...Woos Shekarau to Rejoin APC
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has insisted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deserves the support of Northern Nigeria to secure a second term in 2027.
Professor Yilwatda maintained that Tinubu's unwavering support for the presidency of the late Muhammadu Buhari for eight years in office is enough justification for the North to reciprocate while citing the spirit of equity and fairness.
The APC National Chairman spoke when he led members of the ruling party on a courtesy visit to former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, at his residence in Kano.
Yilwatda explained: "Nigeria, and especially the North, is at a defining moment a moment that will affect our future as a region. We have agreed that the South should complete two terms in office. President Tinubu is about to complete his first term, and we must support him to secure a second term.
"Late President Muhammadu Buhari completed his two terms with the full support of Tinubu. It is now time for the North to reciprocate that support. We must allow Tinubu to complete his second term in office in the spirit of justice and equality. I am from the North and I will not do anything that will damage our region," Yilwatda said.
He further stated that his visit to Kano was part of efforts to realign the APC with like-minded political leaders, appealing to Shekarau to consider returning to the ruling party in the interest of unity and prosperity in Northern Nigeria.
Yilwatda asserted that Shekarau remains one of the critical figures in Kano politics and reminded him that President Tinubu would require strong support to secure Kano's votes in the 2027 election.
According to him, Nigeria needs Tinubu's administration to continue beyond 2027 in order to complete several critical infrastructure and developmental policies, particularly those affecting the North.
He added that Shekarau as a leading Northern political leader believes in the unity and future of the region regardless of ethnicity or religion, stressing that his return to the APC would help strengthen the North politically.
"We know Kano is the heart of Northern politics and the APC cannot afford to joke with it. With Malam Shekarau with us, we know we will not have any problem. Once we capture Kano, we will not have problems in Nigeria.
"We are here to ensure that Kano returns to the APC. I have come to personally appeal to you to join the APC again. As a pillar of Nigerian politics, the APC needs you to succeed in the 2027 election. We need the North to build a united front regardless of religion and ethnicity. What matters to us is unity and peace in the North," Yilwatda added.
Responding, Shekarau thanked the APC delegation for finding him worthy of recognition and for seeking his return to the ruling party. He stated that although he would need to consult with his supporters before taking a final decision on the request by the National Chairman, the history of the APC cannot be complete without his political footprint.
Shekarau also noted that the APC delegation visited at a time when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which he belongs, is facing serious internal turmoil. He added that his position would be made public in the coming days.
"It is a great honour to receive you. You have come at a time when Kano and the North are facing political uncertainty. Our party, the PDP, has been infected by a serious crisis, and because of that we have been looking for a remedy to cure the situation.
"We have been searching for alternatives and consulting widely while analysing the available political options. In the course of this search across different political parties, we are yet to reach a conclusion. However, your request will certainly be placed on the table for consideration. Iwant to assure you that you will receive our response in the coming days on whether or not we will join the APC," Shekarau said.
Prior to Professor Yilwatda's visit, the former Minister of Education and member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have reached the decision after holding separate closed-door meetings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state few days ago.
The Guardian reliably gathered that Shekarau met with President Tinubu in Lagos during the Easter break at the invitation of the President, in a strategic meeting aimed at strengthening APC's grip in Kano.
Subsequently, Shekarau also received Governor Yusuf, alongside APC Chairman, Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, and the Commissioner for Transportation, Barr. Haruna Isa Dederi, at his Kano residence Sunday evening in what appeared to be a strategic move to woo another political powerhouse into the ruling party.