APC : We will rescue Nigeria from brink of collapse, APC says Sani Tukur The APC addressed a press conference on Wednesday. The All Progressives Congress, APC, said the philosophy that led to its formation as a party is to “bring the country back from the brink of collapse, despair, and possible disintegration”. This was stated by the interim National Chairman of the Party, Bisi Akande, at a press conference, in Abuja on Wednesday shortly after a meeting of the leaders of the party at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers. Mr. Akande said APC will therefore “Reposition the country decisively on the route to emerging into a modern stable democratic nation with a productive economy that is based on equity and justice for all citizens”. He said the party planned to achieve these goals “through harnessing the abundant energies, enterprise and intellect of all Nigerians”. The APC Chairman also stated that the party has identified that the major challenge facing the country is the failure of governance which manifests itself in the continuing inability of the county to meet the basic requirements and aspirations of the nation and of its citizenry. “The task before our Party therefore is clearly cut out, that is, to create a partnership with the people to decisively change both tone and substance of governance in the country,” he said. He said the Nigerian State must not only be strengthened but reconstituted to become the veritable tool of resolving and managing the fundamental challenges confronting the nation. These challenges, according to Mr. Akande, include the challenge of “national unity and integration; perennial threats to security, law and order; ensuring rapid economic growth with equity, as well as protecting and consolidating Nigeria’s emerging democratic tradition” Others, he said, are “prioritizing human development in Health, Education – particularly intensification of mass women education, and Employment opportunities for all our youth”. He added that the APC will institute a sustainable management of the environment; and will also ensure that “Nigeria assumes its proper place in World Affairs commensurate with its size and status as the leading black nation in the world”. Anambra election Most of the stakeholders of the party, especially the governors, spoke along the same line as the party’s chairman. However, Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha stole the show when he announced that the APC will capture all the states in the South East beginning with Anambra state. The Governor said while the meeting was in progress, he facilitated another one among the stakeholders of the party from Anambra state and he announced to a thunderous ovation, that the party’s National Vice Chairman South East, Annie Okonkwo not only suspended his decision to run for governorship in Anambra, but will also work for Chris Ngige. “No doubt there will be primaries in Anambra state in line with constitution of our party, but let me announce to you that Senator Annie Okonkwo will lead the campaign of Senator Chris Ngige,” he said. Mr. Okorocha assured the meeting that “Anambra is the first test facing the APC and we will do everything we can to capture it,” he said. In his remark, Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP of planting media reports that the new party lacks leadership. Mr. Oshiomhole said APC is blessed with people such as Sani Yerima, Ali Modu Sheriff, Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu and Nuhu Ribadu who he said have variously faced the PDP onslaught and survived. The Ogun state Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, said the APC is the only party that has representation in all the six geopolitical zones of the country. His counterpart from Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi, advised the gathering against “abusing other parties in their campaigns” but should only tell the people what is good in the APC. Hannatu Musawa also spoke briefly on behalf of women at the meeting and in her brief remarks advised the party faithful to take serious the ‘change’ slogan of the party.Also, a member of the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri Erewa, said “APC is the party that everyone has been waiting for at the parliament” adding that the party “will change the way we do things in Nigeria”. In their separate remarks, George Akume and Ahmed Lawan, both Senators and principal officers at the National Assembly said the party is well represented at the upper chamber. Mr. Akume, the immediate past governor of Benue state said the merger of political parties to form the APC is a milestone achievement in the country’s political landscape. “In 1979, the NPN won the election with 35 per cent of the votes because the progressives at that time failed to come together,” he said. Mr. Akume also advised those at the meeting to go back and mobilise the people to be members of the APC. “All politics is local, he said, adding “we should all go back to the grass root for mass mobilization”. On his part, Senator Lawan accused the ruling PDP of nonperformance. “If you perform well, you don’t have to go round to tell the people that you have performed because they will see it,” he said. He also said “reports of economic progress by the PDP remains a fallacy because poverty is rising despite claims of economic progress”. Forget former parties The chairman of the eighty-member inter party merger committee which gave birth to the APC, Tom Ikimi, in a short speech also advised the party faithful to forget about their former parties which are not in existence anymore, adding that the only leadership that exists at the moment is the one recognized by the constitution of the party. “I urge everyone to forget about their former parties and work fully in the APC. There will be no leadership other than the one in the constitution of the party,” he said. Mr. Ikimi also took time to commend members of the merger committee and the APC governors. He told the meeting that the name “APC was produced in only the second meeting of the committee”. The Youth should take charge The representative of the Youth wing of the party, Ismaila Kano who also spoke advised the party leadership to not only work with the youth but also allow them take positions of responsibility. Mr. Kano said statistics have shown that the youth constitute over 62 per cent of the population, “but are not only denied their way, but even their say”. He also advised the party leadership that “If you are doing it for us, then do it with us”. He advised that APC must be developed as a full party “and not a political campaign office”. Mr. Kano then advised the youth to take advantage of the registration of party membership so as to take their rightful place in the party. “Take part, to take charge, don’t sit and just complain; join the party,” he advised. Notably absent at Wednesday’s meeting was one of the top leaders of the party, former governor of Lagos state, Bola Tinubu, who was said to be recuperating from a knee surgery he underwent recently. Those present apart from the interim leadership of the party include the former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo, Rochas Okorocha of Imo and Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state. Others are Nuhu Ribadu, Ali Modu Sheriff, Sani Yerima, Ibrahim Shekarau, Tony Momoh, Ogbonnaya Onu, Tom Ikimi, Audu Ogbe, Hannatu Musawa, Abike Dabiri, George Akume, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Niyi Adebayo, Buba Galadima and Chris Ngige.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:00:48 +0000
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