APC National Chairman Visits Plateau seeks spiritual and royal blessings.

From: Yemi Kosoko , Jos

In his pursuit for excellence and the need to pilot successfully the affairs as National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yiltwada paid a private visit to his home state, Plateau to sought spiritual and royal blessings of religious leaders and traditional rulers in order to succeed in his new assignment.

Accompanied by some National Party officers alongside four All Progressive Congress Governors and National Assembly members of the ruling party; the entourage visited religious leaders and traditional rulers in Plateau State for prayers and royal blessings.

In his remarks at the palace of the Chairman Plateau State Council of Chiefs and Emirs, the Gbong Gwom Jos, the Chairman of Progressive Governors' Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma stated that the endorsement of Professor Nentawe Yiltwada as National Chairman of APC is a demonstration that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is sincere in practicing politics that is devoid of religion, ethnicity, or any other primordial sentiments.

Governor Uzodinma stressed that the choice of Professor Yimtwada was based on merit as the party made a choice of someone who can help correct the mistakes of the past and a rallying point for inclusiveness.

The Governor also express disappointment that after only two years in office, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is being blamed for the country's economic problems, including poverty, hardship, high cost of living to fuel crisis and other challenges that are being addressed by the administration.

In spite of these challenges Governor Uzodinma asserted that the President within two years in office has been able to weather the storm and steadily returning trust and hope to the polity with deliberate steps in the rejigging of the economy and other aspects of improving the standard of living.
"Nigeria has come a long way. We’ve had different leaders. Today, President Bola Tinubu is barely two years in office, yet all the problems - from poverty, to hardship, to the high cost of living, to fuel issues have all been blamed on him.”

"But I can tell you this, within two years a Nigeria that was once in the bush has now been brought to the road. We are no longer stranded, we are ready to move forward.
“I’m not unaware that this process of national healing comes with pain. I know that turning around a broken economy requires sacrifice" . Governor Hope Uzodinma stated.

He enjoined the people of Plateau State especially the traditional rulers and other stakeholders to support and continue to pray for the new National Chairman of APC to succeed in his new assignment as history has placed a burden on the new National Chairman to repair, rebuild, and restore the party.

Speaking earlier, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda expressed gratitude to God and appreciate the President, Governors and leaders of APC and entire members of the party for entrusting him with the burden and responsibility of leading the All Progressive Congress as a political party.

The National Chairman specifically thanked the president for the confidence reposed in him and for rallying the support of other party leaders in his emergence as the Chairman.
With nostalgic Prof Yiltwada noted that an illustrious sons of Plateau in the late Chief Solomon Lar among others have occupied similar strategic political positions that had shaped Nigeria's political history in the past and his will be a consolidation of their achievements.
"I am not the first from Plateau to be called to national leadership. This state has always played a crucial role in Nigeria’s history. In 1966, during a time of national crisis, Nigeria looked to General Yakubu Gowon and he answered the call. In 1998, during the difficult transition to democracy, Nigeria again turned to Plateau and Solomon Lar stepped forward to help shape the democratic path.

"And now, in a time where Nigeria seeks to strengthen and deepen its democracy, the APC has called me to lead with reforms, to lead with vision, and to ensure that the social protection and wellbeing of our people are prioritized. That is why I am here. I promise that I will not let you down, I know with your prayers and support, I will succeed".
Meanwhile, as a means of strengthening the manpower of steering the affairs of the party, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has appointed Comrade Jibrin Kamga Bancir as Principal Private Secretary (PPS) to the National Chairman with immediate effect. Comrade Bancir was the erstwhile Director General of the Generation Next Campaign Organization and also served as the Deputy Director-General, Administration of the Plateau State APC 2023 Gubernatorial Campaign Council.
Before venturing into politics, Comrade Bancir served for two terms as Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Plateau State Chapter. He also had a brief stint in the Lalong administration as Special Adviser. He brings in over two decades of experience in public service, finance, labour relations and a political activism.