APC govs, Abbas, others parley to deepen democracy

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, are to explore ways to strengthen democratic rule in Nigeria.

The symposium holds tomorrow as part of activities to mark the first anniversary of the inauguration of Ganduje and Senator Ajibola Basiru as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ruling party.

The gathering would also bring together serving and non-serving governors, members of the National Assembly to be led by Barau, cabinet members, APC leaders across the states and major support groups.

A statement yesterday in Abuja, by the Coordinator of the National Progressives Hub (NPH), Bukky Okangbe, explained that the forum would provide an opportunity to proffer solutions to strengthening party administration and deepening democracy and democratic ethos.

He said recommendations from the symposium would be forwarded to the party’s newly established Progressive Institute as part of the NPH’s contributions towards strengthening the nation’s fledgling democracy.

Okangbe disclosed that the Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies, Baze University, Abuja, and political commentator, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, will be presenting a keynote address titled, ‘Political Party Leadership in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.’

Other eminent Nigerians and leaders of the party scheduled to discuss the paper include the former Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and foundation member of the party, Osita Okechukwu, erstwhile National Secretary of the party, Waziri Bulama and APC Cross River State Chairman and Secretary of the Forum of APC State Chairmen, Alphonsus Eba Ogar.

He added that Senator Barau would chair the occasion, while Speaker Abbas, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Kabir Bichi and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, are Special Guests of Honour. Ganduje, he noted, is the Chief Host, while coordinating state governors and top party leaders are to give goodwill messages.