Eleven National Chairmanship aspirants of Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, have converged in Abuja to speak on their plans to strengthen the party for 2023 General Election and beyond.
The aspirants were brought together by the APC Press Corps at its second annual lecture with the theme : “APC beyond 2023-the tasks ahead: The role of stakeholders”.
The aspirants in attendance were former Nasarawa state governor governor, Tanko Al-makura, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, former Zamfara state governor Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (Represented), former governor Isa Yuguda (represented), Malam Mustapha Saliu, Sunny Moniedafe, Mohammed Etsu and Senator George Akume (represented).
A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari while speaking on his aspiration urged the chieftains in attendance to guard against the “do or die mentality” as they jostle for elective positions ahead of the 2023 poll.
“Governor, the President is a member of the party and has his own card number as any member has it. In bringing the members together, we are sharing the same opportunities is only that you are given the opportunity to serve you as a governor, as Senator, House of Reps, House of Assembly, respectively.
“So, therefore, if we change the narration and with members of the party, at least certain direction on the issue of critical importance, then that narration can be changed. And also, we can take the fight back to us and determine what is the party going to look like? I know as a governor who serve for eight years, I can hear from the background that we dominate. Now am outside, I’m listening together with outsiders that Governors dominate.
“So this is very correct but if we agree all of us because no single chairman named him either from State or the National can do that alone. We have to all of us agreed about the responsibility as a working committee to sit down and architecture how our is going to be look beyond 2023. So if we agree to do that, then we can get that one out.”
He also expressed optimism that APC would sustain its winning streaks after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari in May 29, 2023.
Another aspirant, a Senator representing Niger East Senatorial district, Senator Sani Musa emphasised the need to uphold the party constitution adding that he would also sustain the legacies of President Buhari.
“In so doing, if we make our party, an institution where by it will be governed by the books, The trajectory should be that we should have a constitution that will be abide by. If you’re a leader, if you are an aspirant, if you are elected to an office, you should know that there is a book, there is a constitution that we must stand and abide by it.
“The guidelines of the party are there, the manifesto of the party is there. If you are elected under the platform of this party, there is no way you shouldn’t abide by the book that this party has created. Because before you even become a member of this party you must have agreed to the tenets and the ethic of conduct that the party has laid down and this is this is my aspiration.
“I want to bring technology to the running of the administration of APC. The internal structure needs to be re-engineered. We need to re-engineer APC. We need a leadership that is participatory. We need a leadership that is pace setting, we need people with ideas to come in.”
One of the aspirants and the Turaki of Illorin, Malam Saliu Mustapha promised to adopt preventive diplomacy in crisis management should he emerge as national chairman of the party in its forthcoming national convention.
“All plans and programmes of the party would be well thought out, properly marshalled, strategically planned and thoroughly debated before they are implemented.
“APC will continue its approach to politics and have a defined political culture that will have profound impact on the country’s development just like President Muhammadu Buhari is putting in place legacies that will cement the party’s name in Nigeria’s political history.
“For us, politics of development will be our focus. It is a new brand of political culture and ideology that places emphasis on smart and good politicking as essential tool for rapid national development,” Mustapha said.
For Senator Al-Makura, he commended the performance of the APC Caretaker Committee led by Governor Mai Mala Buni and he promised to offer selfless services if elected chairman of the party.
“My objective is to be chairman of the party not for myself , not about my ego but it’s about sustaining the gains so far recorded in the party. As one opportuned by providence to be part of those that participated in the merger of the legacy parties, I am here to partake in value addition to the party,” He noted.
Suzan O.
