From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
A chieftain of the All progressives Congress (APC) and Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Moh. Lukman, has advocated sacrificing zoning arrangement in electing the national leadership of the party.
He spoke at a Stakeholders workshop, organised by APC Rebirth on Tuesday in Abuja, suggested that party leaders must dialogue and look at members across the country, arguing that days are gone when political offices are thrown opened for all candidates to emerge.
“I tell you there are five critical position from our last experience. We need to be very clear about that. The two Deputy National chairmen, any one of them has to be ready to assume the position of National Chairman. National Secretary, first, National secretary very fundamental. We need a competent Secretary, because within a competent Secretary, the bureaucracy of the party will be weak.
“I don’t believe in the zoning put in place by PDP over the years… What I called blind trust, give people responsibility based on trust and that will not take us anywhere. I think is high time we start raising issues and with due respect to people who are aspiring for the position of National Chairman, I know virtually all of them (they know what do).
“My preference would be that leaders have to sit down and look at members they have across the country. I tell you there are five critical position from our last experience. We need to be very clear about that. The two Deputy National chairmen, any one of them has to be ready to assume the position of National Chairman. National Secretary, first, National secretary very fundamental. We need a competent Secretary, because within a competent Secretary, the bureaucracy of the party will be weak.
“Therefore, we must appeal to our leaders, instead of doing this blind approach to zoning, search for very competent people. Part of the problem where it is almost impossible is because of the fundamental issue; our leaders want people who are loyal to them that can guarantee their emergence as candidates at different levels.
“But we need to remind our leaders that experience suffered from 1999 to date has indicated that that never guarantee political safety,” he stated.