TheCable

George Akume, minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, says the race for the national chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should not be a do-or-die affair.

Speaking on Thursday when he received members of the Middlebelt Youth Vanguard in Abuja, Akume said his major concern is for the APC national chairmanship to be zoned to the north-central.

He said APC members in the north-central have shown that whoever emerges as the party’s national chairmanship candidate from the zone will get everyone’s support.

“We are still going on with our state congresses. After that, it will be the national convention. Our prayer is that let this position be zoned to the north-central,” Akume said.

“I have not declared, but after appropriate consultations and the zoning, we will do the needful. When that occasion arises, I will be depending on you. Whoever gets your support is close to getting the victory.

“Also, in our zone, we are all committed that whoever emerges will get the support of all of us. It is not a do-or-die affair.”

Speaking on efforts of the present administration, the minister said President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated his commitment to youth development by signing the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law.

He asked youths to continue to project things that unite the country, adding that Nigeria is better off as one nation.

In his remarks, Prince Miaphen, president of the group, said Akume was endorsed as the group’s preferred candidate for the position of APC national chairman at its last executive council meeting in Plateau.

“We are here today to tell you that the Middlebelt Youth Vanguard is adopting you as our candidate for APC national chairman 2021,” he said.

“Having considered the characters and positions of all aspirants from the north-central and other geo-political zones, we said it would be proper and most appropriate for us to zero-in on one person that will better represent us as a region.

“The person that has the connection beyond the region that can deliver for APC in the 2023 general election is Akume.”