A top All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman aspirant, Senator Sani Musa, has promised that with forty three million registered members of the party, he will build a political institution that is financially independent.
He therefore declared that he is rather interested in the loyalty and endorsement of all the registered members rather than only President Muhammadu Buhari.
“APC will not be dependent on anybody to fund it. With the 43 million members, we have no business going cap in hand to beg anybody for money. That is what I’m bringing to APC. So, we want a vibrant leadership. We want leadership that will change the status quo.
“What are we talking about, the endorsement I want is your endorsement. I want the endorsement of 43 million APC members. That is what I need”, Sani told journalists at the party Secretariat after submitting his forms.
Further fielding questions from journalists, he said what APC needs is someone who can unite the factions of the party, adding that the Governors and the party leadership must work together to build strong structures.
Speaking further, he said “I am looking forward to this convention on 26 March and on that day, there will be a new beginning in the APC, in which there will be a transitional change, we will bring digitization into APC.
“To be cohesive, the APC needs a leadership that will bring direction. The APC needs a leader that will be able to build consensus between all dividing organs. The executive governors are there to support the party and the party is there to work with the governors.
“We want to see a party that will become an institution in Africa. APC is the largest party and all we need to do is to put the structure. That is what I am bringing to APC.”
However, he dismissed the alleged endorsement of Senator Abdullahi Adamu by the President, saying he is not aware of such, adding that the Special Adviser on Media to the President has already debunked the claims.
•People see APC as Muslim party; I want to change that perception
– Moniedafe
An aspirant for APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Sunny Moniedafe, said people see the ruling party as a Muslim platform, pointing out that his aspiration is anchored on the need to change the perception.
Speaking with journalists when he submitted his chairmanship form to the Secretariat, Moniedafe said he is coming as Deputy National chairman to balance the religious equation, hinting that the chairman of APC will most likely be a Muslim.
“I am a Christian, a pastor in my church. My brothers are Muslims. But you cannot divorce religion from politics. I stepped down, obeyed my party and then to balance the equation of Muslim and Christian in Nigeria”, he said.
He also said as a loyal party man, he had to jettison his ambition to become the chairman of the party, especially when it was zoned to the North Central.
“The best thing to do is to obey the party. I obeyed and I’m contesting for the Deputy National Chairman (North). Because I know that as we speak in Nigeria today, religion and politics have become intertwined. Now my experience is out there. From the ward level, I have administered the party, I know what to do”, he said.
Moniedafe said his target will be anchored on three Rs, including: Reconciliation, Reconciliation, Reconciliation, which he will start implementing from his first day in office.
According to him, “I have what it takes and I am confident that when we get there, we will start things working right. This party deserves more than we’re getting right now, with due respect. Honesty, integrity and truth always”.
•Al-Makura cautions party to jettison consensus
Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, has enjoined the party to ensure that equal opportunity is given to all contestants in the forthcoming national convention of All Progressive Congress (APC) scheduled for Thursday.
Answering questions from journalists at the party’s secretariat after submitting his form to contest the National chairmanship position of the party, Al-Makura, who is one of the top contenders, said the best election model is that which allows franchise and permission for everyone to participate in the exercise.
While responding to which model of election he would advise the party to adopt, he said “You see, I am a democrat. Our party Constitution has given three procedures for emergence of leadership: Direct, Indirect and Consensus. But I can tell you, the best option is that which allows franchise and permission for everyone to participate in the exercise.
“I will support an open-door policy, internal party democracy with full participation of members so that they will have a sense of belonging and determine the fate and direction of the party.”
Speaking further, the former Governor of Nasarawa said his agenda is to ensure that unity of the country is sustained, adding “I knew and I still know how much sacrifices great men and women made to ensure the birth of APC. I know the contributions, the efforts. Those efforts are in order to consolidate and solidify the unity of this country.
“This merger is not just a mere accord, or alliance. It is a merger of conscience, a merger of philosophy, a merger of ideology, a merger of ideas, all in the quest to make Nigeria great. People from the north, east, south and west, with different parties and tendencies came together to assume one united, harmonious, mutual focus and unity as Nigerians.
“What am I bringing to the table according to your question, you see my motivation is for national unity and cohesion”, he said, noting that building formidable party structures across the country is a major means to achieve this.
Meanwhile, he also promised to ensure that women are given better opportunities in the party, adding that achieving women’s affirmative action remains his top priority.
•I’ll take PDP to cleaners if I become APC chairman
– Abdullahi Adamu
Another top contender for All Progressive Congress (APC) National chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, has threatened to deal with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties immediately he assumes office.
Speaking with journalists at the party Secretariat after submitting his form, Adamu, who was represented by the Director General of his Campaign Organization, Lawrence Onuchukwu, said PDP has bitten more than it can chew, adding that it is on record that APC has never lost election to PDP, but to internal party crisis.
“As soon as he resumes office as national chairman of this great party, he will take the other parties to the cleaners because they have bitten more than they can chew. APC has never lost an election to PDP. We only lose elections to Internal Party Crisis and this is what we are coming to address”, Adamu, who also represents Nasarawa West in the Senate said.
He gave a hint on carrying everybody along and rewarding loyalty, saying “You agree with me that one of the greatest challenges that most of the party members are complaining or reporting to us is that the party has no good reward system.
“Abdullahi Adamu has made it a point of duty that as soon as he resumes office, it shall be monkey will work; monkey will chop. It is no longer business as usual. A great party like APC needs a man with the capacity. A former Minister, two term governor, three term senator, he has the capacity to deliver this party. I assure you that come March 28, we will resume this place.”
“Why do I say this? Our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, from what we are hearing or what we know, has given kudos to what we are doing. And that is more than enough for every right-thinking party man to key into this project. Buhari has given kudos to what we are doing. He is a man who believes in due process.
“Our principal is not here today. He is already in the village talking to delegates because every politics is local. That is why we are here.”
•Convention not contest of titles but innovation, value addition
– Mustapha
Former Deputy National Vice chairman (North) in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), who is now a chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), Saliu Mustapha, told his fellow aspirants to national chairman that the contest will not be about the number of titles one holds but of new ideas and value addition to party management.
While submitting his form for the contest, Mustapha said his aspiration is to serve the people, moving the party forward, such as to meet up with the millennium and global challenges of advanced politics.
“That is why for us in this team, we want to come and do Progressive and smart politics and proactive politics. We want to add value in many areas”, he said.
While emphasising the need to engender a level playing field for all aspirants, Mustapha expressed fear that one this is lacking in a party, it marks the beginning of internal crisis. “We want to assure every APC card carrying member that we will create a level playing ground.
“Secondly, we will promote some deliberate policies if given the leadership of the party that will ensure that leaders who have paid their dues are well rewarded.
“Three, we will also ensure that we adhere to our party manifesto. We started but later deviated, we want to make sure as a party we deliver on our promises in the manifestoes.
“Fourth is party discipline. When you lack discipline then you are bound to have confusion all over. We want to make sure if given the opportunity to lead this party there will be party supremacy. Not supremacy to dictate certain rules and conditions for the party. Not when you lose, you become a bad loser. We want to make sure we work together as a team.
“We want to promote certain values in this party by establishing a progressive institute whereby we will be there to brainstorm ideas for the party on how to move the party forward. On how to help the government in place to promote certain objectives. We also want to ensure if given the leadership of the party to put in place policies to give our youth and women a sense of inclusiveness.
“We also want to give the less privileged or the physically challenged people will be given certain quota so no one will deny them the opportunity to participate”, said.
I’ve endorsement of 36 States Governors
– Abdulazeez Yari
Former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari, has said, ahead of the March 26 convention of All Progressive Congress (APC), he has contacted all the thirty six State Governor of the Federation to sell his bid to become the APC chairman, adding that they have already bought into his candidature.
Yari, who disclosed this when he submitted his forms at APC headquarters at the weekend, said he has sold himself and has been purchased by both members and non members of the party across the 36 states of the federation. He expressed confidence that on the 26th of March, at Eagles Square, he will emerge victorious.
Represented by the leader of his campaign team, Tijani Kaura, Yari assured that he is working together with other top party members in the state, saying “Sani Yerima, the former governor of Zamfara state is a senior member of the party, also Kabir Marafa, Mamood Ali are all old members of the party, just like we are here and we are all working together”.
While boasting that as two term governor, former party Secretary, House of Representatives member, and chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), he is bringing experience to the party, Yari disclaimed that APC zoning has edged him out, saying he is not aware that the party has zoned the chairman to North Central.
“Let me say again that we are all aware that the party has zoned national Chairmanship to the North and presidency to the South, but we are not aware that there is specific zoning within the geopolitical zones of either the president or the national chairman of the party.
“Nobody indicated whether it is Southwest, South East or South-South. The party acting Chairman has not come out officially to tell us the chairmanship has been zoned to a particular geopolitical zone. So, that is why we are here.”
Experience shows party position shouldn’t be about god-daughter but capacity – Eta
An aspirant for women leader of All Progressive Congress (APC), Mary Ekpere Eta, has said party position should not be offered to aspirant because of being a god-daughter or god-son of a politician, but based on capacity to deliver dividends of democracy to the women.
Answering questions from journàlists after he submitted his forms at the party Secretariat, Ekpere Eta said “with my wealth of experience, I believe party elective positions should not be because someone is your god-daughter or god-son, but what are the deliverables at the end of the day.
“That is the question that we should ask. Why do you want to be the women leader? Is it because you are the daughter or stooge of a godfather? I will use my wealth of experience in the National Centre for Women Development and other positions I have held in the women sector to make Nigerian women proud.
“There is a rumour I would like to dispel that there is an anointed candidate somewhere. I saw a video of some people saying the governor said a consensus has been made. There is nothing like consensus. We were invited into a meeting and when I saw where they were going, I left. This is democracy, democracy is sweet. We all go to the polls, you win and we all hug ourselves. We hug the winner and we move on. The governor said, this one said, then why is it democracy?”
