L-R: Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Abdulahi Abubakar Yari (Zamfara); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Kassim Shettima (Borno); Host Governor Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Umaru Tanko Almakura (Nassarawa); Representative of Yobe State Governor, Senator Jejere Alkali; Governor Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) shortly after the governors meeting in Lagos.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) will not limit its membership drive in the Southwest to political parties in the merger arrangement; instead it will open its doors to other progressive platforms and interest groups outside the merger plan, as well as individuals who are willing to be part of the new arrangement aimed at rescuing the nation.
Also, the APC (which is a merger of ACN, ANPP, CPC and APGA) will extend its mobilization drive to socio-political groups with progressive bend in the bid to create a robust platform that will work for the realization of a better Nigeria.
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman, APC’s Contact and Mobilisation Committee in the South West, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who made the disclosure in a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, said the APC is committed to the birth of a better Nigerian nation.
According to Fayemi, the birth of APC at a time Nigerians earnestly yearn for accountable, responsive and responsible leadership is quite significant. He said the party will be fully dedicated to promoting the values of freedom, social justice, equality and solidarity, adding that Nigerians would be mobilize to join the party based on these fundamental principles and core values.
The Ekiti State Governor said that the new party will embrace the principles of social democracy, with emphasis on the values of collective justice and individual freedom.
He said: “Our party will undertake to facilitate radical socio-economic and political transformation of the country. Our programme priorities shall be agricultural development, jobs creation, free education, infrastructural development, poverty eradication and rapid technological development.” He added that the APC manifesto will highlight strategic short, medium and long term programmatic initiatives to be undertaken by all governments produced by the party.
Saying that the party will restore the values of federalism and the virtues of internal democracy in the quest to deepen good and democratic governance in the country, Fayemi said that the decentralization and devolution of powers at the centre shall be a fundamental tenet of the APC’s political work- allowing all parts of the country to feel a sense of belonging and ownership.
He added that gender equality and the empowerment of women who have been denied their inalienable rights for long shall be a major focus of the activities of the party. He reiterated that the progressive Governors Alliance, which heads in the South West will soon roll out plans for outreach without prejudice to all and sundry. “APC is a movement for renewal, not just a political party” Fayemi said.
He assured that the APC is a viable, credible and alternative platform, willing and capable of providing the right leadership that will get the country out of the woods.
Last modified: February 17, 2013
