…Backs Buhari’s directive to W/Bank over North’s development
Governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have insisted that the party will uphold its constitution as regards election of the party’s presidential flag-bearer ahead of the 2019 general elections.
This is coming even as the party said it fully supports of President Muhammadu’s directive to the World Bank on the development of the North.
Speaking shortly after a closed door meeting of the governors, National Assembly members and the National Working Committee (NWC) at the national Secretariat Wednesday in Abuja, Bauchi state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of other governors said the meeting has decided that party’s constitution be upheld faithfully.
Recall that the South- west zone of the party declared at its last meeting that the party’s presidential ticket “is open to any member in 2019.”
When asked to comment on the South-west position as canvassed by former interim national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, governor Abubakar said: “This meeting has not deliberated on that but the APC has a constitution and that is one of on the items that was discussed on the amendment of the constitution of the APC in review to faithfully hold the constitution of the APC in line with democratic principles, and we will abide by the provisions of our constitution.”
While expressing the party’s support for President Muhammadu Buhari, on the directive to the World Bank as regards the development of the Northern region, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “there was an issue in the media that President Muhammadu Buhari had asked the World Bank to focus attention on the north of Nigeria. The issue came up for discussion and the entire meeting threw its weight behind Mr. President’s position.
“We will like to clarify in addition to everything that has been said that the import of Mr President’s statement to the World Bank is in recognition of the particular devastation that Boko Haram has caused in the north east of Nigeria.
“Therefore, when Mr. President was asking the World Bank to focus attention on the development of the north east, he had in kind, the necessary reconstruction that need to happen in that part of the country especially in the Borno, Yobe and Adamawa axis that has suffered specifically because of the Boko Haram activities. It was not a statement meant to bifurcate the country or give special preference to any section of the country against the other.
“So, the APC throws its weight completely behind Mr. president’s decision and we believe that as long as the north east of Nigeria continue to suffer the devastation that it has suffered, and continue to represent a very dark spot in human development indices for Nigeria, there is a need to direct special attention to that part of the country,” Abdullahi said.
