President Muhammadu Buhari has told governors and
stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that the forthcoming
primary election slated for June 6 to 8 must produce a candidate that would
give the Nigerian masses a sense of victory and confidence even before the
elections.
Buhari, who held a brief meeting with the governors at the
Presidential Villa Abuja, shortly before he was billed to travel to Spain, also
charged the governors to ensure that the forthcoming convention to pick a
presidential candidate reflects all the values and virtues of the party.
The meeting, which had in attendance 22 governors and the
National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is coming shortly
after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) picked its flagbearer, former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar at the weekend in Abuja.
“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,” the President told
participants at the meeting.
According to Buhari, “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, holds the great majority in
various legislative chambers, and also gains an 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 flagbearer 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.”
Buhari made an appeal to all the governors “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”.
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 state’s helmsmen, Governor Atiku
Bagudu of Kebbi State and Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum said the
party must build on the 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.
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