Al-Makura: Leaders of CPC Bloc in APC Not Leaving the Party, We Support Tinubu

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Chairman of the Forum of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Tanko Al-Makura, has declared support for President Bola Tinubu, adding that they had no plans to leave the ruling party.

Al-Makura, who made the declaration while addressing a press conference in Abuja, also vowed that the CPC bloc within the ruling party would ensure Tinubu’s victory at the 2027 general election.

Al-Makura stated: “We have come together today with clarity, unity, and purpose. We are here to reaffirm our commitment to the ideals that brought us together in 2013, to set the records straight, and to send a clear message to all Nigerians that the former CPC majority stakeholders remain strong, united, and deeply loyal to the All Progressives Congress and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“Recent developments have seen a flood of speculation and misinformation about the position of the former CPC within the APC. Let it be known clearly that we have not left the APC.

“We are very much here, standing tall, standing proud, and standing firm within the party that we helped to found through sweat, sacrifice, and patriotic commitment. We remain part and parcel of the APC family.

“We recall with pride how we in the CPC, in collaboration with other patriots in ACN, ANPP, APGA, DPP, and nPDP contributed enormously to the spirit of unity and national cohesion that led to the defeat of an incumbent government in 2015, and ushered in a new era under the leadership of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Al-Makura, who said, “It is this spirit of sacrifice, patriotism, and commitment to Nigeria’s future that guides our every action,” admitted that the country might be facing some challenges, but expressed optimism that the Tinubu-led administration’s policies and reforms would see the country out of the woods.

The former governor stressed that under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria faced challenging but necessary reforms, noting that as responsible citizens and co-founders of APC, they believed that they must remain steadfast, patient, and supportive.

The forum, however,  appealed to all aggrieved members of the party to seek the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism to seek redress rather than resorting to anti-party activities.

Al-Makura added: “To our brothers and sisters who may feel aggrieved, we urge them to explore options within the party to resolve their grievances through dialogue, patience, and perseverance. True loyalty is tested not in times of comfort but in times of travail.

“We urge all to use the structures and constitutional avenues forward, we do so with renewed strength, a deep sense of responsibility, and an unshakable commitment to the APC and the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and ultimately, the future of our beloved country.”

Some of those in attendance were the Katsina State Governor, Dr. Dikko Radda; representative of the Nigerian governors, Umar Bago; former Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari and Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, General Buba Marwa (retd).

Others are a former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria VoN, Osita Okechukwu; former presidential aide, Okoi Obono Obla; former National Secretary of the APC, Waziri Bulama; former House of Representatives member, Farouk Adamu; representative of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and Foreign Affairs Minister, Maitama Tuggar, among many others.