Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said that contrary to the permutations and reports in the media that the party has zeroed in on four contenders to the position of National Chairman in the February 26 National Convention that a former Governor of Benue State, George Akume remains the candidate to beat.
The leaders under the auspices of Akume Contact Group declared that the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs currently stands tall among all other aspirants in the race based on his experience, capability, integrity and support among all interests.
The group led by an APC Chieftain and National Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Simon Shango at a media parley in Abuja on Friday said if elected Chairman, the former Senate Minority Leader will uphold the party constitution, respect the party’s organs among others.
Shango said: “If elected APC National Chairman, Senator George Akume will be committed to upholding the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Constitution of our great Party the All Progressives Congress. To this end, he will respect the powers and responsibilities of all organs and officers of the Party, which is necessary to entrench internal democracy and party discipline.
“All the Party organs, officers and stakeholders need to work in harmony to consolidate our position as the dominant and ruling party in Nigeria. Senator George Akume’s vision is an APC that will be a model in political party administration in Nigeria and beyond.
“In relative terms and by all accounts including the views of many APC stakeholders and generality of Nigerians, Senator George Akume is clearly the best aspirant for the job. Consequently, such press attacks are not surprising but would not dampen but augment the support of key stakeholders and Nigerians in general.”
Presenting the Akume six-point agenda, an APC Chieftain and former Editor of Daily Times, Farouk Mohammed said if elected, Akume would be holding periodic town hall/interactive sessions around the country and convey feedback to the APC Governments at all levels.
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“Also, he will promote and participate in a robust social media communication scheme to feel the pulse of Nigerians, especially the youths and encourage the respective APC Governments to appropriately act on key issues raised. Senator George Akume will passionately see to the faithful implementation of APC’s Manifesto.
“The calm, focused and foresighted, Distinguished Senator George Akume will bring his extensive experience and competences to bear on the job, by thinking and acting outside the box in prioritizing the tackling and solving of APC’s myriad problems.
“Senator George Akume is well placed to achieve these goals, having been two-term elected Governor of Benue State, three-term (12 years) Senator including as Chairman Senate Committee on Army, Senate Minority Leader, and currently, Minister of the Federal Republic, among others.
“Senator George Akume will deploy his PR skills to effectively engage and collaborate with all shades of stakeholders to achieve sustainable reconciliation and peace by being firm but fair to all.
“Senator George Akume will devise credible ways and means to create space for youths and encourage them to participate meaningfully in the political arena both in terms of elective and appointive offices at the Federal, State and Local Government levels,” he said.
