Worried by the future of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after President Muhammadu Buhari’s exit in 2023, a senior party member and former Minister says the 2023 polls may be a death-knell for the party.
“If the party fails to put its house in order, it may find it difficult to get votes in the 2023 elections,” said Buhari’s close ally and ex-Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu.
He barred his mind in Osogbo while featuring on a programme, entitled: ‘The Frontliners”, organized by the Association of Veteran Journalists in Osun State.
Persecondnews recalls that Shittu had moved from Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) with his principal in a mega parties’ merger that gave birth to the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of 2015 polls.
Attributing Buhari’s victories in 2015 and 2019 to what he called his “vote-catching magnet”, Shittu pointed out:” Buhari got over 15 million votes and that is because he is on the ballot.
“From the North alone, he got over 12 million votes on each occasion.
“If the APC is not careful and put its house in order, where will the votes come in 2023 if the magnet of Buhari is no more on the ballot?”On the rumoured third term agenda of Buhari, Shittu described as idiotic the insinuations that the President would be seeking a third term in 2023.
“Buhari is the most selfless leader Nigeria ever had. This is one President who when elected slashed his salary by 50 per cent.
“As we also know, his lifestyle for the past 20 years has not changed. He is not flamboyant. What he is looking for is a good legacy,” the Oyo State APC chieftain said.
He recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo failed seeking a tenure elongation in the twilight of his administration in 2007 after a two-term tenure.
“Obasanjo failed when he attempted it (third term); so you think a less ambitious person would now be the one to do that?
“It will not happen, so I think it is not a matter we should focus on. It is a waste of time,” Shittu said.
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