The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday inaugurated its 61-man Contact/Strategy Committee in Abuja. The committee was inaugurated by Yobe State Governor and Chairman Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni. It has Governor Mohammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State as Chairman while a South East chieftain of the party, Chief Ikechi Emenike is the Secretary.
Governor Buni while inaugurating the committee said it was aimed at consolidating the party’s numerous achievements. He said: “The Contact and Strategy Committee is to consolidate the achievements we are making in building a strong party with a solid structure that would accomplish APC to stand the test of time. Our vision is to provide a wheel that will drive the party to go beyond 6th, 7th and even 8th term in office.”
He added that the committee was critical towards effectively implementing the party’s manifesto and improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians while ensuring that the APC remains the country`s leading political party.
Buni noted that the committee was key to the party’s process of transition towards successful congresses and national convention ahead of 2023 general elections.
The committee, he said, was expected to establish a solid, reputable and reliable future for the party, adding that its members were selected based on personal competence and selfless commitment to the party`s development.
According to him, the composition of the committee was not done on state basis, but on merit and competence.
He expressed confidence that the committee would collectively execute its assignment successfully with high sense of responsibility. Buni said the committee was to establish constructive engagements between critical stakeholders at various levels of the party with a view to reviving confidence and trust among its leaders.
He said it was also to conduct a need assessment survey from party members and the general public as well as create vision statement, mission and core values of the party that would foster unity. According to him, the committee would, in addition, develop a timeline and framework for the implementation of its recommendations among other things.
Buni assured that the caretaker committee would always be ready to offer its assistance towards achieving the set targets.
Badaru, chairman of the committee while fielding questions from journalists after the ceremony, said the committee would deliver on its mandate in record time. He promised that the committee would do its best to increase the party`s base and contact as well as reconcile aggrieved members across states of the country. “The idea is to build the party for greater strength and we are committed to doing that,’’ he said.
Badaru expressed confidence that the Buni-led CECPC would keep to its promise of organising a national convention to elect new National Working Committee (NWC) members for the party in June. “It is very feasible. I know the national caretaker committee is committed to delivering in June, and we will support them and do whatever it takes to make sure we deliver by June,’’ he said.
Members of the committee are: 11 governors; former and serving members of the National Assembly; members of the Federal Executive Council and some party chieftains. They include: Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; Governors Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Babagana Zulum (Borno); Inuwa Yahaya of (Gombe); Aminu Masari (Katsina); Simon Lalong (Plateau); Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).
Also included in the committee are; Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); and two former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Yakubu Dogara.