Former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari & former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu .‘We’re on ruthless recruitment drive’ .I have like minds in APC – Lamido .I’ll consult and respond – Kwankwaso .APC govs now 23, says Rochas Former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday led the top ranks of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to Kano and Jigawa States where he formally invited governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Sule Lamido respectively to lead their supporters to the APC. The APC team included former Lagos State governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola, Governor Rochas Okorocha and Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi. In Kano, Buhari told hundreds of politicians from across the state including PDP stalwarts that the team was “on a very top and ruthless recruitment drive.’’ Buhari said the APC feels “very uncomfortable without Kano State coming along, therefore “in our bid to get Kano state, we seek the hands of the governor to get up and join us in the APC to deliver this country and God in his infinite mercy will make us succeed.” “Our concerns are our people throughout the country. What APC is fundamentally going to do is to secure and effectively manage this country. We come here to woo Kwankwaso into the APC so that we can continue to make our journey to achieve meaningful development,” Buhari added. National Chairman of the APC Chief Bisi Akande said the delegation was in Kano to showcase the APC as a platform and soft ground for great minds like Kwankwaso. The APC delegation arrived in Kano only days after Governor Kwankwaso said the G-7 governors may move to APC following the simmering crisis in their party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Addressing the APC delegation yesterday Gov. Kwankwaso said he will consult stakeholders of PDP in the state and get back to his visitors. “I will sit down with all stakeholders because there is no decision a governor can take on his own without consulting the stakeholders of the party. Kwankwasiyya movement is a disciplined movement. We are working as group and team,’’ he said. He described Kwankwasiyya as a `powerful movement’ which had the capacity and strength to win election in 2015. He said that the PDP had 31 out of 40 state assembly members, two senators and 14 members of the House of Representatives. “Certainly we will sit down and look at all the challenges and the consequences if any and together we will take decision on what to do and communicate to you,’’ he said. In Jigawa, Governor Sule Lamido said most of the members of the APC entourage were his like minds and he felt they were in the state for family reunion. He said since the PDP is ‘very sick’ it was time to set aside party sentiment and unite around the common problem of the country. Lamido said: “This visit is what I call family reunion. All those in the defunct SDP are here. We have been friends and partners. This single visit, more than anything else, shows that we can work together to save Nigeria. “For General Muhammad Buhari to come here to woo me to APC shows that our leaders are concerned about Nigeria. The PDP is very very sick. It is time to put aside politics and nomenclature and unite around the common problem of the country.” He described the coming of the APC to Jigawa as the beginning of a long process that will test the will and political sagacity of everyone. “We must work as leaders and put the country first. By the time we come together you must listen to us because of our experience. We will add value to you. The journey is difficult. I am still in PDP with my eyes wide open. When I see like minds I will work with them.” Earlier in their various speeches General Muhammadu Buhari, Bola Tinubu, APC chairman Bisi Akande, Governor Raji Fashola and Chief Adigun Oyegun said they were in Jigawa to ask the governor to join the APC because he belongs to the progressive elements in Nigerian politics. The Jigawa State governor had mobilised all the members of the state executive council, the 27 local government chairmen, all members of the national assembly from the state, PDP state executives and Jigawa elders to welcome the APC bigwigs. Other politicians on the APC delegation included former governor of Borno state, Senator Ali Modu Sherriff, former chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Speaker Aminu Bello Masari and former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume. Khaleepha Ahmad
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 17:48:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015