APC’s Future Uncertain After Buhari’s Exit In 2023 — Lawan

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has disclosed that the
future of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears
uncertain after the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration in 2023.

He said the APC may face challenges after the exit of President
Buhari from office in less than two years, except timely
interventions are taken by the ruling party to avert defeat.

Lawan, who gave the warning last night in a speech delivered to
close the First Progressives Youth Conference 2021 in Abuja,
stressed that the party must begin to plan ahead to sustain the
goodwill and legacies of the present administration by ensuring
that its leaders hand over power to competent youths in the All
Progressives Congress.

According to him, by doing so, the party would be able to retain
its appeal and nationalistic outlook beyond the 2023 general
election.

He said: “Whether we like it or not, the truth is, President
Muhammadu Buhari remains the person with the bulk of the support we
get across this country in APC. And when he leaves, he would still
have some roles, but I dare say that it is after he leaves office
that APC will face its challenge. Yes, we have to know our value
then, and the value of APC presently is APC minus President
Muhammadu Buhari. Whatever it is, that is the value of APC.

“So, we need to do a lot to build this party, and we need our
youths more than ever before for them to continue with this legacy
that this administration has established all over the country. That
means we have to see ourselves as brothers and sisters regardless
of where we come from.”

The Senate President added that, “our tribe or even ethnic
group, our religious persuasion should not matter when it comes to
uniting this country.

“And as APC, the onus is on us to provide security and an
economy that will bring growth and development to give people the
kind of life that is meaningful. We can ask others to join us, but
we are the ones to do it, so we need all hands on deck.”

He lamented that the plan of the APC to deliver on most of its
promises to Nigerians was stalled in the first tenure of the
President Buhari-led administration as a result of the feud between
the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government.

“When we were voted in 2019 as leaders of the National Assembly,
we were conscious of one thing, that our mandate that was given to
us by Nigerians in 2015 had suffered disruption and dislocation.
For four years (2015 to 2019), our government could not perform
optimally because of the then crisis between the parliament – the
National Assembly – and the Executive arm of government. So, APC
had already lost four very important years. And, that was supposed
to be the years that we should have convinced Nigerians that they
took the right decision by voting out a PDP administration in
2015.

“What are our options? We are one party in different arms of
government. Our policies are supposed to be the same. Our
programmes and projects are supposed to be the same, whether you’re
in the legislature or the executive. So long as you are APC, that
is your programme and project, that is your government and you are
bound to make it succeed.

“So, we took the conscious decision of working in harmony that
our relationship must be characterised by consultation,
coordination, partnership and mutual respect, that we must succeed
in the second tenure (2019 – 2023). Otherwise, in 2023, many would
like to see our backs if you can’t provide the services expected of
you in your first four years.”

Lawan further disclosed that the ongoing amendment to the 1999
constitution will accord priority to inclusion of youths in
governance.

He explained that the aim was to ensure that power is divested
to younger generation in a way that allows them to participate

President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has disclosed that the
future of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) appears
uncertain after the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari-led
administration in 2023.

He said the APC may face challenges after the exit of President
Buhari from office in less than two years, except timely
interventions are taken by the ruling party to avert defeat.

Lawan, who gave the warning last night in a speech delivered to
close the First Progressives Youth Conference 2021 in Abuja,
stressed that the party must begin to plan ahead to sustain the
goodwill and legacies of the present administration by ensuring
that its leaders hand over power to competent youths in the All
Progressives Congress.

According to him, by doing so, the party would be able to retain
its appeal and nationalistic outlook beyond the 2023 general
election.

He said: “Whether we like it or not, the truth is, President
Muhammadu Buhari remains the person with the bulk of the support we
get across this country in APC. And when he leaves, he would still
have some roles, but I dare say that it is after he leaves office
that APC will face its challenge. Yes, we have to know our value
then, and the value of APC presently is APC minus President
Muhammadu Buhari. Whatever it is, that is the value of APC.

“So, we need to do a lot to build this party, and we need our
youths more than ever before for them to continue with this legacy
that this administration has established all over the country. That
means we have to see ourselves as brothers and sisters regardless
of where we come from.”

The Senate President added that, “our tribe or even ethnic
group, our religious persuasion should not matter when it comes to
uniting this country.

“And as APC, the onus is on us to provide security and an
economy that will bring growth and development to give people the
kind of life that is meaningful. We can ask others to join us, but
we are the ones to do it, so we need all hands on deck.”

He lamented that the plan of the APC to deliver on most of its
promises to Nigerians was stalled in the first tenure of the
President Buhari-led administration as a result of the feud between
the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government.

“When we were voted in 2019 as leaders of the National Assembly,
we were conscious of one thing, that our mandate that was given to
us by Nigerians in 2015 had suffered disruption and dislocation.
For four years (2015 to 2019), our government could not perform
optimally because of the then crisis between the parliament – the
National Assembly – and the Executive arm of government. So, APC
had already lost four very important years. And, that was supposed
to be the years that we should have convinced Nigerians that they
took the right decision by voting out a PDP administration in
2015.

“What are our options? We are one party in different arms of
government. Our policies are supposed to be the same. Our
programmes and projects are supposed to be the same, whether you’re
in the legislature or the executive. So long as you are APC, that
is your programme and project, that is your government and you are
bound to make it succeed.

“So, we took the conscious decision of working in harmony that
our relationship must be characterised by consultation,
coordination, partnership and mutual respect, that we must succeed
in the second tenure (2019 – 2023). Otherwise, in 2023, many would
like to see our backs if you can’t provide the services expected of
you in your first four years.”

Lawan further disclosed that the ongoing amendment to the 1999
constitution will accord priority to inclusion of youths in
governance.

He explained that the aim was to ensure that power is divested
to younger generation in a way that allows them to participate