The immediate past Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, has said that he believes that the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, has the ability to ensure that the party remains in power in Nigeria for 60 years or more.
Zailani made the remarks while leading a delegation of former House of Representatives members on a solidarity visit to Ganduje at the APC national headquarters in Abuja
While the former Kaduna Speaker’s remarks echo a similar statement made by the late PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, it is worth noting that Ogbulafor’s prediction did not come to pass.
Ogbulafor had made the prediction that the PDP would rule Nigeria for at least 60 years due to its progressive policies and programs, but just seven years later, the PDP government of President Goodluck Jonathan was voted out of power.
The former speaker said “We have no doubt in our mind that you (Ganduje) will lead this party to continuously forming government in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for more than 60 years. We know you can do it and we have absolute confidence that you can do it. As you can see, we are representing the country because all the six geopolitical zones are adequately represented here.
“We may not be in the House of Representatives now. But we want to tell you that all of us have the energy, the vision and the interest of the party at heart, so we are offering ourselves for any party assignments.
“With this, we know from one of us, you may have a special place for either the legislators or former members of our forum because we saw what you have done with one of our members who was your immediate past commissioner for finance. We want you to do more by possibly picking one of our ladies to work within the APC. We will continue to pray for you to show our solidarity and our support.”
On his part, Ganduje appreciated the gesture of the former lawmakers and charged them with the need to consistently execute every constituency project promised to their people, stressing that they are the dividends of democracy that people at the grassroots often identify with.
“It is your responsibility to consolidate the National Assembly, whether you are inside or outside. The psychological thing that binds you together should continue. That is why we are so happy with the legislative projects in their constituencies, even though some may ask why constituency projects. But an ordinary voter, even though your main function is to make laws and oversight functions, will like to see something on the ground.”