President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the support of the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as he takes charge to direct the processes that will produce the party’s presidential candidate.
The President, who appealed to the governors of the party during a meeting with them and the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, also noted that he would be a stronger influence on the affairs of the party henceforth, in order to provide the needed direction for a smooth process.
Buhari had met with the 22 governors and the party’s Chairman to firm up arrangements against the presidential primaries of the party, which had been scheduled to hold between Monday, June 6 and Wednesday 8, next week.
The governors are considered to be a critical factor in deciding the life and survival of the ruling party, as they had in the past been crucial to decisions and actions that had proven key to the shaping of developments and events.
They are still expected to play a critical role in deciding who eventually picks the party’s presidential ticket next week.
It was gathered that the President had referenced party processes that had afforded the governors to either get renominated as the party’s flag bearer, for those who are first termers, or granted the courtesy of determining who succeeds those leaving office after their second term, as a trend that should be reciprocated in his own case, with respect to nominating presidential candidate.
Quoting the President, as he made his plea for support, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Ajuri Ngelale, in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle, wrote “H.E. President @MBuhari Tasks APC Governors On Reciprocity As Successorship Process Nears Finality: “2nd term Governors have the privilege of promoting successors that are capable of driving their visions. I solicit the reciprocity of the Governors in picking my own successor.”
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on the meeting by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari indicated his readiness to get more involved in the processes leading to the selection of the party’s flag bearer, explaining this became necessary in order to ensure an orderly process.
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He charged the governors to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party.
“The processes for the 2023 General Elections have commenced in earnest and I note that the most successful political parties globally have always relied on their internal cohesion and a strong leadership brand to achieve bigger electoral fortunes. Our party, the APC, shall not be any different, more so as we are still implementing the blueprint for a more prosperous nation.
“As I begin the final year of my second term as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the party, I recognize the compelling need for me to provide stronger leadership to the party under this transition process and to ensure that it happens in an orderly manner.
“Such leadership is required so that the party remains strong and united. It is also needed to improve our electoral fortunes by ensuring that it retains power at the center, hold the great majority in various legislative chambers and also gain additional number of states.
“In a few days, the party will be holding its Convention during which primaries would take place to pick the Presidential Flag Bearer for the 2023 General Elections. This is a very significant process and its outcome should prove to the world, the positive quality of the APC regarding democratic principles, culture as well as leadership”, he said.
President Buhari also admonished them “to allow our interests to converge, our focus to remain on the changing dynamics of our environment, the expectations of our citizens and the global community.
“Our objective must be the victory of our party and our choice of candidate must be someone who would give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the elections”, he said.
He assured that the consultation process will continue, to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention, stressing that it would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control, “and that our party emerges stronger.”
Speaking on behalf of the States’ helmsmen, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum said the party must build on successes of its recent elective convention, and the primaries conducted so far, “and come up with a candidate who will walk in the footsteps of patriotism and love for the country, which Mr President has shown.”
“We will support Mr President to have a very successful convention,” he pledged.