…APC means well for Nigerians – Uzodimma
…Kukah: Nigerians are hungry, reduce fuel price
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged The Progressive Institute (TPI) – a think-tank and human development platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to urgently come up with ideology and philosophical direction for the governing party.
The President also stressed the need to change the paradigm of engagements between the ruling party a @nd the Nigerian people.
He gave this charge in Abuja on Friday while unveiling TPI, a brain child of the Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC).
Represented by Minister of State for Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, the President emphasized the urgent need for the party to build organic relationship with the Nigerian people, create and sustain all season APC voter education, designed to promote inclusiveness, honesty and empowerment.
“The ideal of the think-tank and the intellectual resource centre of our great party, is not only timely, but strategic because there is need to change paradigm of engagements within the All Progressives Congress and the Nigerian people.
“The urgent need to build organic relationship with the Nigerian people, create and sustain all season APC voter education, designed to promote inclusiveness, honesty and empowerment.
“We are committed to enhancing the power of Nigerians to freely make electoral choices.
“One of the issues that I am passionate about, and in several occasions discussed with the National Chairman of our great party, is the issue of ideology. This is a fundamental matter that must be address urgently by the institute especially to give our party a philosophical direction and foundation.”
On his part, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, said the ruling APC, as a progressive movement is committed to the idea of progressivism, which he said is about the welfare of the people.
Uzodimma said: “It is clear that the Progressive political party is a party that means well for the common man because it embraces welfarism above extreme capitalism.
“When we appraise progressive ideology as a bedrock for the sustenance of democracy, we simply look at how our government, through its laudable policies and programmes, is responding to the yearnings of the people, especially in matters of their welfare. Good governance is where a government strives to attend to the needs of the people and indeed manages the finances of the nation transparently and honestly to the satisfaction of the electorate.
“Progressive philosophy on its own encourages good governance and development, which ab initio is the reason for the existence of government.”
APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said of the institute will serve as the official policy think tank of the party, that will undertake research and advice the party on the performance of policies and programs of all APC governments and proffer advice.
According to him, the institute conceived by the NWC on September 21, 2023, “shall provide the platform for robust discussion between the party, Nigeria’s Academic Community, the civil society and the media as part of a deliberate effort to promote inclusiveness and ownership.
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“The essence is to enhance the policy capacity of the Party, especially to enable it provide policy advice and suggestions for the consideration of Governments elected on its platform.”
He further said the institute will “serve as the Intellectual Resource Centre of the APC which shall carry out research-driven empirical training programmes. The purpose is to make our Party more competitive, especially in terms of the quality and policy knowledge of its candidates.
“Both functions are to enhance the party’s ability to fulfil its constitutional mandate of leadership recruitment and setting broad policy agenda for governments elected on its platform through the party manifesto and ideology.”
Ganduje then called on developing partners, the academic community, the non-state organizations and other relevant stakeholders to support this new initiative as the party’s contributions to enriching the country’s polity through “more transparent leadership recruitment, a more inclusive public policy process, as well as enhanced good governance system.”
Commending the Ganduje-led NWC, for initiating the institute, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said the facility would serve a “beacon of enlightenment, a sanctuary for transformative ideas and a catalyst for the profound change we so ardently seek. It is a solemn commitment to the future we all yearn for—a Nigeria that flourishes through innovation, inclusivity, and unwavering resilience.”
Represented by Senator Jibrin Barau, the Deputy Senate President, Akapbio noted: “The Progressive Institute is not merely a think tank; it is a sacred space where the voices of our people will resound, where the formidable challenges that confront us will be met with innovative solutions grounded in rigorous research and collaborative spirit. Here, we shall cultivate the leaders of tomorrow, empowering them with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the complexities of governance in this modern age.
“This institute shall serve as a platform for spirited dialogue, fostering understanding and collaboration among all stakeholders—be they policymakers, scholars, or the vibrant voices of our civil society.”
Akapbio then commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said embodies the very spirit of progress in his steadfast leadership.
Eulogising Ganduje for the institute, the Senate President said: “We owe a debt of gratitude to our party chairman and his remarkable team for birthing this vital project, strengthening our dedication to the values and ethos that define us as Progressives.”
In his remarks at the ceremony the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, appealed to the ruling APC to find a way of reducing poverty in the country, saying Nigerians are hungry.
The cleric also asked government to reduce the price of fuel.
Kukah, who commended the party’s highest administrative organ for the establishment of the Institute, said: “A girl was asked, which party are you? APC, LP or PDP? She said ‘I am hungry’, so we Nigerians are hungry. You have to find a way of reducing this price of fuel.”
Director General of the Institute, Dr. Lanre Adebayo said the idea of the platform is to ensure that well trained and prepared individual are put forward during elections.
He said the institute is committed to succeed by ensuring the recruitment of capable and committed leaders for the country.