The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, took its membership drive to Minna, the Niger State capital, where it formally invited two former Nigerian leaders,Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) and Abdulsalami Abubakar, to join the party.
The opposition leaders met with Messrs Babangida and Abubakar separately in their residences during which they held closed-door discussions with them.
APC leaders on the delegation were its interim National Chairman, Bisi Akande; his deputy, Aminu Masari; and the National Woman Leader, Sharon Ikeaso.
Two national leaders of the party, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu, as well as a former Works Minister, Hassan Lawal, were also on the delegation.
They arrived at Mr. Babangida’s hilltop residence at about 11.30 a.m. and discussed with him for about one hour before leaving for Mr. Abubakar’s home, which is adjacent, where they also spent about an hour.
Mr. Babangida, a former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, told journalists after hosting the APC leaders that his doors were open to anyone that chose to consult with him, adding that Nigeria was bigger than the PDP.
He said the APC leaders were concerned with the welfare of the nation, which should be the pre-occupation of all Nigerians.
“Nigeria is bigger than PDP. They came to talk about Nigeria and how to move the nation forward,” he said.
“The APC leaders visited me to discuss the welfare of the country which should be the responsibility of every Nigerian whether you belong to a party or you do not have a party, you have an assignment assigned to you to protect the integrity of the country.
“People who come to talk about Nigeria and the way forward will always be welcomed by me. We have to find a way forward for this generation, what we are doing is for this generation.
“The meeting has to do with the welfare, well-being, education, security and economic well-being of the country. Anything that would promote and move the country forward would be encouraged by me.”
On his part, Mr. Abubakar debunked claims that the APC leaders requested him to join the party, saying “I am not a politician, I am not a partisan politician and I don’t need to be wooed.”
According to him, the opposition leaders briefed him on the amalgamation of the new party and the progress they had made so far, adding that he also advised them on certain issues.
“What I told them, they have already heard. I’ve advised them on how all of us need this country and to make sure that we maintain peace in the country,” Mr. Abubakar said.
The former head of state demanded that Nigerians be allowed to play their citizen’s right by joining parties of their choice, adding, “Whether you are in opposition or in government, in the various ways of your manifesto, you are serving the country.
So whatever role any party finds itself, they should play that role very well.”
Mr. Akande told journalists that the opposition leaders visited the former leaders to tap wisdom in running the party.
He said, “We need to pick the brains of former rulers in this country in order to be wiser than we were before we came here.”
The APC national chairman also said the party would continue to consult those it regarded as wise men in the country.
Also speaking, Mr. Tinubu assured that APC was committed to giving Nigerians better tomorrow.
“We are concerned with the well-being of Nigerians especially the young ones. We need to advocate for a future that belongs to all of us, a stable country that will promote peace, prosperity and diversity,” he said.
Mr. Tinubu justified the visit of the APC leaders to Messrs Babangida and Abubakar, saying “We have a lot of leaders that have been there before. They have seen Nigeria largely and governed the country. We have to look for them as we plan for the future”.
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