The Presidency has clarified President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment on Lagos, in his speech on the future of the ruling All Progressives Congress, saying the reference was not to National leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
In answer to how he would want to see APC after his tenure, in an interview on Arise TV Thursday, the president had said: “The hope of this administration is to see APC last beyond it. Therefore, we should allow the party to decide. You cannot sit there in Lagos, for instance, and decide on the fate of APC on zoning. The restructuring of the party has begun from the bottom to the top with the membership card registration. Every member of the party must be involved.
“We will soon conduct our convention. No single member of the party will be allowed to go against the wish of the party. We should allow the party to decide.”
Mallam Garaba Shehu, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement said: “The Presidency wishes to distance President Buhari from a malicious campaign aiming to drive a wedge between him and a staunch ally, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This is nothing short of a mischievous attempt to drag the President into controversies. Our citizens and especially the members of the APC should not fall for this.
“The ruling party, the APC, unlike others before it, is a popular political party owned by its entire membership, hence Mr. President was making the point during the 45-minute interview that neither he nor anyone in the leadership could impose their wishes on the party.
“This is a basic consensus that binds the entire party leadership. The party leaders remain firmly committed to the principles that succession must be through the democratic norms and processes.
“The mention he made of Lagos was not a reference to the respected party leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, as the opposition party’s predatory designs would put it in order to damage the excellent relationship between the two of them.
“The President, the Asiwaju, and the rapidly growing members of the party want a dynastic succession of elected leaders.
“The APC should not be distracted from its progress as a democratic party.”
As preparations for the 2023 general elections gather steam, two groups are emerging with the APC: those who want zoning of posts, including the presidency, and those who favour rotation.
