By Jude Opara, Abuja
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje has said that the real strength of the party lies in its strong representation at the grassroots level.
Ganduje who spoke on Thursday when the Forum of APC LGA Chairmen of Nigeria paid him a solidarity visit at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja said the APC will continue to remain the party to beat because of its strong base at the grassroots.
“There is no doubt, APC is a grassroots political party, that is why we have the highest number of local governments in the federation, highest number of states in the federation, that is why we are really big.
“In local government administration, whether it’s an elected local government chairman or an elected local government APC chairman, it’s indeed a dutiful job because you are nearest to the people.
“We know how you are bearing the demands of the party followers, especially during election times, especially during primaries, we know how difficult it is for you, so we regard you as our foot soldiers and of course, we appreciate you”.
On some of the reforms he introduced, Ganduje said they introduced some measures which informed members, especially the governors of APC through their forum and also to governors who are in charge of the states that don’t have APC governors.
“We requested that all our party offices right from ward level, local government level, state level, zonal level, all our offices to be physically habitable and to be operational. In other words, we expect party activities to be taking place in those offices. That shows that the party is alive, it’s not only during elections that we want our party to be active, we want it to be active throughout because we are an institution, we are political parties and the greatest party in Africa”.
Earlier in his address, spokesperson for the group and Secretary, Mr. Norbert Akachukwu Sochukwudinma said they were at the secretariat to reassure Ganduje of their unflinching support especially after the plot by some interest groups from Kano to remove him from office.
Sochukwudinma blamed the opposition parties especially the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the botched effort to remove the APC boss, adding that it shows that Ganduje was doing creditably well for the ruling party.
“We are not oblivious of the mischievous act of some political elements, especially those of the NNPP and PDP. When they started their games, we saw it and said we cannot sit down as grassroots mobilizers without coming to identify with our leaders. So the major reason we have come today is to identify with you, it’s a courtesy and solidarity visit and to express our confidence in your leadership. Since your assumption of office, it is very clear that APC will remain in a winning way and we appreciate you for it”.
However, the LGA chairmen regretted that it has not been easy for them to have access to the leadership of the party adding that as those at the grassroots, they serve as the bridge between the party hierarchy and the people who also form the nucleus of members and voters at elections.
“As your foot soldiers and great mobilizers, we do not have as much access to you as many others do but this that we have done today, will go down to all the wards in Nigeria. The ward chairmen in our various governments will hear this and be happy for it.
“We want to appreciate you for all you have done to reposition this party. We have also heard of your plans for the e-registration so that we’ll know the exact numbers of our party members and party faithful across the wards, so their will not be bourgeois registration, it’s a wonderful idea and we have already keyed into it, God bless you sir”.
They equally requested for empowerment by appointing one of them as a Special Adviser on LGA affairs, to which Ganduje immediately approved by asking them to nominate one of them to represent the group.
