Mustapha: I will Bring Integrity and Character as APC National Chairman

One of the national chairmanship aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Saliu Mustapha spoke to Chuks Okocha on what his aspiration and the ideological path of generational change will bring to the party. Here are the excerpts

Why are you in this race for chairmanship?

First and foremost, it is an ideological path for me to be in APC and also in a progressive party. I am in the race to contribute to a positive leadership for all and help to bring about a disciplined, stable, focused and purposeful party for all with new ideas, and to be a fresh face that resonates with the younger generation who makes up 80% voters going into 2019 general election. Also, I wish to build bridges between the different strata of our societies. I intend to bring about my long-standing abilities in party administration to help create an enabling environment for all so as to have a party and candidates that will deliver on good governance. Also, I want to continue with the good works of the present administration led by our leader and father, President Buhari.

So, I believe there is the need for an equally strong successor leadership not only at the national and sub-national levels but also at the party level. That is the vehicle through which the successor government will emerge. This is what I envision and this is why I am in the race for the national chairmanship of APC. We need people of character at the leadership of APC. The party can only deliver through those who manage it and the government. If the party produces bad eggs, then, it will impact on the party and the government.

Are you not intimidated by the likes of former governors and senators that are in the race?

On the contrary, I am drawing my inspiration and encouragement from most of them, especially with what I earlier mentioned in the first answer about why I am in the race. A lot of them believe in the need to have a change of the narratives in so many ways in which I represent. It is their endorsement that I would be looking for, not competing with anyone of them for a contest because all hands on deck to succeed.

Would you consider yourself as too young to lead a political party as big as APC?

Age is just the numbers. The trend is being seen across the world as young people are becoming increasingly involved in politics. Youth inclusion in governance is being perceived as a catalyst for change. In many countries, we have seen the age of those in positions of leadership come down over the years – Justin Trudeau of Canada, for example, is 47 years old and David Cameron became Prime Minister of the UK at 43. It seems though that this trend has not extended to African countries just yet, where comparably, Rwanda is leading the way with Paul Kagame’s cabinet reaching an average age of 47.5 years old. The youths consist of over 70 per cent of the voting population. My party must use the advantage of that sector of the population. If the PDP is giving their youth leader to a man of 25 years; when the APC gives the office of national chairman to a young man, the sky is the limit for the APC. They will see in me as their representatives and I will not fail them.

Has the office National Chairman been zoned to the North-central or North-west and why the zoning?

In all honesty, it has been said to be zoned to the North. But in principle and from a realistic point of the calculation politically, my view is that it is to divide the country into North, South and Middle-belt /North-central. In which case, if the southern region produces the president, then the North would produce the vice and the central would produce the Chairman of the party for a more balance equation.

What can you offer as a chairman of APC?

I can offer everything positive to lead a party with integrity, experience, hard work, loyalty, teamwork, bridge-building, humility, stability, party discipline and much more. Also, I want to offer a good reward system for party loyalists and also a generational sympathy for harnessing votes from the younger generation in general election. All these put together with a positive energy and sense of direction is what I am going to be offering for the party with other like minds to achieve our progressive agenda; and to deliver on electable leaders all across the country for a better Nigeria. The party is the vehicle and a party with leaders of these qualities is needed.

The people in the race are mostly governors, how can you challenge them?

In all modesty and with a sense of responsibilities, this is not a contest of titles, but a call to serve, manage and accommodate different interests, promote, stabilise a rancour-free environment for the emergence of a winning party for the country. I hope and pray the former governors would give me the opportunity and cooperation for fresh and new ideas to be brought in especially in instances where the former governor has been around for too long. We need to have these changes both in narratives and generational approach.

Some critics would think that you are coming to represent CPC factor in APC. What do you think of this?

I am in to represent all members of APC and to also appeal to more Nigerians to join our party. Of course, I am from the CPC by origin and it is one of the three legacy parties along with ACN and ANPP that formed the merger that is today APC.

In politics, we always try to balance and give people a sense of belonging, so if there is an agitation for the national chairman to be produced by CPC, it is natural owing to the fact that ANPP and ACN have once produced the chairman of the party but like I earlier said, I am in it to represent all as a bridge builder because you need every possible hand on deck to gain electoral victories.

What role does the president play in all this?

The president, as you know, is a father, leader and a democrat to all of us. Of course, some of us have an ideological path with him and in reality have been brought up under his political tutelage, notwithstanding always giving us his blessing and support for everyone to go and win the confidence of the people you want to lead especially when you possess those ideals he believes in.

What are the likely details of the convention?

In February next year, from the good work of caretaker committee ably led by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai-Mala Buni, it is work in progress. As you know, the convention has been officially fixed but I can assure you that it would be as said, especially considering the huge task ahead of the party and also making sure we sort out all that needs to be done in party building, reconciliation, accommodation and conducting of congresses, primaries before any general election to meet INEC deadlines. So, I will assume the caretaker committee, with the good work they are doing, will put all these into considerations.