Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his predecessors and governors of the ruling party are scheduled to discuss transitional politics next week.
The APC leaders will gather at a public presentation of a book authored by the immediate-past National Vice Chairman of the party (North-west), Salihu Moh Lukman, in Abuja on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Abuja, Lukman said the book titled “APC and Transitional Politics” is basically to remind the party leaders and members about the value and the struggle to get the party to where it is currently.
According to Lukman, if we didn’t struggle within the party, first it would have been difficult to get the caretaker committee out of the way. If we didn’t struggle, it will have been almost impossible to get Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to emerge as our presidential candidate.
“And what that tells us is that we must not because today Asiwaju is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria assume that we have achieved, no we have to continue to struggle. And for me, as far as I’m concerned, Asiwaju is like any one of us, he is a human being. He has his strengths, he has his limitation.
“So we must remain committed so that when we see he’s not doing the right thing we draw his attention. A situation where all of us become psychophantic and everything he does is right. We must not get to that.
“So that is one of the important thing I want to say. Which is why I said we are setting the stage for reflection. We’re about to start with let’s say rebellion, if something is not done and this is the honest truth. So whatever anybody close to the President should be telling him, let him hear the real story. Life is difficult. People who ordinarily should not be struggling for food are today struggling for food.
“And this should not be happening under the leadership of a party that is envisioned to be progressive. And I keep saying I don’t have any question, I believe Asiwaju is the committed democrat and he is a progressive politician. And I believe he will have no difficulty relating with the issues I’m raising.”
Speaking on the party leaders expected at the public presentation of his book, Lukman said: “It will be expecting too much to have the President but if we have the Vice President is as good as having the President. In addition, we are hoping to have the APC National chairman of the party.
“Chief Bisi Akande has done everything for me. He did not only write the foreword of the book, he has committed himself to physically be present to chair the session. And I know with Chief Bisi Akande chairing the session every leader of the party will respect it.
“The former national chairman, Chief Oyegun has agreed I am yet to sit down with Comrade Adams. I’m going to sit down with him and I’m confident and very hopeful he will agree to be there. I
” I am reaching out to many former presidential aspirants for the 2020 including the former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, I have spoken to former Governor Rotimi Amaechi, he has agreed, of course, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Dr Fayemi. Many of them I have talked to them, they have agreed.
” I have reached out to the National Working Committee members and I’m getting very positive feedback from them. Our governors, I have sent invitation to them. I’m going to start reaching out to them personally and including, especially my own governor, Kaduna State governor if nobody attend, at least he should attend.”
