Nigeria’s senate President, Ahmed Lawan has said that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC will face serious challenges when President Muhammadu Buhari leaves in 2023.
Lawan, in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, revealed that the party still has a lot to do.
Lawan gave the warning on Monday night in a speech delivered to close the First Progressives Youth Conference 2021 which held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. According to him, the party must begin to plan ahead to sustain the goodwill and legacies of the present administration by ensuring that its leaders hand over power to competent youths in the All Progressives Congress.
He noted that by doing so, the party would be able to retain its appeal and nationalistic outlook beyond the 2023 general elections. He said, “Whether we like it or not, the truth is, President Muhammadu Buhari remains the person with the bulk of the support we get across this country in APC.
“[And] when he leaves, he would still have some roles, but I daresay that it is after he leaves office that APC will face its challenge. Yes, we have to know our value then, and the value of APC presently is APC minus President Muhammadu Buhari. Whatever it is, that is the value of APC.”
“So, we need to do a lot to build this party, and we need our youths more than ever before for them to continue with this legacy that this administration has established all over the country.”
“That means we have to see our selves as brothers and sisters regardless of where we come from.”
The Senate President added that, “our tribe or even ethnic group, our religious persuasion should not matter when it comes to uniting this country.
“[And] as APC, the onus is on us to provide security and an economy that will bring growth and development to give people the kind of life that is meaningful. We can ask others to join us, but we are the ones to do it, so we need all hands on deck.”
