By Saka Laaro, Ilorin
A former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mallam Saliu Mustapha, has commended the leaders and stakeholders of the APC in the South-West over their 9-points resolutions released over rhe weekend after their meeting in Lagos, Nigeria.
In a short press statement sent to the media on Sunday, Mustapha said the resolutions of the South-West APC leaders were capable of dousing tension in the country and stabilizing the polity.
Saliu Mustapha who is an aspirant for the APC National Chairman in the party’s forthcoming National Convention.
Also commend the leaders of the All Progressives Congress and other stakeholders from the South-West, led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for their well thought out resolution on the nation’s polity after their memorable meeting today in Lagos.
According to him their positions as contained in the communique are capable of stabilizing the polity at this critical time in the life of the country.
“Their bold call for religious and ethnic unity in the country is not only patriotic, but also timely.
“It is needless to say that the South-West remains a very important bloc in the Nigerian project, given its abundant human and natural resources.
“I find it heartwarming, therefore, that our party leaders from the region have resisted and spoken against separatist agitations and hate speeches that are nitpicking, destabilising and sometimes downright treacherous.”
Mustapha reiterated that at a time when vested interests are beating the drum of division almost at every corner you turn, they chose to play the music of peace and dance of unity.
He said leaders of thought from across the country have a moral responsibility not to heat up the polity. One of the strategic ways to achieve this is to be measured and deliberate in our crisis communication.
According to him the position of the South-West leaders is not only prompt, consistent and credible but also offers a rapid recognition of the danger at hand. It will, no doubt, inspire a sense of purpose among the citizens in the region.
“This is the kind of rhetoric that is expected of the political leaders in the country.
“I, therefore, urge other leaders, from other regions, to take a cue from our party’s stakeholders in the South-West to douse the tension in their respective regions.
“We all have a responsibility to de-escalate the situation, because at the end of the day, if Nigeria works, it works for all.
“The leaders of the APC in the South-West have led the way, and I’m sure posterity has recorded it. It will never be forgotten,” he concluded.