The North-Central All Progressives Congress Forum has urged elders and leaders of the region in the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties to join the ruling party.

In a statement released on Monday, the Forum stated that only the APC-led administration of President Bola Tinubu could guarantee the interests of the North-Central zone.

The statement, signed by the Forum’s chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, identified key North-Central leaders being wooed to join the party. These include former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, ex-Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, former Benue State Governors Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom, and former PDP National Chairman, Professor Iyorchia Ayu.

The Forum claimed that, unlike the neglect and marginalisation experienced under PDP rule, the North-Central region was now benefiting from the APC government’s policies under President Tinubu.

“We urge them to prioritise the development of the region over party loyalty.

“We are advising former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and David Mark, former Governors Babangida Aliyu, Jonah Jang, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, as well as former PDP National Chairman, Professor Iyorchia Ayu, and other elders of the North-Central to join the APC, the party that truly cares for the people of the region.

“They should consider APC because it is the party that has brought real progress to the North-Central. The people of this region are enjoying the dividends of democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, which is why we were the first to endorse him for a second term.

“These North-Central elders and political leaders should set aside party differences and prioritise the interests of the zone by joining the APC. We urge them to support the President in his efforts to transform the fortunes of the region.”

The APC Forum also highlighted that major road networks in the North-Central, which had been neglected under the PDP administration, were now receiving Federal Government attention.

The roads include the Jos-Akwanga Road, Makurdi-Oturkpo-Otukpa Road, Makurdi-Ankpa Road, Jos-Saminaka/Kaduna Road, Minna-Bida Road, and Ejule-Otukpa Road. Others are the Ganawuri-Manchok Road, Lokoja-Abuja Road, Lapai-Agaie-Bida Road, Birnin-Gwari-Bokani-Mokwa Road, and Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora Road.

“There were few, if any, federal projects in the North-Central during PDP rule. Major federal roads across the region were left in disrepair for years without intervention,” the statement noted.

Further underscoring the APC’s commitment to the North-Central, the Forum referenced the recent establishment of the North-Central Development Commission following the signing of the enactment bill by President Tinubu.

“The President’s action proves he is a listening leader. He heeded the North-Central APC Forum’s calls for a Development Commission, ensuring the region enjoys the same benefits as other geopolitical zones. The NCDC will accelerate the development of the North-Central,” the statement concluded.


https://punchng.com/north-central-apc-woos-saraki-mark-other-pdp-leaders/