Fani-Kayode Does Not Possess Values For APC Membership – DG, PGF
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman, has declared that former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, lacked the values required for the membership of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Lukman particularly said the issue of Fani-Kayode’s drifted attempt to join the APC is a clear instance of attempts to manipulate some of the party’s leaders into accepting membership of someone who ought not to have been considered as member of the party in the first place.
In a statement on Friday, Lukman said; “If that was the case in the past, it is better late than never to correct such a mistake; as party members, we were able to rise up to the challenge of engaging our leaders.
“Fortunately, we are able to gain the respect of our leaders and surely, moving forward, issues of who qualifies to be a member of our party will be clarified unambiguously,’’ he said.
The DG of the Progressive Governors also said that if it was the People Democratic Party (PDP), once the national chairman acted on a matter and backed by a serving governor, members can only grumble, adding however that the capacity of leaders to correct wrong political actions remain critical to developing the country`s democracy.
Lukman also said that those supporting APC leaders’ efforts to transform the party into a viable democratic platform needed to work harder, saying that in doing so, members must not allow the current public mindset of condemning politics, their leaders and the country to provoke them into being defensive.
He noted that the challenge of protecting the party and its leaders was not about denying wrong actions but taking steps to correct such wrongs when they occurred.
Lukman further said; “There will be many instances of possibility that our leaders and our party may take wrong decisions. Our capacity to correct those wrong decisions is what our politics require and not some fantasies.
“No amount of declaration, whether with reference to values or ideology can develop our politics, our parties, our democracy and our nation. It is our capacity to get things done and especially get wrong actions corrected that can develop our politics, our party, our democracy and our nation”.
Lukman said as an employee of governors who formed the PGF, it had been a privileged opportunity for him to speak out openly on matters within the purview of leadership initiative.
According to him; “Rather than my leaders, including our governors, relating to me as a subordinate who should only take instructions, they recognise and respect my views as a loyal member of the party”.
