…It’s not our duty to organize the opposition – Prof. Yilwatda
By Jude Opara, Abuja
Barely one week after he officially defected from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has declared that the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election will be very smooth.
Fintiri who as at the National Secretariait of the party in Abuja on Wednesday said given the sterling performance of the administration, he was very convinced that Nigerians from all parts of the country will throw their support behind the President.
The governor also said he was at the party secretariat on a courtesy visit on the National Chairman, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda and the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party party.
“I’m here today, Wednesday the 4th of March. We have fully aligned at the moment to APC, because it’s a home return for most of us. Today I’m here officially to pay a courtesy call on the National Chairman and the members of the NWC. To further pledge my full loyalty to the party and to assure them that we have come to work and ensure that we also deliver on the electoral value.
“That we have come with it to the party in the next general election, and that is what matters to our party, the APC, already the largest opposition, the PDP as it were, seems to be depleted now.
“I think judging by the work done by Mr. President, he deserves a second term. And I think it’s going to be smooth, it’s going to be accepted by all Nigerians. Because the microeconomic policy that he initiated, yes, it was rough for most of us because we are not used to it.
“But it has given a very positive result to us and the country is really working on the right direction. And it seems to be agreed by all of us that there is light at the end of the tunnel”.
Earlier in his remarks, National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda praised Governor Fintiri for his defection to the party, describing him as “a fitted political maestro”, who has brought great value to the party.
“You know, Fintiri is a fitted political maestro. And everybody knows the value that he has brought to the politics of the Northeast. In terms of coordination, in terms of bringing new life to Adamawa State.
“And in terms of project and development, what he has done is unbelievable. So bringing him is one of the best actions that we are having in recent times. And we want to welcome him to where he rightly belongs.
“He is a progressive, with a progressive mind. He wouldn’t have settled anywhere else than the APC, where his policies would be best appreciated. Where he can fit into the renewal agenda of Mr. President and factor himself into our world dream”.
On the strength of the opposition ahead of the elections, Prof. Yilwatda said it’s not the duty of the APC to organize them. He advised the opposition to try and organize themselves to be able to compete.
The APC boss who looked relaxed further stated that the ruling party will even be happy if the opposition fail to organize themselves.
“And most importantly, you asked a question that concerns the fate of the opposition in 2027. It is not our duty to organize the opposition. It’s the duty of the opposition to organize themselves.
“And we’re very happy if they can’t organize themselves. Because our duty is to ensure we win the election. So we can’t go and start organizing, funding and building the opposition.
“It’s a competition. We are presenting our scorecard to Nigerians. Nigerians everywhere believe in us”.
The APC boss further boasted that his party has gained the acceptance of the people, saying that the outcome of the recently conducted elections in parts of the country attests to that.
