The Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, on Friday, noted that the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode lacks the required values to join the All Progressives Congress.
There had been speculations over the week that the former minister has plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party for the APC.
Lukman in a statement released on Friday described Fani-Kayode’s plan to join the ruling party as manipulative.
He further stated that based on consultations within the party, he is sure Fani-Kayode would not be allowed to join the party.
The statement read: “The issue of Fani-Kayode’s drifted attempt to join the APC is a clear instance of attempts to manipulate some of our leaders into accepting membership of someone who ought not to have been considered as a member of our party.”
“If that was the case in the past, it is better late than never to correct such a mistake; as party members, we were able to rise up to the challenge of engaging our leaders.”
“Fortunately, we are able to gain the respect of our leaders and surely, moving forward, issues of who qualifies to be a member of our party will be clarified unambiguously.”
He said if it was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once the national chairman acted on a matter and it was backed by a serving governor, members could only grumble.
Lukman said the capacity of leaders to correct wrong political actions were critical to developing the country`s democracy.
He stated that those supporting APC leaders’ efforts to transform the party into a viable democratic platform need to work harder.
“In doing so, we must not allow the current public mindset of condemning politics, our leaders and our country to provoke us into being defensive”.
“There will be many instances of the possibility that our leaders and our party may make wrong decisions.”
“Our capacity to correct those wrong decisions is what our politics require and not some fantasies.”
“No amount of declaration, whether with reference to values or ideology can develop our politics, our parties, our democracy and our nation.”
“It is our capacity to get things done and especially get wrong actions corrected that can develop our politics, our party, our democracy and our nation.”
“Rather than my leaders, including our governors, relating to me as a subordinate who should only take instructions, they recognise and respect my views as a loyal member of the party,” he said.
Meanwhile, a group has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan will defect to the All Progressives Congress ahead of 2023 presidential election.
The latest of such is contained in a statement by the Movement For The Actualisation Of A Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB) which alleged that Jonathan has received assurances of support from the Northern caliphate for him to return to power in 2023.