Primaries: Buhari meets presidential aspirants, moots consensus
Home - Politics

Primaries: Buhari meets presidential aspirants, moots consensus

June 4, 2022

Primaries: Buhari meets presidential aspirants, moots consensus

Admin By Adewale Adewale
  • 568
  • 62 min
  • 0

President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown his weight behind the Party producing a consensus ahead of the presidential primaries of the Party slated for Monday.

The President communicated the idea, Saturday, during a meeting with the 23 aspirants screened by the John Oyegun led presidential screening committee, according to the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina

Buhari, while referencing the screening Committee on consensus, urged the aspirants to hold consultation with the Party and the amongst themselves to produce a consensus in a manner that will scale down the anxiety within the Party.

The President who also promised to meet with other stakeholders, explained that the meeting was part of consultation ahead of the all important primary.

“Ahead of the Convention, the party machinery has screened and found all aspirants eminently qualified. Recognizing this fact, the Screening Committee has, amongst others, recommended that consensus building through consultation, be intensified.

“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members,” he said.

The President charged the aspirants to be conscious of the unity and stability of the Party in the process of producing the flagbearer of the Party.

“Given these circumstances, I charge you to recognize the importance of the stability and unity of the party, which cannot be overemphasized.

“Similarly, I wish to remind you that our choice of flag bearer must be formidable, appealing to the electorate across the board and should command such ability to unify the country and capacity to address our critical challenges.”

The President remarked that with the caliber and pedigree paraded by the aspirants, the APC is blessed with rich human resources and the nation blessed with capable hands that can lead the country.

“Looking at this assemblage of personalities and considering your rich pedigree of accomplishments in life, I have come to the conclusion that our party, the APC, is rich in human resources and also that our nation is blessed with capable people that can successfully steer the ship of state into the future,” President Buhari said.

He added that with his first-hand knowledge of the demands of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the expectations of the citizens, “I must salute your courage and your selfless spirit, in volunteering to serve in the highest office of the land.”

“The 2023 General Elections are fast approaching in a global, regional and national environment that is constantly changing and challenging. This demands that our party should become more aware of the changing environment, be responsive to the yearnings of our citizens, re-evaluate our strategy and strengthen our internal mechanism so that we would sustain the electoral successes.

 “I am pleased to note that the party, recognizing the significance of all these demands, has over time developed several democratically acceptable processes and policies, that promote consultation, internal cohesion and leadership to facilitate victories at the polls.”

The President recalled the consultation he had held with stakeholders “that would help the electoral fortunes of our party, beginning with the State Governors. This is the second in the series and I still look forward to meeting with party stakeholders.

“These steps are being taken to ensure that the unity and cohesion of the party are sustained and to provide direction.

“Amongst others things, I reminded the APC Governors of the need for the party to proceed to the 2023 Presidential elections with strength, unity of purpose and to present a flag bearer who will give Nigerians a sense of hope and confidence, while ensuring victory for our party. I extend a similar reminder to all of you distinguished aspirants.”

The President assured that in the interest of the nation and the party, he would continue to provide effective leadership during the transition processes and on-going consultations, “until we successfully make the choice on the candidate that will fly the flag of our party for the presidential elections and make the party stronger. I seek your support in this all important responsibility.”

Earlier, National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu had promised that all stakeholders of the party would be reached in the consultation process.

Responding on behalf of the aspirants, former Governor of old Abia State and immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa State, and Vice President, ‘Yemi Osinbajo, thanked the President for his leadership and guidance, pledging that they would hold the consultations as counseled “for the unity and strength of our party, the APC.”.

Prev Post

Ice cream, Tomatoes jibes: Shettima apologises to Osinbajo, Lawan

Next Post

Breaking: Consult yourself, party, I will meet stakeholders to produce consensus – Buhari tells presidential aspirants

Newsletter

Get every weekly update & insights

Comment(s) 0

Leave a Reply

BACK TO TOP