Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on Tuesday charged the
national leadership of the newly-registered political party, the
Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) to learn from the mistakes of
existing political parties in the nation in order to take Nigeria out of
the woods.
Specifically, Babangida who gave this charge while playing host to APDA
delegation led by its National Chairman, Malam Shitu Mohhammed, who paid
him a courtesy visit at his Minna residence while saying that the destiny
of the nation now lies in their hands, equally urged them to use the
party’s platform to preach unity and peace in the country stressing that
these are what the nation needed now to thrive.
A statement issued by Mr Kolawole Olabisi, Media Adviser to the National
Chairman, quoted the former president as saying that the APDA represents
a fresh breath and has the capability to take the nation to greater
heights if it learn from the mistakes of existing parties and chart a
fresh course for the nation.
While also advising the leadership of the APDA to use the party as a
platform to preach peace and unity, President Babangida insisted that the
message of peace was important at this trying moment in the country.
“Let me first and foremost congratulate you on your recent registration by
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), your party is a
beacon of hope for Nigeria. I want to enjoin you to know that the destiny
of Nigeria is in your hands and you cannot afford to let the people down.
You must learn from the mistakes of other existing political parties and
charts fresh course for Nigeria.
“I also want you to use the APDA as a veritable vehicle for preaching of
peace, unity and oneness of the nation. You must endeavour to use the
party’s platform to preach peace and unity in Nigeria. The country is in a
trying moment and what we need is message of peace. You must at all times
promote the peace and unity of the country,’’ Babangida advised.
While ensuring that he would be available at all times to provide advice
and guidance whenever needed by the APDA’s leadership, Gen. Babangida
enthused that he was sure the party was in good hands given the calibre of
the leadership of the party.
Earlier in his address, Shitu had informed the former President that the
reason for the visit was to intimate him with the new political party and
its manifestos and to seek his prayers as a former head of state.
He revealed that part of APDA’s manifesto’s cardinal point was to
restructure Nigeria when it takes over power in the 2019 Presidential
Election adding that the party would as a matter of importance give the
hitherto disillusioned Nigeria youths, the less privileged and the
womenfolks a new sense of belonging in the Nigerian project and make life
more meaningful for Nigerians as a whole.