As DGs of agencies complain over exclusion •Promises Tinubu 10 million votes
•Every appointee must ensure our victory —APC national chairman
The Directors-General of Agencies and Parastatals of Government (MDAs) on Wednesday kicked against the composition of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC).
The DGs expressed concern over their exclusion at a meeting with the ruling party’s national chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
The Director-General of National Board of Technology Innovation, Dr Kazeem Raji, led his colleagues to the meeting under the platform, Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals.
The Forum, which recalled that they played a strategic role in galvanising support for President Bola Tinubu in the last general elections, told Professor Yilwatda that they have since been sidelined ahead of the next January Presidential election.
The Director-General, National Institute of Cultural Orientation, Otunba Biodun Ajiboye, who described the forum as Independent Campaign Council, maintained that they have been left in the cold in the composition of the PCC that would drive the campaigns of President Tinubu.
Chief Ajiboye noted that the PCC “needs a supplementary and complementary platform to mobilise in media management and election management. That’s what we are here to offer you, and we think we can work together.”
Earlier in his presentation, Dr Raji, who is the Forum Chairman, described it as a composition of core politicians with capacity for grassroots mobilisation.
“Yes, we are technocrats but grassroots politicians. We are professionals in politics. We are public sector leaders who are passionate about Nigeria’s development,” Raji said.
He declared that his group will deliver 10 million votes to Tinubu.
Professor Yilwatda tasked members of the Forum to ensure a fresh mandate for President Tinubu to justify their individual appointments.
He said: “For every one of us serving in public office today, there are countless other Nigerians who possess the qualifications and competence to occupy the same positions. The opportunity we have today is therefore a privilege, and we must justify that privilege through service, performance and loyalty to the mandate entrusted to us.”
To sell Tinubu to Nigerian electorate, the APC Chairman urged them to communicate his achievements to Nigerians.
“That is why forums such as yours are important. Through your agencies, you are implementing programmes that directly impact citizens. You understand the projects, the policies and the outcomes. You therefore have a responsibility to help bridge the information gap between government
and the people,” he added.
