A National Chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Saliu Mustapha, says the party will be an open book under his leadership and that there will be no conspiracy.
Mr Mustapha, who stated this at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, said what APC needs is a unity of purpose that will deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
“I am bringing a lot on board. I want to see a party that promotes equity, fairness and justice. If we can allow popular candidates to emerge based on merit, we won’t fear election rigging.
“The problem with placing unpopular candidates over popular is that you start thinking of how to rig the general election. And when you rig the general election with the wrong product, the result is terrible governance and representation.
“I want to bring on board a party that will promote internal discipline and be accountable for their manifesto and their promises, where you have fairness, equity and justice,” he said.
Regarding his relationship with his state Governor, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State, Mr Mustapha said he has a cordial relationship with his governor.
Recalled that the Kwara State Chapter of APC is divided because of the differences between the state Governor and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. However, Mr Mustapha noted that his ability to bring peace to the APC chapter in Kwara State would indicate his ability to run APC at the National level.
“I share a very cordial relationship with the governor in the sense that, if you could cast your mind back, I was also an aspirant for the governorship seat of Kwara. Due to some irregularities in the party, then I was disqualified.
“I did not go to court because I felt we were the same. I was looking at the more important goal if I had gone to court. I think my case was more severe than that of Zamfara or Rivers. And we would have had another Zamfara or Rivers in Kwara. Our friendship and understanding made me not go to court, and we still share the same as I am talking to you.
“From your records, you notice that the recognized body in Kwara is the one headed by the governor. Of course, we don’t have to be a divided house. It’s a work in progress, I’m doing all I can, and I think it will be a litmus test for me if I become the Chairman to make sure I bring an end to this difference in the State because all hands need to be on deck. It is not about pushing the blame on this person or that person,” Mustapha said.
Suzan O.
