If elected APC National Chairman, I will shame opposition over prophecy of doom, lead party to victory 2023 – Ali Modu Sheriff

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

“As a former governor of Borno state for two terms, besides massive infrastructural development, I left over ₦69 billion in the state’s confers in my hand over note, the only Governor in Nigeria to have done so.”

Thirty six days to the National Convention of Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC), a National Chairmanship Candidate, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, says part of his top priorities, if elected to lead the party, will be to put to shame the opposition on their prediction that APC without President Muhammadu Buhari in office will fall.

The former two-term Governor of Borno State made this known on Friday while briefing APC Press Corps in Abuja.

Noting the opposition and sceptics’ boasting along this line, Senator Sheriff said, “For the APC to remain formidable and retain power, it requires a National Chairman who enjoys massive political goodwill across party lines with capacity to drive development at all levels.
I am that man!” He was being specific.

He added that he is strategically placed, ahead of other aspirants with requisite goodwill, to lead the party, the APC to victory in the 2023 general election and beyond, pointing to the massive experience he has garnered in political party administration as making him being at good advantage to achieve it.

As a firm believer in the rule of law, which is the basic tenet of democracy, Ali Modu Sheriff said the APC family members, across the country, have him to trust as his person and office cannot be compromised, as APC National Chairman.

“For those of you who have followed me closely, you would have noticed that I have travelled to most states of the federation, consulting with those State Governors, Leaders and Party stakeholders to advance my candidacy.

“No doubt we have an array of aspirants for this APC top job and all of them are eminently qualified, but only one person can have the job. With the greatest respect and humility, I make bold to declare that I am that person,” the competently confident SAS said.

He assured the APC family of his wealth of intellectual property from which he will always tap, using skills and experience, to unite different interests, not only within the party, but across the diverse groups in the country, who have placed him as the most suitable man for the job.

His words: “My mission is to transform the APC into a vehicle of greatness for Nigeria, to model the party to bring about a united Nigeria and collaborating with the government, support the achievement of technological greatness for the country.

“My desire is to contribute immensely to the transformation of Nigeria using our party, the APC, as a tool to enthrone a better society for all and to make our people, digitally inclined.

“I also intend to transform the party into a political institution for all, especially for the empowerment of youths and women for more political participation so that the party will be the party to beat in the next 50 years in the continent of African.

“Let me at this juncture commend the APC National Progressive Women for holding the just concluded conference, the first of its kind by any political party in Nigeria since this democratic dispensation.

“The conclusions and communique reached at the conference will form part of my comprehensive agenda for the transformation of our Party, particularly the 35% affirmative action for women.

“I thank leadership of the party under the Leadership of His Excellency Mai Mala Buni and the able representative of the Women, Hon. Stella Okotete for this initiative.

“The APC under our leadership will collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure the continuity of the social investment programmes in the interest of all Nigerians at large, while working with the National Assembly to ensure necessary laws with legislative backings.

“We will also ensure resolution of all contending issues within the APC to ensure a united party ahead of the 2023 general elections so we can go into the contest as a united front.

“We will work to bring government at all levels closer to the people, and create a political institution where party administration and good governance will be taught, when I become APC next national chairman.

“The opposition and sceptics are boasting that our APC will be weakened at the end of President Muhamamadu Buhari’s tenure. For the APC to remain formidable and retain power, it requires a National Chairman who enjoys massive political goodwill across party lines with capacity to drive development at all levels.
I am that man!

“With massive experience in political party administration, I am strategically placed, ahead of other aspirants with requisite goodwill, to lead our party, the APC to victory in the 2023 general election and beyond.

“May I at this juncture reassure all APC members and indeed all Nigerians, that I will work amicably and with open heart with everyone, irrespective of creed and gender, ability or disability when I become our party`s next National Chairman.

“I am in the race for our Party’s National chairmanship, because I have the capacity to take the party to the highest level and to build on the legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I will work with everyone to reposition our party for resounding victory in 2023 general elections.

“May I cease this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for piloting the country’s affairs in the right direction despite daunting challenges as well as providing purposeful leadership for the party.

“I also want to appreciate Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Chairman APC Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee and members of the committee for steering the Party’s ship in the right direction, for ensuring relative peace & unity in the Party and for delivering on their mandate, especially with regards to the conduct of the forthcoming National Convention.

“Our guiding principle will be the Party’s Constitution and Manifesto, and we will be committed to it. To my friends in the APC Press Corps, I implore you to provide the reliable information and arguments that will enable our Party and Country establish facts, work through disagreements and test ethical boundaries that will guide our people to know their priorities and make the right choice for that will strengthen our Party for victory,” he said.

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff held to chat and interact with the APC Press Corps on his aspiration to be the next APC National Chairman.

He is a two-term governor of Borno State, who has been progressively involved in the enthronement and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation.

Modu Sheriff had been elected to the Senate, three times and between 1994 -1995, he was a delegate to the Justice Karibi-Whyte Constitutional Conference that brought about the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In 1999, he was elected to the upper chamber of the National Assembly and subsequently emerged as Senate Minority Leader from 2003 to 2011.

While serving in Borno State as an elected two-term governor, Sheriff was entrusted with additional responsibility of Acting National Chairman of the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) when Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, then ANPP Chairman was nominated by Gen. Buhari(Rtd) as his running mate in the 2007 presidential election on the platform of the Party.

Former Governor Modu Sheriff emerged as Board of Trustee (BoT) Chairman thereafter of ANPP, which was one of the legacy parties that participated in the merger that formed the now nine-year old APC. He led the ANPP into the historic merger.

In 2017, Sheriff was elected the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of party.

His over four decades in Nigeria’s political space he said, has equipped him with the requisite skills and experiences to successfully confront the challenges ahead and bring victory to the party from General Elections to Ward Councillorship elections, if given the opportunity to serve as the next national chairman of our great party.

“As a former governor of Borno state for two terms, besides massive infrastructural development, I left over ₦69 billion in the state’s confers in my hand over note, the only Governor in Nigeria to have done so.

“I am a firm believer in the rule of law, which is the basic tenet of democracy and my person and office cannot be compromised. For those of you who have followed me closely, you would have noticed that I have travelled to most states of the federation, consulting with those State Governors, Leaders and Party stakeholders to advance my candidacy.

“No doubt we have an array of aspirants for this APC top job and all of them are eminently qualified, but only one person can have the job. With the greatest respect and humility, I make bold to declare that I am that person,” he said at the press briefing.