By Ezeocha Nzeh and Chesa Chesa
Ahead of the proposed February 2022 National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National a convention, one of the National Chairmanship candidates, Saliu Mustapha has allayed fears that he may not enjoy the support of his Kwara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Abdulraham
Mustapha, who explained how cordial his relationship with the governor has been since after the 2019 elections when he lost to him in the race for the party’s governorship ticket in Kwara state, stated that he would require the governor to reciprocate his gesture in the 2019 governorship election.
Mustapha, who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that he has always been supportive to GFovernor Abdulrahman, going from when he accepted the result of the primary to supporting him from his campaigns till date
The chairmanship candidate, who was the Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the legacy parties of APC said he was going to promote justice and fairness in the party if elected as National Chairmanship.
“l share a very cordial relationship with the Governor of Kwara, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman.
“If you cast your mind back, I was also an aspirant for the governorship seat of Kwara State. Due to some irregularities in the party then, I was disqualified. I did not go to court because I felt we are one and the same. I was looking at the bigger days. It was based on our friendly understanding that made me not to go to court and we still share the same as I am talking to you.
“During my turbaning, he was not only there in person, he escorted me throughout the traditional rites.
“During the recent state congresses, he picked me from my house and drove to the congress. He is also canvassing for me because it is an advantage for the state to have a national chairman in me. We have a lot of positive history together.”
Speaking on the APC crisis in Kwara State between the governor and Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, he said, “from your record you will notice that the recognised body in Kwara State is the one headed by the Governor. Of course, we don’t have to have a divided house, it is work-in-progress and I think it will be a litmus test for me if I become the chairman to make sure I bring an end to this crisis in the state. All hands need to be on the desk.”
On what he is bringing on board, he said, “I am bringing a lot on board. I want to see a party that promotes equity, fairness and justice. I’m bringing goodwill, experience, youthfulness not with exuberance but with experience.
“First and foremost, I want to see a party that promotes equity, fairness and justice. It is when you have a party of that sort that you are able to allow popular candidates emerge. When popular candidates emerge based on their merit, then you don’t suffer the fear of election rigging. It is when you bring unpopular candidate on board, that you start thinking of how to go and rig the general election. And when you rig the general election with bad products, the end result is bad governance or bad representation.
So, I want to come on board to do things differently. Yes, APC has done well, but I believe there is room for improvement,” he noted
