AHEAD of 2015 Presidential election, leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, stormed the Asokoro residence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as part of moves to woo him into the family of the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the APC disclosed that it has concluded arrangements to meet with former President and past Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of PDP, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his hill top mission, Abeokuta, OgunState as part of its membership drive.
Led by APC interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, the leadership of the opposition political party which has been moving round the country to get more members especially from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stressed that it was determined to dismantle the PDP and rule the country in 2015.
APC—Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, flanked by the National Chairman, APC, Chief Bisi Akande (L) and Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as he briefs journalists after a closed-door consultation between him and other leaders of the party at his residence, Asokoro, Abuja, yesterday.
Speaking earlier at the Asokoro residence of Atiku before the closed-door meeting, Chief Akande, who noted that the team decided to visit the former Presidential aspirant on the platform of PDP having worked together in the past, said that it has become imperative for Atiku to join the APC to rescue the country, adding that Nigeria as a nation is suffering from credibility problem and all men of integrity must rise up and save the country.
At the end of the meeting which lasted over one hour, Akande said that the existing relationship and comradeship between them and Atiku was well cemented and they were all moving together.
He said, “all of us that met here this morning were comrades in politics from time to time and we only came here to cement that comradeship and it is well cemented. We are all moving together to work for this country.”
On his part, Atiku, who noted that he had very fruitful discussions with the APC leadership, however promised that he will in the next week or thereafter get back to them on his decision after consulting with his people, friends, associates, party members, aides, among others.
Speaking earlier before the closed-door meeting, Atiku Abubakar who noted that his visitors were political associates having worked together in the past to fight the military and bring about democracy, however stressed the need for all men of integrity to rally around one another to rescue the country.
Atiku who disclosed that he was just back from South Africa, said that “we have a lot to emulate from South Africa against the backdrop that we have in common some features”, noting that in South Africa, they faced Apartheid, while that of Nigeria was that of colonialism.
The former Vice President who reiterated his support for a two party system, said that the process of having two party structure will be in the interest of democracy, adding that the country has enough that would go round for everyone.
He said: “Most of us have been friends and political associates for over two decades. I will call my stakeholders across the country, we will take a decision and now address the press and let you know.”
Atiku who hailed the formation of APC and the opposition it affords Nigerians, said: “I congratulated them and welcomed them because it will improve competition and governance. It is healthy for our democracy. Once you have one very strong party and weak ones there is no way the opposition can check the government in power. I think it will give Nigerians an alternative during elections, so I told them I will consult with my associates and brief the press later.”
Also speaking, former Head of State and 2011 Presidential Candidate of defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that the leadership of APC will as well visit former President Olusegun Obasanjo to brief him on why the opposition party was formed. He said: “We have been visiting others like G7 governors, we have also visited some heads of state; we will also visit Obasanjo anytime he is available to ask for his understanding and brief him why we formed the APC.”
Present at yesterday’s meeting with Atiku were former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari; Chief Bisi Akande; Former governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor Ali Modu Sheriff; Governor Ibrahim Shetimma of Borno State; former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu; Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu; Sen. Annie Okonkwo; Nasir Isa Wambai; Former Presidential aide to Chief Obasanjo, Dr. Femi Fani-Kayode and publisher, Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah.
Also present were Sen. Nazeef; Boss Mustapha; Dr. Yakubu Lame; Senate Minority leader, Sen. George Akume; Musa Gwadabe; former governor of Kaduna State, Lawal Kaita and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Masari and many others.
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