President Muhammadu Buhari has asked presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to consult amongst themselves, prune a number of hopefuls and choose a formidable candidate before the party’s presidential primary elections on Monday, June 6.
Buhari spoke on Saturday night during a meeting with all the APC presidential aspirants at the State House in Abuja.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also quoted Buhari as saying that, “Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members.
The statement is titled: “President Buhari to APC presidential aspirants: Consult, build consensus, and come up with a formidable candidate.”
Adesina also stated that the President said the meeting is the second of a series of consultations with party stakeholders to ensure that the unity and cohesion of the party are sustained and to provide direction.
He recalled the consultation that the President held with stakeholders “that would help the electoral fortunes of our party, beginning with the State Governors. This is the second in the series and I still look forward to meeting with party stakeholders. These steps are being taken to ensure that the unity and cohesion of the party are sustained and to provide direction.
Buhari said he was aware that there is anxiety among party members about the outcome of the process.
He said, “Given these circumstances, I charge you to recognize the importance of the stability and unity of the party, which cannot be overemphasized.
“Similarly, I wish to remind you that our choice of flag bearer must be formidable, appealing to the electorate across the board and should command such ability to unify the country and capacity to address our critical challenges.
“Ahead of the Convention, the party machinery has screened and found all aspirants eminently qualified. Recognizing this fact, the Screening Committee has, amongst others, recommended that consensus building through consultation, be intensified.
“Without prejudice to your qualifications, I urge all of you to hold consultations amongst yourselves and with the party, with a view to building a consensus in a manner that would help the party reduce the number of aspirants, bring up a formidable candidate and scale down the anxiety of party members.”
Buhari further assured the aspirants that in the interest of the nation and the party, he would continue to provide effective leadership during the transition processes and on-going consultations, “until we successfully make the choice on the candidate that will fly the flag of our party for the presidential elections and make the party stronger. I seek your support in this all-important responsibility.”
The APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, had earlier promised that all stakeholders of the party would be reached in the consultation process.
Speaking on behalf of the aspirants, former Governor of old Abia State and immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, thanked the President for his leadership and guidance, pledging that they would hold the consultations as counseled “for the unity and strength of our party, the APC.”
Those in attendance include Former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, Former Zamfara State Governor, Ahmad Yarima, Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, State Governors: Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Ben Ayade (Cross River), former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Goodwill Akpabio, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Ogbonnaya Onu, Former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and Jack-Rich.
Others include the APC Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Party Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
