Ahead APC Convention, Buhari Hosts Tinubu, Amaechi, Others To Dinner

Two days to the convention of Nigeria’s ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari has hosted the founding fathers of the party to a dinner.

The dinner was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

One of the attendees was Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the former Lagos governor who wants to succeed Buhari as president.

Another presidential aspirant and founding member of the APC who attended the dinner was Imo senator Rochas Okorocha.

Transportation minister Rotimi Amaechi, who is believed to nurse a presidential ambition, but has yet to formally declare his interest, was also at the dinner.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the get-together was to show Buhari’s appreciation to the critical stakeholders for their continued support, understanding and cooperation to his administration.

It was also meant to show appreciation to the founding fathers for keeping faith with the goals and ideals of the ruling party, the agency reported.

The engagement was also in furtherance of genuine efforts by the Buhari administration aimed at ensuring a rancour free and successful National Convention of the party, slated for March 26.

Others in attendance included the first interim chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau and Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

Others are Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna and Aminu Masari of Katsina.

The Chairman, Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, also attended the dinner.

NAN reports that no official statement was issued on the outcome of interactive dinner as at the time of filing this report.

President Buhari had earlier met with APC governors, national chairmanship aspirants of the party as well as the party’s leadership at the National Assembly during which issues relating to the APC National Convention were discussed.

Saturday’s APC convention will hold in Abuja during which new leaders will be elected for the party. The new leaders will lead the party into next year’s general election.

Buhari is rooting for a former Nasarawa governor, Abdullahi Adamu, to be the next chairman of the party.