2023: Tinubu Didn’t Allow Nigeria To Become One-party State – Keyamo

The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, has applauded the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, for his contribution to the sustenance of democracy in the country.

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment said Tinubu should be appreciated for the sustenance of the multiparty democracy Nigeria has today.

Keyamo made this declaration in Abuja on Tuesday during the unveiling of a new support group, The Progressives Forum (TPF) that transformed from the All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF).

He asserted that the doggedness and integrity of Tinubu made him tackle the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from turning the country into a one-party state in 2003.

He said: “Without Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we will not have a multiparty democracy today. That’s the truth! He has earned it. If you are wise enough 2003, that was a turning point in Nigeria’s democracy. The PDP wiped out all the people and states in both the South and North.

“But Asiwaju fought back and kept Lagos. Although they nearly entered Lagos, he fought fiercely to recover it. At that point, they came to him and said, ‘Oya, Asiwaju come to PDP so that you won’t have problems in 2007.’

“It takes a strength of character and conviction to say ‘No, I won’t join the ruling party.’ From Lagos, he started to fight back before he stretched his hands over the Niger and today, we have General Buhari in power.

“That is why we have a multiparty democracy today. If not, this country would have ended up as a one-party state. I usually say it. You may not want to vote for him but give him his credit. Without that man standing today, we would have only a party called the PDP. That’s the truth.

“It takes the strength of character. But look at all the other candidates, just one small problem, they will jump. They have been jumping from one party to the other.”

The founder of The Progressives Forum (PTF), Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed said the objective of the forum was to take part and take charge.

He expressed satisfaction that in the last 7 years, members of the group have taken elective and appointive positions.

He said: “Our mission is to take our destiny into our hands. We want to anchor the pool for professionals to take charge of policy-making and running the party structures. We want to bring our expertise and training to bear on the party structures and governance. We will be pushing for cabinet positions for our members and everybody involved in progressive ideology.”