The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North-West and its stakeholders at the weekend praised the performance of the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it has given additional peace of mind to Buhari while on leave.

According to its National Vice-Chairman, Alhaji Inuwa Abdul-Kadir, at its Consultative meeting in Gusau, Zamfara State, “His Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has smoothly and successfully stepped in to maintain the tempo and direction of governance in the unavoidable absence of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The Acting President has marshalled the team spirit and high morale of the Presidency and the Federal Executive Council to ensure that the machinery of government remains geared towards delivering good governance in the national interest.”

Abdul-Kadir added: “This is an attestation not only to the competency and capacity of the Vice President to provide the needed leadership but also a demonstration of the dependability and stability of the Presidency under the APC. There is no doubt that the performance of the Acting President must have given President Buhari additional peace of mind while on leave. On behalf of the North-West Zonal leadership of the APC, I hereby commend the Acting President for taking up the national assignment with impressive maturity, statesmanship and conviction to the satisfaction of all Nigerians.”

Abdul-Kadir, who holds a prestigious traditional title of Magatakarda Babba of Sokoto Emirate Council, explained that the main purpose of the meeting was “to interact with the state chapters in the zone for the purpose of maintaining close and regular contact with stakeholders and party leaders.

“This is necessary for the general membership and the leaders of the party in the state to be adequately informed and sensitized on issues and development of interest or concern pertaining to the progress of the APC at state, zonal and national levels of the party,” he said.

Referring to the historic victory of APC in the 2015 general elections, Abdul-Kadir, a former Attorney-General of Sokoto State urged the members to continue to “provide the required solidarity and robust political back up to strengthen the resolve and ensure greater success in line with APC Change Agenda for national rebirth.”

Expressing his gratitude to the host Governor, Ahaji Abdulaziz Yari for hosting the zonal stakeholders meeting, he enjoined party members to “put the party interest above any other objective so that APC can wax stronger and build upon rather than erode the phenomenal landslide election support base it won in 2015 and still retains. Leaders and members should devote more energy to promoting the party and expanding its popular mandate by projecting its remarkable achievements that are manifesting steadily despite resistance of enemies of national progress. People need to be enlightened on the reality that change can only be gradual when dealing with entrenched habitual bad governance, corruption that fights back and adverse external economic factors.”

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