Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has advised members of All Progressives Congress (APC) to focus on and interface directly with the electorate at the grassroots, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Fashola, who is the Director of Contact and Mobilisation Directorate of Tinubu/Shettima Grassroots Independent Campaign Council of APC, gave the advice on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister spoke at the inauguration of committee members of the directorate.
Fashola, who was represented by Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of Environment and Assistant Director of the directorate, stressed the need for APC members across the federation to increase their actions and remain focused.
According to him, APC members should not allow themselves to be distracted by negative propaganda from the opposition camp.
This, he said, was critical to attracting more voters and ensuring the victory for APC candidates at all levels in the forthcoming general elections.
“We are to interface directly with voters at the grassroots. Our mandate is clear: we don’t have business organising rallies; we are not cash cows, as had been erroneously reported.
“Members of this directorate belong to a very important team that is poised to campaign for the success of Sen. Bola Tinubu, our presidential candidate and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima.
“We should, therefore, focus on the real voters, particularly those at the grassroots,” he said.
Fashola added that the legacies of Tinubu and Shettima while they served as governors of Lagos and Borno states respectively for two terms were outstanding and visible for all to see, despite the numerous challenges they encountered.
“I call on members of this committee to work tirelessly at the grassroots and tell the electorate that Nigeria will continue experiencing growth and development if they vote for Tinubu/Shettima and APC candidates at all levels,” he said.
In his remarks, a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, now an APC chieftain, Sen. Barnabas Gemade, said election was a local event.
“Election is local and not for urban dwellers. I urge all members of this great party, the APC, to work harder by campaigning for votes at the grassroots,” he said.
National Coordinator of APC-ICC, Mr Ali Agara, said that ICC was to complement the work of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) by taking campaigns to the grassroots on a door-to-door basis.
Also speaking, a former Military Administrator of Katsina State, Sen. Joseph Akaagerger, called on APC members to conduct campaigns within the ambit of the law.
He said that they should also stay away from unnecessary and unlawful acts that could put the party in bad light, ahead of the coming elections.
NAN reports that the inauguration was attended by APC members from across the country. (NAN)
