January 29, (THEWILL) – Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has charged the APC Professional Forum to play stronger roles in tackling the nation’s economic challenges.
The Vice president, according to a release issued on Saturday by his Media Assistant, Laolu Akande, gave the charge, when he played host to a delegation of the APC Professionals Forum at State House, Abuja.
Osinbajo reiterated that the Buhari administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remain committed to the welfare of the common man and urged the Forum to play more important roles in shaping the party’s ideology.
He disclosed that this is why the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has put in place, the Social Investment Programmes, the largest of its kind in the continent, and several of such other programmes that emphasise how serious we take the lot of the common man.
Osinbajo said the party has made an impact and is determined to improve the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“This is a party of the common man, a party of the people, a party that takes as its cradle the importance of ensuring that the common man benefits maximally from the government”, he said.
According to him, “We are the ruling party in Africa’s largest democracy, which by itself is a phenomenal achievement for such a young party.
“But you’ll find that in the particular ideological direction of our party, it’s one that it was clear to the original founders of the party, the initial persons and groups that came together to form the party and they came from different parties, but it was to present a left of centre, a social democratic alternative to the ruling party.”
Osinbajo further stated that the APC is determined to ensure the country’s further growth and development, noting that the party “carries with it, the hopes and expectations of millions of Nigerians”.
“The party is not a mere platform for running for political offices, it carries with it the hopes and expectations of millions of Nigerians and we must make it a place where they are comfortable, a place where they feel this belongs to us. We can even put our resources into it; it is not just for politicians; it is for us all.”
The Vice President posited that leaders and politicians are there to serve the people and give them reasons to believe in a better country.
“Our people, the Nigerian people, need hope; they need to be able to believe in the politicians; they need to be able to believe in their leaders and if the leaders are within the political party, that political party must have an ideology that is attractive to them, that makes them feel wanted, that makes them feel cared for and I think that role is so crucial.
“It is the role this Professional Forum must take on itself. And what it entails aside from that logical objective of the forum; what it entails is actually defining in writing in various ways what our party stands for.”
Acknowledging the significance of the APC Professionals Forum in the scheme of things, the Vice President urged the Forum to play more important roles in shaping the party’s ideology.
“There are many people that say well, we have not done this, we have not done that. There are so many ways of looking at it, but the truth of the matter is that the party was committed and is seen across the country as a party of the common man, which is why I think the role of the Professionals Forum is particularly important because we are trying to shape the ideology of the party”, he said.
He noted that professionals are integral to ensuring the party stays focused on the wellbeing of Nigerians and its ideals, as stated in the Constitution and Manifesto respectively.
According to him, “if the professionals cannot do that, then our party becomes all comers, anything goes so long as we have a platform to run for political office. But I think that we, especially professionals, have a unique advantage.
“We have many who have run their businesses, who have professional organisations or who have excelled in their own professions and we know that the only way to do things properly is if we are able to press on without relenting.”
Osinbajo therefore, charged the APC Professionals Forum to also carry the hopes and expectations of millions of the party’s supporters nationwide.
He also believes that the Forum, made up of professional elites, will be of great benefit to the party and Nigeria because of its leadership and quality of professionals on its board of trustees and as members, who he noted “are not just politicians, but people who have distinguished themselves” in their respective fields.
“I think our party will rely a great deal on this forum and I hope and pray that the Forum will realise all of its objectives, including the extra ones that our party must place upon you, especially at this time in the life and history of our dear country,” he said.
In his remarks, former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, who is the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Forum noted that professionals in the party felt the need to identify with the Vice President being himself a professional. He invited the Vice President to the Forum’s upcoming event in Abuja next week.
The Forum’s delegation also included Deputy Chairman, Board of Trustees, and former APC National Secretary, Waziri Bulama; Board of Trustees Secretary, Dapo Akinosun, and the National Coordinator, Akeem Akintayo.
