About 179 aspirants, including former Edo governor, Adams Oshiomhole are jostling for positions in the in-coming National Working Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kastina state governor, Aminu Bello Masari who is the chairman, sub-committee for screening disclosed this in Abuja confirmed that 179 party members have obtained nomination forms to contest various positions in the forthcoming National Convention of the party.
“The total numbers of aspirant nationwide about 179, though specifically I cannot immediately tell you their geographic spread. It is premature for me to say. I think the report will be presented by Tuesday.”
On whether the party was still maintaining the zoning formula, the governor declared that “you can only contest for any position zoned to your zone. So far those who applied for positions from the North-west are from the North-west, nobody from the North-east or elsewhere applied for the positions zoned to the North-west.”
One of the aspirants, Former Edo State Governor , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole says he is confident about his chances of winning the chairmanship seat.
Oshiomhole told newsmen that he was confident that heavyweights in the party were solidly behind him even as two of those contesting the chairmanship seat are from his state.
The former governor said he has a solid base across the country to give him victory, pointing out that many governors of the party were solidly behind his candidacy.
Other aspirants in the race with Comrade Oshiomohle including his predecessor Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, former Cross River govrrnor Clement Ebri and Chief Ibrahim Emokpaire.
The ensure his victory, the former Labour union leader has, appointed one time Minority Leader House of Representatives Hon. Faruk Adamu Aliyu, as his Campaign Director.
He said “In a boxing match, you do not ask a featherweight to go into the ring wit a heavyweight. It is going to be a very interesting convention. I think for all of us who believe in democracy, this is to be expected.
” I want to talk about my own state that many people at various levels including governors, senators past and present and our current governor, I am very hopeful that they will be in my support.”
Speaking on the the declaration of June 12 as democracy day by President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomohle said:”I think we should salute the president for is statesmanship. There are many things he has done over the past three years that are outstanding in terms of finding the political will and demonstrating statesmanship.”
“That his decision, which is a bold decision to acknowledge that June 12 cannot be wished away as a non-event, I think he deserves commendation across party divides because for those who voted, it was just a urge shock and pain that about 14 million people tat voted, the cancellation was like an April Fools Day.
“So, for him to acknowledge Abiola in the manner that he did and confer on him posthumously an award meant for people who are president’s mean that he has settled the question. The only ting he would have wished to do which he cannot do was to bring Abiola back to life which is beyond human.
“The second thing is the outstanding contribution of Chief Gani Faweinmi because a lot of Nigerians would ask you, what does it take to serve the people?
“For President Buhari to come out and honour Gani Fawehinmi, means there were many activists but Fawehinmi could easily be seen as the foremost among them. Not only did every successive government sent him to prison not on account of fighting for his father’s parcel of land but on account of his stubborn insistence that government should deliver to the people.”
