All Progressives Congress (APC) groups from across the country stormed the national secretariat of the party, yesterday, with pleas for board appointments in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
They included a forum of former National Assembly members; the South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA); a coalition of APC support groups; and a forum of states’ Assembly candidates.
The lobby came against the backdrop of a decision by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. George Akume, to dissolve the boards of MDAs.
Though the groups claimed they were at the secretariat to congratulate the new national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, they did not mince words about pushing for placements in the Bola Tinubu administration.
Ibrahim Zailani, interim chairman of former House of Representatives members, sought the support of Ganduje to achieve the objective.
He said: “We may not be in the House of Representatives now, but we want to tell you that all of us have the energy, the vision, and the interest of the party at heart. So, we are offering ourselves for any party assignment.
“With this, we know, from one of us, you may have a special place for either the legislators or former members of our forum, because we saw what you did with one of our members who was your immediate past commissioner for finance.”
Babajide Akin-Thomas, who spoke on behalf of the support groups, urged Ganduje to relay their words to President Tinubu regarding board appointments for members.
A member of the group of state legislators, led by Aliyu Aliyu, called on Ganduje to come to their rescue because they had become cash-strapped, following expenses incurred during 2023 electioneering.
Meanwhile, Ganduje, at the meeting, noted that Nigeria is too big to be administered by a neophyte.
He affirmed to members SWAGA that Tinubu has the wherewithal to govern the country.
Ganduje, who did not drop the name of any presidency-seeking neophyte, buttressed his assertion by trumpeting Tinubu’s antecedents as Lagos State governor.
He applauded SWAGA members for the role they played in drumming up support for Tinubu, saying he also did not regret his support for the presidential candidate.
