By Nasiru Abdullahi
The All progressive congress (APC) as a political party was founded out of the need for a Radical change in the country according to its founding members. A change that had never been more urgent due to the deplorable state of affairs and leadership at the time but to meet the challenges of that change, APC has to be formed through the merger of the three major opposition parties in Nigeria viz the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which was led by Mal. Nuhu Ribadu during the merger, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) headed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Nigeria people’s party (ANPP). This merger was achieved and the then ruling people’s Democratic Party (PDP) was ousted from power.
Six years down the line, the APC have embarked on appraisal of its journey thus far to avoid the mistake of its predecessor (PDP). Although recently the party experienced a little political turbulence which led to the dissolution of the former National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Comr. Adams Oshiomhole. In the wake of the dissolution occasioned by the crisis that beset the party sometime last year, which ensued the current caretaker/extraordinary National convention planning committee under the stewardship of His Excellency Mai Mala Buni Governor of Yobe state. Have the mandate of reconstituting party’s leadership at all levels. that is, the conduct of congresses from wards to local governments up to state level after the completion of the ongoing Registration/Revalidation exercise across the 36 states of the federation plus Abuja then finally convey a National Convention which is to hold by June this year.
While the caretaker/extraordinary National convention planning committee is preparing for this huge and tedious job, on the other hand, consultations and permutations among stakeholders and party faithful is in top gear on individuals that will best form the next National working committee (NWC) of the party. Therefore, the need for the committee to be proactive in its search and considerations for the best zoning formula for these offices, as failure to get the right candidates into the right offices could lead to even more avoidable crisis and that won’t be healthy for us. Thus, the call for a unifier and bridge-builder, someone who will galvanize all interest/blocs within the party and form a united and formidable APC especially as the 2022 primaries and subsequently the 2023 general elections draws closer.
APC members and supporters across the country have doffed their hats for the Buni-Led caretaker committee for their efforts and commitments to setting up a reconciliation committees to conciliate aggrieved members, mend fences and heal wounds among members as a result of previous crisis that engulfed the party. This initiative have actually started yielding positive result in setting the party on a turbulence-free track for more progress and service to Nigerians.
However, many would wish to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Caretaker committee, critical Party leaders and stakeholders at all levels on a very pertinent and fundamental area of concern for the considerations of all i.e the zoning of the office of the National Chairman. Many are calling for the committee to uphold the principle of justice, equity and fairness and also respect the free merger agreement reached by those behind the formation of the APC in 2013. As this is key to sustaining a lasting peace, unity and building a better APC.
As the caretaker begins the search and permutation for the right and most appropriate zones to produce the next Presidential, Vice president, National chairman and other National Executive positions, we are appealing that the Convention Planning committee should be very objective and critical in their disposition during this period especially in its considerations as to where the National chairmanship position should be zoned to and individuals to be considered for it. Because this is a very critical area of concern for many, which if not properly and carefully handled may take us back to square one on the reconciliation efforts and success recorded thus far.
As for the office of the president, we believe the party would be fair in-line with the free merger agreement as recently harped upon by President Muhammadu Buhari at the party’s 2020 NEC meetings in December. However, the position of the National chairman is still a contentious issue where almost all the zones are agitating for it to be zoned to them with some arguing that it doesn’t matter even if the office of the president is in the same zone as the National Chairman. Now many concerned and committed APC member who loves to see our party thrive and maintain power for decades to come, would rather that the committee makes its consideration a bit beyond just the conventional North/South zoning but also pay attention to other key factors that will appear even more appealing and justifiable to majority if not all. In view of the above, we believe to get an ideal zoning formula for the office of the National Chairman, the Caretaker Committee should consider the third bloc (CPC) of the three major merger parties (ACN, ANPP & CPC) and zone exclusively to the CPC bloc. Below is a simple analogy to justify my position which actually represent the interest and position of many.
My Analogy: Please permit me to take you back to February 2013 when the APC  was formed by the then three major opposition parties (ACN,CPC & ANPP) the APC had Chief Bisi Akande as its interim chairman at formation who was from the ACN bloc and later at the first APC convention in June 2014, John Odigie Oyegen became the first National chairman who was from the ANPP bloc from the southern zone and the July 2018 convention brought in Comrade Adams  Oshiomhole from the (ACN) bloc whose tenure was truncated by the court of appeal sometime June 2020. Then came the current leadership of His Excellency Mai Mala Buni of the ANPP bloc again though on a caretaker capacity and his mandate ending by June 2021 after ushering in the 3rd National Working committee (NWC) at the forthcoming June 2021 convention.
In the Final Analysis: it is evidence from the record above that two blocs (ANPP & ACN) out of the three major blocs have produced the National chairman leaving the third and last bloc (CPC) yet to enjoy same privilege. Therefore, it is only fair to say that in the interest of justice, equity and fairness the office of the National chairman be zoned to the North and exclusively for the CPC bloc who have not occupy the office before. Many believes doing so will not only strengthen the structure of the party but will further heal more wounds and build greater trust among members and interest in the party across the country. If the caretaker committee heed to our plea and puts this into consideration, which we believe it would, it will help a great deal in settling any issue or bottleneck in the zoning of the office of the National chairman of the party.
May I crave the indulgence of His Excellency the Caretaker chairman of our great party to recall that recently he re-affirmed his commitment to leading the process of political change in Nigeria which is already manifest in his approach and commitment to strengthening the party structure and creating a new atmosphere of hope for the APC in the country. A position President Muhammadu Buhari himself confirmed and supported in the NEC meeting held in December 2020, hence the need to sustain this feat and policy thrust. But this can only be possible if the right person with the right leadership qualities and political prowess emerges as the National chairman at the June 2021 convention.
So, while the committee is putting up its criteria for consideration on who should fill up the position, we are appealing that the committee gives the CPC bloc a serious consideration it deserves to produce the next National chairman. And evidently party fateful across the three major blocs are already making this task easy for the committee in the choice of the best candidate within the CPC bloc to be the next APC National Chairman come June 2021.
The recent honing-in on Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura for the position of National chairman of APC is apparently incontestable especially in the media space. The former Governor of Nasarawa state is truly a Nationalist and appears to be at peace with all across board. Al-Makura is that unifier and bridge-builder APC as a party needs to run its affairs especially as we prepare towards the 2023 general election.
A brief X-ray of the man Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and why APC members across board are zeroing-in on him as the best choice for the office of the National chairman;
1. Sen. Al-Makura though a native of Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa state North Central Nigeria but has always lived a global citizen. His identity transcends political and geographical borders with friends and allies across Nigeria and beyond which will be instrumental in winning more people into the APC.
2. Sen Al-Makura’s political leadership and experience is rooted to the days of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) where he was the youth leader in the old Plateau State, present day Nasarawa and plateau State and he served the party diligently and actively.
3. Sen. Al-Makura’s antecedent and leadership style has always been his bull’s eyes which consequently clinched him the chance to represent his people at the constitution assembly from 1988-89 as member representing Lafia/obi federal constituency.
4. He has also been a party man since the build up to the third republic where he served as the State Secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the then Plateau State from 1990 to 1992.
5. Prior to the return of democracy in 1999, Sen. Al-Makura was part of the founding members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State in the year 1998, and was a member of the party until 2011 when he embraces a new party the CPC formed by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and subsequently brought it to the people of Nasarawa state.
6. Sen Al-Makura was elected the first and only Governor under the platform of the defunct CPC as well as the second Governor to defeat an incumbent Governor through election not tribunal in Nigeria after Mallam Shekarau of Kano state.
7. He plays politics of inclusiveness devoid of sentiment of any sort whether religious, ethnic or otherwise.
8. While he was the Governor of Nasarawa state, Sen. Al-Makura was a leading champion of Accountability, transparency and Good Governance even among his Governors’ colleagues. And that’s why political analyst and Nigerians referred to Nasarawa State Under his stewardship as the political Laboratory of President Muhammadu Buhari and this is due to his strict adherence to accountability, rule of law, fear of God, prudent management of public resources and transparency. These were the attributes and guiding principles Sen. Al-Makura upheld to ensure he delivered a true and holistic dividends of democracy to the people of Nasarawa State.
9. Sen. Al-Makura’s policies and actions has always been in consonance with the values and ideas that has become the distinguishing characteristics of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR.
10. Under the leadership of this pragmatic and visionary leader, Nasarawa State was rated and ranked among the top three states in Nigeria with high fiscal discipline by the famous and renewed Transparency. 
Nasarawa State experienced unprecedented development under Sen. Al-Makura administration as Governor since the inception of democracy in Nasarawa state. His performance and the visibility of Good Governance earned him several awards among which were;
• “Most transparent Governor in Nigeria 2014” conferred by foundation for transparency and accountability.
• “politician of the year 2014” by leadership Newspaper, for rising above nine impeachment attempt and returning peace to a volatile and highly combustible Nasarawa State.
• “Under the leadership of this pragmatic and visionary leader, Nasarawa State was rated and ranked among the top three states in the country with high fiscal discipline by the famous and renewed Transparency”.
• He was also recognized as the Ambassador of people living with disabilities in Nigeria among others.
Honesty is a virtue every well-meaning individual would like to have but not everyone have the doggedness, perseverance and enduring spirit to overcome the challenges that comes with it. Sen. Al-Makura has really proven to be a man of virtue, patience and impeccable character. He’s always been all things to all people, playing politics of inclusiveness that knows no boundaries regardless of religion, tribal or disabilities which has always made him stay on course, steadfast and committed to his beliefs, in spite of any distractions from either adversaries or opposition. Sen. Al-Makura is indeed a great and humble leader and that unifier and bridge-builder we all need as the next National Chairman of our great party the APC.
Finally, I wish to use this opportunity to commend the leader of our great party and President of the federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari for that bold step he took in revamping the party and setting it on the right track and to re-affirm our unalloyed loyalty to his administration as well as call on his attention to this noble plea. I wish to equally call on the attention of the caretaker committee, stakeholders and supporters across the country to give the CPC and Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura the consideration they deserve in the upcoming June 2021 APC convention for a secured future of our great party the APC.

Nasiru Abdullahiwrites in fromAwe LGAthe salt city of Nigeria…
Nasgroup2019@gmail.com