Despite being favoured by the zoning formula to retain the party’s top job in their geopolitical zone, youth leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the North Central have declared unwavering support for choice of former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as the next national chairman of the party.
The leaders under the aegis of Coalition of North Central Youth Leaders leaders and Stakeholders said they are solidly behind the endorsement of Ganduje as the preferred choice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors on the party’s platform to replace the erstwhile national chairman of the governing party.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, convener of the coalition, Okpokwu Ogenyi, noted that even though the party’s current zoning formula cedes the office to their zone, the North-Central leaders have resolved to forfeit the office of national chairman the North West in favour of Ganduje.
He stated: “We the people of North Central have occupied the national chairmanship position of all ruling parties in the Country and have done well in terms of party administration. We are proud to say that a chairman from the zone led the party to victory in the last residential election.
“Today, our father who was the National Chairman of the APC has resigned his position thereby making the post vacant. As you maybe aware, there is no vacuum in governance so a competent hand must be employed in order to over our party forward.
“It is on this note that we wholeheartedly endorse Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the National Chairman of our great Party, APC. Abdullahi Ganduje is a party man who has distinguished himself as an intellectual of high repute.
“As North Central Youths, one may be tempted to ask why we should not clamour for the position to be retained in the zone. The truth is, we have contributed our quota and wish other zones to be also given the opportunity to participate in the Party’s administration. We the North Central people are far above trivialities, greed and selfishness when it comes to national interest.”
Ogenyi said the youth leaders believe that under Ganduje, APC will complement the implementation of President Tinubu’s blueprint for the benefit of Nigerians.
Urging other North Central stakeholders and those from other zones to respect President Tinubu’s choice of Ganduje, the convener said, “We the North Central people are far above trivialism, greed and selfishness when it comes to the National interest. We firmly believe that Dr Ganduje is the best man for the job at this moment. Remember, Ganduje served Kano State for eight years and he performed credibly well. Kano under Ganduje became an example of development not only in Nigeria but Africa at large.
“We are optimistic that APC under Ganduje shall complement the implementation of President Tinubu’s blueprint for the benefit of Nigerians.”
