National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Bola Tinubu has said that All Progressives Congress (APC) is open to all progressive-minded people who are interested in turning Nigeria’s fortune around.
The former Lagos Governor made this assertion in Kaduna on Wednesday after a meeting with the former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, saying that the newly formed party will not discriminate in its membership drive.
Tinubu said all those who are genuinely interested in Nigeria’s progress and want to join the APC would be welcomed on board.
He said that even if PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur wanted to join the APC, he would be welcomed.
The former governor, while responding to a question on whether the APC was wooing some PDP governors, said: “If that is a strategy on our part, should I tell you?
“The facts remain that we must talk to everybody and must woo them. If Bamanga Tukur is interested, we will invite him and talk to him. The APC is a party to stay with, work with and to share the vision of eliminating corruption, ineptitude in governance and lack of employment for our people.
“If you are threatened by lack of security, enter an APC, if you have persistent headache, use APC”.
He added: “I am here just to consult with Gen. Buhari on the new party that has come to be and look at the various other options for a one-man-one-vote in the country.
“The merger will definitely work out this time around. I have been very consistent in saying that it is only through a strong determination and commitment and the sacrifice of the people that we will succeed.
“It is not only about us as individuals. There are lots of speculations going on this time around and they have even chosen our presidential candidate for us and all of that.
“It was a banner headline in Nigeria Tribune. Let me say that it is the story of people who are already afraid and scared of the unity of purpose that is coming up in the country. In essence, we are all committed to democratic principles and values for this country and to rescue the nation.
“To do that, we must be a united body and ready to rescue the nation with one mission, vision and one single commitment to alleviate the problems of the masses. It is not about individual; it is not about Gen. Buhari.
“If he wants money from the government, he will always get it. But he stands for the truth and the cause of the masses and the redemption of our democratic values, justice and progress.
“These are the things that we need to harness the opportunity that is here in this country to get it moving and moving forward, but not in the manner it has been going for the past 16 years.”
National Chairman of ANPP Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said the APC would clearly show that there is a difference between the ruling party and the progressive coalition party.
“When the 2015 contest comes in, it will be between the conservatives and the progressives and when the people make their views known, it will be clear which of the two they prefer,” he said.
Onu assured Nigerians that once the APC is registered, the party would not disappoint them, adding that it will protect the interest of the ordinary man.
“We will put the interest of ordinary Nigerians in the affairs of governance,” he said, because this is what has been causing problems in the country’s governance.
Also yesterday, the leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) merger committee, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, disclosed that four more political parties were interested in joining the APC.
Shekarau, who presented the progress report, explained that the ANPP committee was set up on October 6 to carry out the assignment of ensuring that the party is rebuilt at both the local and state levels.
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