As party faithful and major stakeholders look forward to the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the rank of eminent members jostling for the national chairmanship position has also been a beehive, with aspirants consulting, canvassing and lobbying across party lines to get buy-ins from critical segments in the bid to emerge victorious. Senator Sani Musa, one of the aspirants, from Niger East, has demonstrated single-mindedness in his quest to win the confidence of party members.
At great pains to frequently explain why he wants to exit the Senate to head the party’s National Secretariat, Musa is trudging on despite the challenges posed by this self-assigned political enterprise. Determined to run the race to the end, he is encouraged by the increasing prospect of his victory at the party convention.
In many strategic locations in Abuja, huge signage advertising Musa’s political aspiration are in your face. The aggressive marketing of his interest in the APC National Chairmanship has its own gains for a man whose popularity was previously measured by his contribution to his state and to national discourse on the floor of the National Assembly. He knew that a more searching probe would be carried out on his personality. On a level playing field, Musa is confident that even his most ardent opponent in the race for national chairmanship of the APC acknowledges that he is a better candidate.
Before he was elected a Senator, Musa worked in the public and private sector. Since 2014, he has been one of the leaders of the APC and served as a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 2019 to date. A studious look at his antecedents reveals one who is consistent. As a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing the good people of Niger east Senatorial District and as Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, he said he has had an amazing experience serving as a first term Senator.
“My interest in the chairmanship of our great party, the APC is another call to national service just like my current position as a Senator of the Federal Republic. You must bear in mind that as a Chairman of the APC, I can leverage on my experience here in the Senate to push the manifesto of the party to the National Assembly more efficiently. It will also give me vantage position to deliver reconciliatory leadership which the party needs now to navigate out of its present challenges,” said Musa who is committed to use his leadership of the party to reinforce and keep the towering legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Musa believes Mr. President has given the APC an ideology and presence in the international community. “President Buhari’s democratic ideals and work within the sub-region and Africa, fight against corruption and his efforts at providing security are ideals that should form the bedrock of the party’s moral philosophy. Therefore, there is a need to have a leader that will continue to give full support and attention to such progressive efforts. This is part of the reasons I feel strongly about becoming the head of APC’s administrative machinery. I want to direct great efforts at deepening democracy in Nigeria,” he said.
Driven by a clear vision of the direction in which he is taking the party, Musa has been canvassing the broad themes of his manifesto, which is encapsulated in three Rs – Reconciliation, Reorganisation and Redirection.
He explained his motivation for the National Chairmanship of the APC. “I am seeking the office of the chairman of the APC to reposition the party to win elections and take Nigeria to its pride of place in the world. I want to provide for the party leadership that will continue making Nigeria stronger, more tolerant, more prosperous and fairer by giving every member of our party equal opportunity. If found worthy to lead, I will devote my all in adhering to the goals and aspirations of the party, abide by the nation’s constitution, rule of law, the APC constitution and manifesto.”
The Niger East Senator is not at all bothered about the hue and cry concerning the crises in the APC. He sees this as an advantage because it allows people to learn from such disputes. Even if the matter ends in court, Musa still considers it an avenue for deepening the country’s democracy. It affords the judiciary the opportunity to expound and develop the law regarding issues in dispute, which serve as precedents for the future. He said further, “I don’t see how disputes will affect the convention. I do believe that once I emerge the chairman of the party, my reform agenda will address most of these challenges and reposition the party for the better.”
Sani is also of the view that the APC reconciliation committee has done enough work going round from state to state, to find solutions to all grievances either before or after the various congresses.
Although the date of the APC National Convention remains hazy, Musa is preparing as if it holds tomorrow. “I believe we are ready and we are going to have a hitch-free convention that other parties will even emulate,” he reassured.
