As chairman, I’ll sustain APC’s gains beyond 2023 -Al-Makura

A former governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Al-Makura, has said that as Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, he will sustain the gains and keep the party in power beyond 2023.

Al-Makura spoke in Abuja on Thursday, at the APC Press Corps, second Annual Public Lecture/Summit themed: APC beyond 2023- The Tasks Ahead: The Role of Stakeholders.

Ahead of the proposed National Convention in February 2022, Al-Makura who is an aspirant for the office of APC National Chairman told those present that “we are in a period of transition and the best thing that can happen is for us to start thinking about an APC beyond 2023.

“I am also perturbed that our leader, our role model, the unifier of this party that has held this party together in the past six years and a half would be on his way out. Are we prepared to carry the mantle and at least, try to do what he has been doing? That is the question. What needs to be done is sustaining the gains and securing the future.

“In sustaining the gains, we cannot but commend the caretaker committee for the efforts that they have been able to make to ensure that this party has been able to attain all these landmarks within the period in which they served.

“I am here as one of the aspirants. It may interest you to know what my motivation is. What is my motive? What is my objective of wanting to be the national chairman of this great party? It is not about myself. It is not about the ego or what goes with that.

“It is about sustaining the gains as one that was opportuned by providence to be part of those that participated in the merger exercise. It will be a total disservice to the party, if I sit back at this very critical period, not to partake in ensuring value is added to the party. That is my objective. That is my reason for wanting to contest for the office of chairman.”

Similarly, former Zamfara State governor, Abdul’aziz Yari, noted that the state governors will continue to lead the affairs of the party. He also urged party members to brace up for the enormity of the work that lies ahead.

He said, “In governance, we can’t get it 100 per cent. There has to be pros and cons. But we can overcome them if we agree to come together. When we started it, some people thought we were joking. They said we could not uproot a sitting government like PDP with billions of dollars and all other potentials… and God in his infinite mercies looked at our hearts with zero interest or personal interest but interest in Nigeria in our heart.

“Now we are in command of this country for the first six and a half years.”