APC Chairmanship: Why I am not intimidated by the calibre of contestants, says Mustapha
By Saka Laaro,Ilorin.
An aspirant for the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Saliu Mustapha, says the contest is a battle of ideas and not titles, explaining that he is not intimidated by the calibre of other contestants.
Mustapha, a former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), one of the parties that formed APC, disclosed this at an interactive session with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, over the weekend.
He explained that he has the experience and the sagacity to advance the fortunes of the party.
According to him, having held a public office does not translate to a successful party administration.
He said the party requires people with new ideas, and should not be perceived as recycling old faces in its strive to continue to enjoy the confidence of the electorate.
“I’m not new in politics. I have paid my dues in this terrain. I have always tried to build. Maybe that is why we are not recognized because we have always been in the background.
“But like I said, I was the Deputy National Chairman of CPC. I was number two in the whole hierarchy of the party nationwide. Before then, I was in ANPP, APP. I was in Buhari (campaign) Organization. Before then, I also sojourned a little bit with Chief Olu Falae. And I think I was the youngest then in that movement,” said Mustapha.
The APC chieftain further stated that he has spent over two decades “learning the ropes”.
“I don’t think there is any new trick one has to learn again rather than to be just and fair in this game. And that is why in my own politics, it is not a do or die affair,” he stated.
“And that is why you are right to say I’m coming out like a gentleman. Yes, politics should be for gentlemen. We shouldn’t behave like touts or be rough in it. It should be a game of decorum.”
“Politics should be the most civil thing. That is why sometimes, you see how beautiful the British Parliament operates. Even in America, you see how questions are being thrown to leaders; they don’t take offence. Because they are there to serve. They don’t arrogate to themselves monopoly of arrogance or knowledge,” he added.
Asked if ready to ruffle feathers with the big guns like Former Governors Ali Modu Sheriff, Abdullaziz Yari and Tanko Al-makura who have already shown interest in the same office, Mustapha said he is not intimidated.
“On being intimidated because of the calibre of aspirants, before some of them became Governors, they were also ordinary citizens like you and I. I don’t think anybody was born with the title of governor or senator. They also contested. It was ambition that took them there. So, it is not out of place to say my own ambition today is to be the National Chairman of APC.
“The most important thing is, it is not a contest of title. It is a contest to offer service and leadership that one thinks he has for the organization. So, being a former Governor or Senator should not be a core thing. Even the media too should help in de-emphasizing the title of former Governor or Senator.”
“We all have our individual qualities, and sometimes we need to change the narrative, especially when you are operating in a democratic environment whereby you have an opponent in terms of a political party that is also competing with you to win the hearts of the electorate so that they can form the government of the day.”
The ruling APC is expected to get a new National Working Committee (NWC) at its next convention, tentatively scheduled for June.
Political analysts have posited that since the party is ready to cede the Presidency to the south, the APC national Chairmanship should automatically come from the North.
