Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has called on Stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to join hands with him, in order to bring lasting peace and development to the state.
Engineer Sule made the call while delivering a speech during a meeting of the APC stakeholders drawn across the state, at the Government House, on Monday.
According to the governor, God did not bring all the former governors together but for a purpose, which is to bring peace and development to Nasarawa State.
Engineer Sule used the opportunity of the meeting to warn politicians not to heat of the polity, leading to the congresses, adding that, such act, will only serve as a distraction for his administration.
The governor reiterated that, Nasarawa State needs lots of development, focus and to move forward, stressing that, the people must continue to work together to achieve that objective.
“I want us to work together as a people. It’s very important that we work as a people,” he appealed to the party’s stakeholders.
Referring to speculations suggesting intention by his administration to manipulate the coming congresses, Engineer Sule, dismissed such insinuations, urging politicians not to create tension where there is none.
“Anybody telling you A. A. Sule has a list, tell him he is a liar. I didn’t have a list when I won the last election, I won’t have a list to win the next election,” he stated.
The governor pointed out that, like President Muhammadu Buhari has done, leading to the victory of the party in 2015, winning the election without a political structure, the APC will replicate this through effective mass mobilisation and to deliver the party in coming elections.
Engineer Sule said that, the aim of the stakeholders meeting was to discuss the coming party congresses, adding that, he is going to rely on people, particularly, elected officials, party members and his political appointees, to ensure the party conducts successful congresses.
To this end, the governor mandated his predecessors, Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Umaru Tanko Al-makura, to supervise the process leading to the congresses, in Nasarawa West and Nasarawa North senatorial districts respectively, while Senator Godiya Akwashiki, will take charge of Nasarawa North senatorial district.
Engineer Sule equally directed both elected and political appointees, to go back to their various local government areas, to make sure the exercise becomes successful.
The governor thereafter, threw it open for the stakeholders to decide the mode of the congresses, and to choose whether to conduct elections or go by consensus.
The APC stakeholders decided to unanimously adopt the consensus mode for choosing officials of the party across the state.
The governor further announced that, the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), will soon announce a date for the conduct of local government election in the state.
In a goodwill message, immediate past governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, commended the caretaker committee led by Dr John Mamman, for keeping faith with the guidelines of the national caretaker committee, to navigate the party properly, towards attaining the desired objectives of the party.
Al-makura, who represents Nasarawa South senatorial zone at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, also thanked Engineer Sule, for giving enabling environment, and for keeping faith with the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state.
The lawmaker noted that, because of its pride of place in the APC, consodering the role Nasarawa State played leading to the merger of the legacy parties that gave birth to the APC, the entire nation will be watching, to see how the state will fair regarding the planned congresses.
According to the former governor, the congresses about to be conducted, will test the unity, tolerance, resilience and democratic credentials of the stakeholders, especially with the influx of people into the party.
Senator Al-makura therefore, called on the party’s stakeholders, to ensure they adhere to the tenets of democracy, stressing that, congresses are the barometer for testing these values.
Also, in a goodwill message, first civilian governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, praised the governor, for demonstrating high level of resilience, in the face of challenges.
While acknowledging that, there are indeed problems, Engineer Sule, must however be commended, for withstanding these problems and for tackiling such head-on.
“That’s the spirit that you need for the journey ahead, because what has gone, has gone,” he said.
Senator Adamu prayed for God to continue to strengthen the governor and his team, towards the stewardship of the state to the promised land.
Earlier, in a welcome address, state Interim Committee Chairman of the APC, Dr. John Mamman, appreciated the stakeholders, for their unwavering commitment, to the progress and development of the party.
Dr. Mamman disclosed that, the meeting, was yet another forum, to tap from the stakeholders’ pokitical knowledge and experience, as the party prepares for its congresses.
