Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Senator Aisha Alhassan popularly known as Mama Taraba has resigned from President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet to enable her contest the 2019 governorship election in Taraba State.

Mrs Alhassan stirred national controversy last year when she publicly declared that she would not support the incumbent president’s re-election bid. She also declared  that she would rather support former vice president Atiku Abubakar whom she claimed was her political godfather, if he chose to run for the office of president.

Many Nigerians had expected Aisha Alhassan to honourably relinquish her ministerial portfolio having so openly said he would not support her principal’s re-election bid. Surprising to most Nigerians, she stayed glued to her ministerial seat. A few months ago, she released another surprise when she made a verbal about-turn and said Buhari would be the candidate to beat in the upcoming presidential race.

President Buhari has accepted Alhassan’s resignation through an acceptance letter dated July 27, 2018 which he conveyed to her.

The President however said he would throw his weight behind her if only she contests on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC), the same party she contested under in 2015 and lost to incumbent Governor, Darius Ishaku.

“I have today received your letter notifying me of your intention to contest for the governorship of Taraba State in the 2019 election. Let me thank you on behalf of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians for your services as minister under this administration.

“I note with passion your past contribution to our great party APC during and after the 2015 elections. As you are aware I am totally committed to free and fair elections. Our policy is to support all APC candidates.

“I wish you well in your ambition to be governor of your state. Rest assured that all security agencies as well as INEC will have my full support to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in 2019,” Buhari’s acceptance letter read.