Presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu has said that the success of the newly formed mega opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), defends on the unity of stakeholders at all levels.
Speaking to reporters in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, after picking his APC membership card at his Aliyu Mustafa College unit, Ribadu explained that the party must consolidate the goodwill and popularity it enjoys at the grassroots by ensuring unity of its leaders and other key stakeholders.
“The saying; united we stand, divided we fall is very true. If we want to accomplish our mission, we must work sincerely as a team. We must not allow any crack that our detractors can leverage on,” he said.
He therefore charged leaders of the party to put the interest of the party and Nigeria first before individual aspirations and interests, if the party was to make progress.
“At this time, the party is still at formative stage. What is expected of all of us is to come together and take this party to a higher level. Aspirations are legitimate in politics but we should not allow the party and Nigeria to suffer because of our individual interest,” he added.
According to him, as a party currently with divergent views and with eminent citizens as members, APC has grown beyond individuals to a truly democratic party where decisions are taken collectively, with the involvement of all stakeholders.
On Nigerians’ expectations on the party, Ribadu noted that APC will ensure investment in critical sectors of the socio-economy. He said, what is seen in states governed by the party will be replicated at the centre come 2015.
While advocating for support for the party, the APC chieftain called on Nigerians to come out en masse to subscribe to the party which, he said, is a way of making their voices heard when it comes to decision making.
