By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna
Faced with a bleak, uncertain future, as the times draw near towards the 2019 general elections, the leadership of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Niger State Friday summoned an emergency “crucial meeting” in Minna, the state capital to restratigize, rearrange and reposition it’s wobbling house.
Though the state Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has for two weeks been out of the country, the meeting was nonetheless held at the instance of the leadership of the party with the Acting Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso in attendance.
The meeting which lasted for about two hours, was held behind closed doors with party stalwarts buried in brainstorming to save the soul of the party from a possible loss of sympathy, support and patronage by the voting population in the state.
The APC, had enjoyed a massive support and influx of people prelude to the 2015 general elections as most people ditched the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party over it’s mismanagement of it’s years of electoral victory to pitch tent with the APC which led to it’s sweeping victory at the 2015 polls.
But the party appears to have lost it’s colour and comportment in managing it’s victory even before it settle down to savour it’s electoral victory.
The reason for the “crucial meeting” our correspondent gathered must have been informed by the falling walls of the party in the state where most of it’s ranks have been disenchanted by developments within the party which has been accused of “use and dump tactics” by it’s leadership and powers that be.
Acting Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso who presided over the meeting, told press men at the end of the meeting that the meeting was to “strengthen the party”.
He said the ruling party was determined to forge the state forward in all spheres of growth even as he sued for support to the administration in the state from citizens across the state.
“We are working to ensure that the state is moved forward. That is why we are meeting to refocus the party, to realign our strategies for achieving our set goals” he said.
Though Ketso did not say if the meeting was called as part of plans for the next general elections in the state, feelers from within the members of the party at the meeting told our correspondent that the party was worried about it’s present state and future outtings.
The ruling party in the state has been accused by citizens of not doing anything reasonable in it’s near two years in power. The state Water board for instance has not been able to fix the infrastructural decay at the state Water Works in the state capital.
Apart from fixing interlocking tiles on the major highway that ran through Minna, the APC led administration has dismantled most structures at road roundabouts in Minna and has not fix them back months after the edifices were hacked down.
The administration has also awarded contracts for fixing reflector lights in the middle of the major roads where other township roads in the state capital are begging for repairs and reconstruction.
But state Chairman of the party, Engr. Mohammed Imam who also spoke to journalists shortly after the meeting, said the meeting was to move the party to greater heights.
Imam assured citizens in the state of good governance under the APC led administration. While appealing for continued support and understanding, the party Chairman said the doors of the party were wide open.
He said the leadership of the party would continue to consult widely with stakeholders even as it seeks the minds of citizens on issues as a people oriented party.
