APC must unite to rule for the next 50 yrs – Modu Sheriff

Tom Okpe, Abuja

A former governor of Borno State and national chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has stated that the party must come out of its slumber to rule for the next 50 years.

To attain this height, he said the party needs a strong willed man, a solid Captain that will lead the party to success especially as the election year, 2023 is fast approaching.

The Board of Trustee member, (BoT) of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples’ Party, (ANPP) and one of the founding fathers of the APC, spoke with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, revealing that he has so far, travelled round the country, intimating party leaders and elders on his ambition.

He said: “A ship has to be navigated by a knowledgeable person who knows the water and I believe I can do that for our party, if given the opportunity by party men and women who are the decision-makers. There are so many people in the field but you can look at everybody and see where you put your deposit.

“Today, as a party we are only six years in government, our aspirations are for the APC to be in government in the next 40 to 50 years, and doing that doesn’t come on a platter of gold, it requires hard work.

“I believe it is important for me to reach out to all leaders of our party; the youths, the women, different organizations to tell them that we must come together to get our party to run for the next 50 years by the grace of God. And doing that you need a rugged captain, you don’t need a captain that will capsize the Ship.

“We don’t need a structure that will collapse after a short period. So, I have been going round the country. I have not finished yet, I will travel again. I just came in last night. I have been away, traveling from one state to the other and I will continue doing that until everybody in our party is consulted.

“I meet them in their homes to sell my ambition, which is to run for the National Chairmanship of the party and I believe I can lead well.”

On his capability to unite the party before and after 2023, Senator Sheriff said; “I am bringing my experience as somebody who knows the terrain of Nigeria. I am bringing my experience as a two-term governor of a state. I will be bringing my experience as a leader of the National Assembly, who are the politicians.

“House of Assembly members, chairmen of local governments, National Assembly members, Governors.

“These are the leaders of the party. I have been in all these positions. So, I am coming to the table as someone who understands the terrain. I am coming as someone who has run political parties in different aspects. I am not a newcomer. I am not a novice. I was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, (BoT) of ANPP that formed the APC today.

“I am also, bringing to the table my knowledge of who and who worked hard to make sure, we succeed and who and who left because they were angry.

“I will go to their houses and bring them back. So, I am bringing a package that will meet the aspirations of every man and woman of this party,” he added.