By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has vowed to rebuild the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in the FCT, as she called on stakeholders to jointly work together for the success of the party.
Mahmoud who made this commitment at an engagement meeting with leaders of APC and other party faithful, also called for dedication and commitment on the part of members.
The minister assured that the party will overcome it’s challenges in forthcoming elections, express who expressed concern over the poor performance of the party in the last presidential elections in the Territory, however, assured that the party will overcome its challenges in subsequent elections.
She further called for honesty and openness in communication, stressing that communication gap has been a problem in every aspect of life.
According to her; “And then I want us to be honest and open. In whatever it is, let us follow the due process to communicate. Make sure we pass that information appropriately that will be useful to the party and the nation at large.
“If we want to succeed, we have to be honest with each other, we have to be dedicated. And we have to give support to one another.
“So that is why we have to come together, work together with sincerity and the feeling of the party in our hearts. So by God’s grace, we are going to make it”.
The minister pledged that she would use her political expertise to replicate the success stories recorded in Kano state saying; “Dr. Mariya is now in Abuja, and I need my APC family members so that we work together. And I know we can do it.
“Kano is the largest and the most populous state in the country, We have 44 local government areas with 484 political wards, and we have only six area councils in FCT with 62 wards. So this is very, very visible and achievable”.
While acknowledging some of the problems facing the party, Mahmoud affirmed that with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the helm of affairs, the party will overcome its challenges.
“I know, we have problems, and every party has problems. But our own has already been solved by the Almighty Allah, because he has given us the power.”
“We are the one in charge. And I assure you, Mr. President is with FCT 100 percent, the First Lady is with FCT 100 percent,” she stressed.
Mahmoud, used the occasion to appreciate members of the party in the FCT for their patience despite the challenges.
Also speaking , the FCT, chairman of APC, Hon. Abdulmalik Usman, said that the downward trend of the party in both the state and national elections is pathetic .
He said that despite the challenges faced by the party in 2015, the APC was able to record 47 percent in the presidential election due to dedication and commitment of members.
Usman, therefore, identified lack of patronage and reward system as the major factors contributing to the low performance of APC in the nation’s capital.
He said, “In 2016, here come our brother, our father, our friend as a minister, who also at that time, gathered us this way with his support and help we were able to win the six Area Councils for the party in 2016.
“Time goes, members were not patronised, no reward system for those who work for the party. You see that they start diminishing from 47 percent in 2019, to 40 or 30 percent.
“Honourable minister, we thank you that God has made the right time, and this is the time that we have gotten a mother that call all the executives of this party, not to tell us her plan, but for us to sit down and plan together. You don’t plan alone, you plan together with people”.
He assured the minister of total loyalty of members to the party saying; “none of us here is willing to do anti-party. If we did not do anti-party then, we cannot do anti-party now”.
The FCT APC chairman further assured the minister of members’ total loyalty and support to the leadership of the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdullahi Gaduje.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the minister on Administration and Strategy, Dr. Abdullahi Isah Kauramata, who gave the objectives of the engagement meeting also emphasised on regular meetings of critical stakeholders of the party.
