A chieftain of Bauchi state chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Farouk Mustapha, has called on the party’s State Working Committee to intensify its efforts to brokering a truce with all those aggrieved members to rebuild confidence, strengthen and reposition the party against future elections.
Speaking to journalists at his country home in Azare, Katagum local government area of Bauchi state penultimate Saturday, the former national lawmaker said: “As a party with a bright future, we should continue to avoid overheating the polity despite the glaring challenges we are facing from the party in power. We should try to maintain our lead in the state and harp on the lapses of the PDP to our advantage than overheating the polity at this material time
“Our party was fortunate in 2019 to have won a majority of all contested positions excluding that of the governor and few other seats. As for that of the governor, we are all witnesses to what transpired and how our victory was strangulated which must have taught us a bitter lesson against future encounters. We should remain focused and re-strategize against the future than allowing members of the opposition to penetrate our unity as their only strategy against 2023.
“APC is fortunate to have remained intact despite glaring cases of challenges of bad governance by the PDP since the 2019 general elections without worrisome cases of defection to the ruling party which should be improved upon rather than a diversion to trivial issues of no substance
“We are in opposition. We should not allow our personal interests to overshadow that of our party. If the party survives this trying period, it is to our advantage. We should be grateful to God for His blessing. APC has two ministers and other key positions in the federal government that are supporting the struggles. We are making efforts to bring back our aggrieved members who defected to opposition out of frustration in 2019.
We have to reunite to sustain the party and reserve our state with passion than creating unnecessary situations that may jeopardize genuine efforts of reconciliation and repositioning the party”.
Commenting on the proposed local government area council elections, the former lawmaker said: “We doubt the sincerity of the PDP in conducting free and fair local government elections but that does not mean our party may not field contestants depending on the decision of the party. But, we have doubts on the sincerity of the ruling party in conducting the council elections because if free and fair elections will be conducted, PDP knows what awaits it from the electorates”.
