APC Can Remain In Power For 40 Years If It Gets A Rugged National Chairman — Sheriff

Former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu-Sheriff, says that the All Progressive Congress will require a rugged captain as national chairman in order to steer the ship for the party to achieve its dream of holding onto power for 30 to 40 years.

Sheriff, who is aspiring to lead the party if the chairmanship position is zoned to the North-East, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

He explained that he has started consultations with party leaders across the country on the need to reposition the party to brace itself for the challenges of convincing Nigerians to keep faith with it after the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), might have completed his term by 2023.

Sheriff said, “Today, as a party, we are only six years in government. Our aspirations are for the APC to be in government in the next 30 to 40 years. Doing that doesn’t come on the platter of gold; we need to put in hard work.

“Therefore, I believe it is important for me to reach out to all leaders of our party; the youths, the women, different organizations to tell them that we must come together to get our party to run for the next 30, 40, 50 years by the grace of God. And doing that you need a rugged captain; you don’t need a captain that will capsize.

“A ship has to be navigated by a knowledgeable person who knows the water and I believe I can do that for our party if given the opportunity by party men and women who are the decision-makers. There are so many people in the field but you can look at everybody and see where you can put your deposit.

“We don’t want a bank that will collapse after a short period. So, I have been going around the country. After you leave now, I will travel again. I just came in last night.

“I have been away, traveling from one state to the other and I will continue doing that until everybody in our party is consulted. I meet them in their homes to say that, yes, I want to run for the National Chairmanship of this party and I believe I can lead us well because party politics is different.”

PUNCH