APC Stronger, Opposition Crying Over Lost Privilege — Bashiru

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, on Friday said the ruling party has grown stronger nationwide, dismissing opposition protests as driven by the loss of political privilege.

Bashiru spoke to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he briefed the President on recent party activities and preparations for upcoming congresses.

He said the visit was to provide an overview of the party’s progress, particularly the successful conduct of ward and local government congresses and preparations for the state congresses scheduled for next week.

“Just to give an overview of what is happening in the party, particularly as regards success recorded at the ward and local government congresses and the preparation for the state congresses coming up next week Tuesday and to say that the party is waxing stronger,” Bashiru said.

The APC scribe said the party’s growth reflects what he described as President Tinubu’s vision of building a pan-Nigerian political platform with strong representation across the country.

“I think we saw it coming. The goal of our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is to build a pan-Nigerian political party,” he said.

Bashiru also claimed that the addition of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to the APC strengthened the party’s presence in the North-East, presenting it as evidence of the party’s growing political appeal.

He said the APC’s expansion across geopolitical zones demonstrates its acceptability among Nigerians and confidence in the leadership of President Tinubu.

On recent protests and criticisms by opposition parties, Bashiru dismissed their actions, alleging that they were motivated by loss of access to political privilege.

“Why I was laughing was that they were not crying for the average Nigerian people, they were not crying for development of our people. They were crying because of loss of privilege, loss of opportunity to continue to plunder the resources of the Nigerian people,” he said.

He added that measures taken by the Tinubu administration had helped curb corruption and improve economic management.

Bashiru also criticised opposition figures for challenging laws passed by the National Assembly, describing such actions as misplaced.

“When a law has been made by the appropriate legislative body, then you have a bunch of people who don’t even have a single elected person saying that that law should be canceled. I think it’s more of speaking out of ignorance and out of lack of patriotism to the Nigerian people,” he said.

He urged opposition parties to engage Nigerians politically and rebuild their credibility through democratic means.

Bashiru expressed confidence that the APC would continue to strengthen its structures nationwide as it prepares for future political contests, noting that ongoing congresses are part of efforts to consolidate the party’s internal organisation.