By George Ozalla
The APC National Summit took place yesterday at the State House Banquet Hall, Aso Villa, Abuja, with prominent party leaders in attendance. The summit, themed “Renewed Hope Agenda: The Journey So Far,” aimed to assess the party’s performance and strategize for the future. President Bola Tinubu led the summit, which featured prominent APC leaders, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Ministers, Members of the Party’s national working committee, and many others.
President Tinubu stressed the importance of unity and collective effort, saying, “Together, we can achieve great things and build a brighter future for our nation.” He highlighted the party’s achievements and outlined future plans, stressing the need for continued support and cooperation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio praised President Tinubu’s leadership, stating, “Under your guidance, we have made significant progress, and I am confident that we will achieve even greater success in the years to come.” He also emphasized the importance of party unity and cooperation.
The Progressive Voters’ Forum (PVF) praised the summit, with its national coordinator, Dr. Olusegun Kenneth, saying, “The APC National Summit is a timely initiative that will strengthen party unity, highlight President Tinubu’s achievements, and boost support for the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
However, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) condemned the APC for hosting the caucus meeting at the Presidential Villa. CUPP’s National Secretary, Chief Peter Ameh, stated, “The use of the Presidential Villa for the APC summit is an abuse of power and a clear violation of democratic principles. The villa belongs to all Nigerians, not just the ruling party.”
As Nigeria navigates its democratic journey, good governance should prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. According to former President Goodluck Jonathan, “Good governance is not about the ruling party’s agenda, but about serving the people and ensuring their welfare and security.” In a democratic society, institutions should be independent and impartial, with a robust system of checks and balances to prevent abuse of power. Citizens should be able to hold their leaders accountable, and the media should be free to report without fear of reprisal. Ultimately, good governance is about putting the interests of the people above partisan or personal interests.
