Al-Makura, Not Malami is Our Leader, Defunct CPC National Assembly Members Asserts

•Lament marginalisation, insist Malami has zero political value

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Forum of former members of the 7th National Assembly under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), has declared that former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, remained the leader of the CPC bloc with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and not the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN).

Chairman of the forum, Hon. Basiru Ila, made the declaration while reading the communique at a press conference yesterday in Abuja.

Those in attendance were Senator Ibrahim Musa, Hon. Sanusi Aliyu, Hon. Mohammed Tukur, Senator Ahmed Sani, Hon.  Ibrahim Chachangi, Hon. Yusuf Bala, and the National Vice Chairman, North west, Hon. Garuba Datti.

Ila explained that the CPC, which commanded the loyalty and support of over 12 million Nigerians, particularly in Northern Nigeria during the 2011 elections, was a formidable political movement built on the principles of progressive change, integrity, and the aspirations of the Nigerian people.

He added that following the merger that formed the APC in 2013, the CPC ceased to exist as a political entity.

“It is also pertinent to emphasise that the CPC, having produced only one governor in the federation – Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Governor of Nasarawa State – this body of duly elected members of the 7th National Assembly recognises him as our leader.

“This forum will work with him to ensure that what we worked hard and sacrificed so much for this party, our party, the ruling party, our APC – succeeds in delivering, beyond expectations, the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, which were the instruments that led to the merger in the first place.”

Ila called on all Nigerians, particularly the supporters of the CPC in Northern Nigeria and beyond, to disregard any unauthorised statements, actions, or representations made in the name of the CPC.

He noted that, “It has come to our attention that certain individuals, groups and entities who had no electoral value during the heyday of the CPC have falsely claimed to speak for or represent the CPC, purporting to act on behalf of its legacy and its millions of supporters.

“We categorically declare that no person, group of persons, or entity has the authority to speak for or on behalf of the defunct CPC, except the elected representatives of the party who were duly chosen by its supporters in 2011.

“We, the former elected Members of the CPC from the 7th Assembly and many more who stood for elections, won and were subsequently robbed of their hard work. earned, hard-won, yet short-lived victories, remain the only legitimate and authentic voice of the defunct CPC.”

The forum also reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the values of the APC and ensuring that the voice of its supporters was not misrepresented or exploited.

In his submission, a member of the forum and former House member, Hon. Aliyu Gebi, said while they were committed members of the APC, they  could not pretend that the CPC was marginalised within the ruling party.