Speaker for help but was instead intercepted by security. “As one of the supporters of the Speaker, I went to the event hoping to seek his help. When I got close to him, I held his gown while trying to show him my fractured hand, but security personnel dragged me away,” he said. He further emphasized that there was no malicious intent behind the gesture, adding: “If I had known the incident would cause such national embarrassment to the Speaker, I would have preferred to continue living with the pain. I am one of his supporters and I appreciate the interventions and assistance he has been rendering to people, which prompted my action.”

The victim’s father, Malam Sa’idu-Ibrahim Abubakar, joined in the apology, alleging that political detractors had twisted the narrative to cast the Speaker in a negative light. He disclosed that the family had struggled for over two years to manage the rising medical costs and could no longer cope. Despite the public nature of the incident, the father commended the Speaker for his compassion in the aftermath of the event. “We could not continue with the treatment because we cannot afford the medical bills after the support we received stopped,” the younger Saidu explained, but the family confirmed that Speaker Abbas has since agreed to settle the outstanding medical expenses to facilitate the necessary surgery.

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