Governor Ahmed to APC leaders: Only Saraki can decide our next move

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said only his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki, can negotiate on behalf of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on whether they should join the All Progressive Congress or not.
Ahmed said this on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, when he received the national leaders of APC, who were in the state to invite him to join the party.
The governor is one of the seven PDP governors currently having a misunderstanding with their party.
Ahmed said though APC was a formidable party, PDP was taking necessary measures to resolve the crisis within its ranks.
He, however, said given the prevailing political structure in Kwara State, only Saraki, a serving senator, could determine the next move of the PDP members in the state.
Ahmed said the people of the state belong to a political dynasty and would not give away the structure at any cost.
“It is an existing structure for the past 40 years, with assured election winning machinery,” he said.
He, however, said the dynasty was ready to collaborate with any political party with a view to moving the nation forward.
He added: “The APC has turned itself into a formidable party.
“One can reasonably say that the leadership of the party has come to Kwara to market the party.
“But before anything else, let me tell the leaders of the APC that we have a structure called ‘Election Winning Machinery’ here in Kwara State.
“We are one big family here, under a political structure inherited by our leader, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
“He has given all of us joy and comfort that he can lead us well.
“That is why we want to see ourselves joining hands with any party with respect for internal democracy because that is where our strength lies.”
A former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had earlier called on progressive-minded Nigerians to close ranks with a view to bringing positive changes to the polity.
Tinubu said given its abundant material resources, the nation should not be suffering from high rate of unemployment and poverty.
Tinubu described the APC as a child of necessity, formed in order to save the country from its present social, political and economic problems.
Other members of the delegation included former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); APC’s Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; a former Governor of Edo State, John Oyegun; a former Governor of Benue State, George Akume; and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Maisairi.