Atiku: It’s time for APC leaders to shift ground

Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president of Nigeria, has urged leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to shift from extreme positions to a centrist one in the interest of the party and the nation.

Atiku, who said he will be absent at the meeting of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) in Abuja on Friday, expressed regrets that the party is “torn apart at a time more energy are needed to attend to the objectives of the change agenda for which it was voted into power”.

He advised the leadership of the party to focus on resolving the crisis in order not to allow the opposition party take advantage of the situation.

“We can resolve our differences when our leaders individually and collectively shift ground from extreme positions and move to the centre in the interest of our party and our country,” read a statement issued on his behalf by his media office.

“Atiku, who is unavoidably outside the country to perform Lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia, said that he is deeply concerned that, soon after capturing power, the APC is torn apart at a time more energy are needed to attend to the objectives of the change agenda for which it was voted into power.

“It is high time the party overcame its current crisis of confidence arising from the national assembly election of principal officers. The current blame games targeted at individuals is an unnecessary diversion of energies at the expense of the urgency of the mission of the party to make life better for Nigerians.

“The vilification of individual party leaders and members in the face of challenges facing the country is painful to him. The party should learn the lessons and move ahead.”

He advised the party leaders not to allow people of bad faith to fuel division and acrimony among the party, saying all positive energies should be directed towards sustaining the morale of the voters who look forward to the APC to make their lives better.

“He reminded party leaders that any division could be exploited at the expense of the party. He extended his goodwill to the party for successful deliberations and assured the party of continued support and loyalty at all times.”