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As Buni projects eight terms in power for party
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, yesterday disclosed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) printed about thirty six million membership registration forms yet it was not enough to capture the number of people who are desirous of joining the party at the grassroots.
Governor Badaru who stated this yesterday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, while fielding questions from journalists shortly after he, alongside sixty others, were inaugurated by the Chairman of the APC caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, for Contact and Strategy, preparatory to the 2023 general election.
Badaru, who is the chairman of the APC Contact and Strategy Committee, said the large number of persons trooping into the party are as a result of the landmark achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that what the president has achieved with limited resources had propelled people at the grassroots to embrace the party.
According to him, “You have seen the tremendous progress that the APC administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari has made. You look at the road infrastructure. You look at railways and social interventions in this country. You look at power, food security, even with the dwindling resources that we receive.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has done wonderfully well. And that is why during the registration exercise, you will see people trooping in thousands into the party. Initially, we printed for only 12 thousand members, but now we have gone to 10 million members. Now, we have gone to 36 million, and that is not even enough.
“And now, we are printing more because people saw what President Muhammadu Buhari has done with one side of the resources than the previous administration, and the support is really tremendous.”
Speaking on the alleged plots by the APC Governors to extend again the tenure of the caretaker committee leb by Governor Buni for another six months before the convention, Badaru said the APC will hold its national convention to elect substantive party leaders in June.
“It is very feasible. I know the national Caretaker Committee members are committed to delivering in June. And we will support them and do whatever it takes to make sure we deliver by June”, he said.
At this point, he justified the setting up of his Contact and Strategy Committee, saying “I believe the Committee is important. This role of bringing people together is to have understanding or grievances that will make way for smooth running of the party, smooth conduct of party primaries and the convention.”
While inaugurating the Contact and Strategy Committee, CECPC chairman, Mai Mala Buni said the committee has within a short period made tremendous achievements by recording genuine reconciliations and settling irreconcilable differences among critical stakeholders of the party.
According to him, the constitution of the Strategy and Contact committee is to consolidate the achievements the CECPC are making in building a strong party with a solid structure that would accomplish APC to stand the test of time.
He said “Our vision is to provide a wheel that will drive the party to go beyond 6th, 7th and even 8th term of office to effectively implement the party manifesto, improve the lives of Nigerians and, to remain Nigeria’s leading political party.
“This committee is therefore very key to our process of transition towards successful congresses and national convention and, to establish a very solid, reputable and reliable future for the party.”
Meanwhile, he gave the terms of reference for the committee to include: “To establish constructive engagements between critical stakeholders at various levels of the party with a view to reviving confidence and trust among party leaders.
“To conduct a need assessment survey from party members and the general public. To create statement of vision, mission and core values of the party that will foster unity. Develop strategies that will reposition the party in an advantaged position in the public domain.”
Others are to: “Develop a timeline and framework for the implementation of the recommendations of the committee. Co-opt such members as may be deemed most suitable. Submit periodic report to the National chairman.”
