Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to use the period before the 2023 general elections, to calm nerves and to pacify aggrieved members of the party.
Engineer Sule made the call when he hosted the first executive governor of the state and National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, while on a Sallah homage/condolence visit, at the Government House, on Saturday.
According to the Governor, it’s imperative that the APC go into the 2023 general elections united and in peace.
He particularly called on the APC national chairman to use his experience to douse the growing apprehension within the party, especially in the wake of the recently concluded party primaries, which saw to some members of the party defect to other political parties.
“We have almost eight months before election. That’s a long time for us and especially for old politicians like you, to use the opportunity to calm nerves and all those who have been hurt.
“What I pray, is that whatever that is left, let’s make sure, especially with the governorship and house of assembly elections that are left, whatever that is left, we do everything possible to maintain what is right and what is peaceful,” he stated.
The Governor equally called on the personal aides of the national chairman, to also use the opportunity to reach out to aggrieved members of the party and to avoid issues that may further cause problems for the party.
“For that reason, I am happy, your Chief of Staff and other people are here, so we can use the opportunity to reach out, and to ensure that whatever we hear, or we feel is going to bring some kind of problem, we try to maintain it. Because it’s very important to go into this election peacefully and to come out peacefully,” he said.
Engineer Sule used the opportunity, to commend President Muhammadu Buhari, for hosting the 22 aggrieved senators in Daura, during the Sallah, with a view to addressing their grouse.
He pointed out that while it’s normal to have grievances within a political party, especially after the conduct of party primaries, it’s also important that the leadership of the party reach out to pacify such aggrieved members.
“People will feel aggrieved over one thing or the other and it’s indeed okay. But at the end of the day, the role we play after the exercise is more important. The President has done a wonderful job by inviting the senators and at the end of the day, those that will go, will go. But others will also come in,” he said.
He assured the APC National Chairman that, Nasarawa State will do whatever that is possible to make him succeed in his national assignment.
“We will do whatever it is within our means, to ensure that you succeed. If there’s anywhere or anybody will undermine this NWC we look at it as undermining your authority,” he said.
Engineer Sule appreciated Senator Adamu for his continuous support to him personally and to his administration, especially that the former governor was among the first to endorse him for a second term in office.
“You have made a commitment and we are with you, you came into this party and met 22 governors already in APC. Your dream is to ensure that in the year 2023, we have more than 22 governors,” he said.
He further assured that National Chairman that all the APC governors are with him and will support him as he works to reunite the party.
“For us as governors, believe me, we are behind you, we are going to support you, we are going to ensure we don’t have any problem,” Engineer Sule said.
Earlier, in an opening remarks, National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said he was at the Government House, to pay the traditional Sallah homage, as well as condole with Engineer Sule, his administration, the Eggon people and the entire state, on the recent passage of the Aren Eggon, Bala Abainei Angbazo.
In a chat with journalists shortly after his parley with the Governor, Senator Adamu, assured that despite the hues and cries that greeted the party’s primaries, nothing will stand between the APC and victory in the forthcoming general elections.
He emphasized that the NWC, under his chairmanship will work as if the 2023 general elections will be the last assignment they will handle, towards ensuring that President Muhammadu Buhari hands over to another APC president, just like Engineer Sule will hand over to himself.
“The issue of defection, it is a season for it in politics particularly in developing countries and in Nigeria, it’s no news. We don’t want to lose any member but if a member wilfully wants to leave the party, without recourse to good reasoning, to following due process to get things done, to take a look at his grievances, if he chose to do that, we can’t force anybody to stay or leave the party.
“Anybody who is a member of party is an adult and when he takes a decision, either you convince him and if the result is favourable to you and he does your bidding or you leave him with God who decides everything,” he said.
Senator Adamu pointed out that for God to have built the edifice called APC, no member of the party should nurse any fear but should be confident that the party will win the coming general election.
