Kaduna State All Progressives Congress (APC) Consensus Aspirants Forum has pledged to deploy its political structures for grassroots mobilisation and to secure victory for Tinubu, Uba Sani and other APC candidates in the state in 2027 election.
The forum made the pledge on Sunday at a press conference in Kaduna, saying its decision to accept the consensus arrangement was aimed at strengthening party unity and advancing the collective interest of the APC.
Mr Godwin Luka, Chairman of the forum, said the members had willingly stepped aside to allow other party members to emerge as APC flag bearers.
Luka said the aspirants had resolved to transform their political structures into a grassroots mobilisation force operating from the polling-unit level to wards, local governments and the state.
He said the forum’s commitment to the APC was driven not only by party loyalty but also by what it described as the performance of the Tinubu and Uba Sani administrations.
According to him, the forum was encouraged by ongoing infrastructure projects and other interventions being implemented by the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He cited ongoing work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road and the Sokoto-Badagry corridor, as well as interventions in education and other sectors.
Luka also commended the Kaduna State Government for various development projects across the state.
He said the administration had initiated road projects across the 23 Local Government Areas, while also undertaking interventions in primary healthcare, education and agriculture.
The chairman listed the upgrade of primary healthcare centres, establishment of Centres of Excellence and completion of a 300-bed specialist hospital among projects the forum considered significant.
He also cited the construction and renovation of classrooms, recruitment of teachers and establishment of new secondary schools as evidence of government interventions in education.
According to him, the distribution of fertiliser and provision of tractors to smallholder farmers were also helping to extend government interventions to rural communities.
“This is performance we can see, and performance compels us to work,” Luka said.
He said the forum would embark on strategic top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top mobilisation involving unit-to-unit consultations, ward-to-ward engagements and direct interaction with communities.
Luka urged APC members to remain united and avoid internal divisions, stressing that discipline, reconciliation and effective grassroots organisation would be critical to the party’s success in 2027.
He called on Nigerians to support the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the forum believed the policies of the Tinubu administration and development initiatives of the Uba Sani government were delivering benefits to the people.
He said the aspirants’ acceptance of the consensus arrangement should not be viewed as the end of their political aspirations, but as the beginning of a broader responsibility to contribute to the party’s electoral success.
“Our decision to accept consensus was not the end of our political journey. It was the beginning of a greater responsibility — to turn our unity into electoral strength,” he said.(NAN)

From Emeka Ngwaogu (Owerri)

Former member of the Birth East Development Commission, Theodore Okwu Ekechi, has described vice president Kashim Shetimma as a distinguished statement who has remained focused of the unity and prosperity of Nigeria in his political and social engagements

Ekechi, marketing and media practitioner, who felicitated with the vice president on the occasion of his 60th birthday, expressing gratitude to Almighty God for granting the him the privilege of another eventful year.

The Ngor Okpala born former commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo state, in a congratulatory message extolled the virtues of the nice president as a distinguished statesman whose years of service and commitment to the development of Nigeria remain worthy of commendation.

He congratulated the Vice President on attaining another milestone in life while thanking God for His faithfulness, protection, sound health, and continued guidance upon the nation’s number two citizen.

Ekechi further noted that the former governor of Borno state  has continued to demonstrate diligence, loyalty, statesmanship, and a strong sense of responsibility in the discharge of his constitutional responsibilities.

“As we celebrate you today,  your experience and contributions to national development have continued to attract recognition, your leadership is anchored on service, commitment, and dedication to the nation’s progress,” Ekechi wrote in his congratulatory message, assuring him of his continued goodwill and prayers,He prayed the Almighty God to continue to grant vice president Shettima wisdom, strength, sound health, protection, and longevity to enable him contribute further to the peace, unity, stability, and prosperity of Nigeria.

Nigeria has facilitated the safe and dignified return of former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma to the country, following more than two years of temporary relocation to Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who accompanied Koroma to Freetown on the instruction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said his return marked the successful conclusion of a regional diplomatic and confidence-building process.

She said Koroma’s relocation to Nigeria in January 2024 followed engagements by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at promoting peace, stability and political understanding in Sierra Leone.

According to her, the process helped create conditions for greater understanding between President Julius Maada Bio and the former president, paving the way for Koroma’s temporary stay in Nigeria.

“His conduct throughout this period reflected restraint, statesmanship, and commitment to a peaceful outcome,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

The minister noted that during his stay in Nigeria, sustained engagements involving ECOWAS, the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders contributed to resolving issues that had necessitated his relocation.

She expressed appreciation to President Bio, former President Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone for their cooperation and commitment to peace.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria remained committed to regional harmony, constitutional order and democratic stability, expressing confidence that Koroma’s return would further strengthen national reconciliation and peace in Sierra Leone.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo also joined the Minister in escorting Koroma back to Freetown.