The ambition of senator Abubakar Girei to become the next Deputy National Chairman North of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded another milestone, Wednesday, as various organizations in the party under the auspices of coalition of APC groups endorsed his aspiration..
The ruling party has slated its national convention on March 26, 2022 and preparations for the event are on top gear.
Disclosing the rationale for the massive support the senator’s ambition is garnering, conveners of the coalition, Comrade Danesi Momoh and Prince Igwe Ude-Umanta noted that they deem it fit to support Girei for his outstanding and excellent leadership qualities.
“The leadership journey of our beloved political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been indeed a great and eventful one. The formation of APC in February 2013 was the first practical convergence of progressive politicians in Nigeria. It was faced with challenges, intrigues, suspicion, disbelief, antagonism, blackmail, propaganda and all sorts of attack.
“But like an idea in which its time came, it defeated the various political armies unleashed against it. Of course, the rest of the story is known to Nigerians.
But victory and success have their own consequences.
“APC grew from an opposition party to a governing Party for the second term. All its ranks has also grown. At formation in 2013, the party was in control of only 11 States of the Federation. Before the end of 2013, it grew to 15 States. It also must have a gained majority at the National Assembly before the 2015 General Elections, though some of the defections in the Senate Chamber was not announced.
“Indeed, the leadership of the House of Representatives fell on the APC. As at today, the party is effectively in control of the National Assembly and in charge in 22 out of the 36 States of the Federation. Indeed, this kind of geometric political growth has implications of diverse interests, issues and their occasioned intrigues.
“Consequently, the party needs at all levels, persons of impeccable leadership credentials, experience and capacity in the management of complicated situations. And as far as the issue of the APC Deputy National Chairman (North) is concerned, Distinguished Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei is unassailable in verifiable and evident credentials.
“Senator Girei’s experience span from the civil Service where he rose to a Principal Quantity Surveyor with the defunct Gongola State in 1984. In 1985, he became the Manager (Property Division) of the Nigeria Agricultural and Cooperative Bank Ltd. He also became the General Manager (Estate Department) of the same bank from 1988-1996.
“He also has experience in the private sector, having set up and ran his Consultancy Firm, Premier Association Consultants as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer between 1996-1999 when he was elected to serve the people of Adamawa Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly. He has also served, and is still serving in the Boards of several Public and Private Institutions.
“Senator Girei is highly educated and versed. He holds a Masters in Business Administration and is a chartered Quantity Surveyor, a Real Estate Developer and a Construction Management Consultant. He is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and a member of the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos where he served as the Monitor General of SEC 31.
“While in the Senate, he served as Chairman Committee on Senate Services; Vice Chairman Committee on Internal Affairs; Vice Chairman Committee on Solid Minerals; and was a member of several Committees of the Senate, including: Banking and Currency, Local and Foreign Debts, Defence (Air Force), Police Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Drugs and Financial Crimes, Transport, and the Committee on Gas.
“Indeed, Senator Girei is of the best quality of leadership that a great party like APC needs, especially in the face of the 2023 must-win General Elections. Having looked round the political terrain and atmosphere, there cannot be any better candidate for the Job of the APC Deputy National Chairman (North) other than this accomplished Nigerian, Distinguished Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei. And consequently, he has our support and prayers.
“We strongly urge our party delegates and stakeholders to return him, even by consensus,” they said.
