By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Ahead of 2027 general election, the North-Central All Progressives Congress, (APC) Forum has urged elders and leaders of the region, who are currently in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition political parties to join the ruling party.

The Forum, in a statement released on Monday, said only the APC administration led by President Bola Tinubu can guarantee the interests of the North-Central zone.

In the statement, signed by its chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, a member of the APC presidential campaign council in the 2023 election, the APC Forum identified the North-Central leaders being wooed to join the party to include ex-Senate President David Mark, former Plateau State governor Jonah Jang, ex-Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu, former Senate President and erstwhile Kwara governor Bukola Saraki, and former Benue governors Gabriel Suswam and Samuel Ortom, as well as former PDP national chairman, Professor Iyorchia Ayu.

The Forum noted that, unlike the neglect and marginalization the region suffered when the PDP was in power, the people of the North-Central are now enjoying the dividends of democracy due to the magnanimity of the APC government led by Tinubu.

“We urge them to consider the development of the region before party interest.

“We are advising former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and David Mark, former governors Babangida Aliyu, Jonah Jang, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, as well as the former national chairman of the PDP, Professor Iyorchia Ayu, and other elders and leaders of the North-Central to come to the APC because that is the party that loves the people of the region.

“They should consider APC because that is the party that is good to the North-Central. The people of the North-Central are receiving the dividends of democracy under the APC government led by President Bola Tinubu, and that is why we were the first to endorse him for a second term.

“These North-Central elders and political leaders should put party aside and put the interest of the zone first by joining the APC. We urge them to give Mr. President the moral support to continue transforming the fortunes of the zone.”

The APC Forum pointed out that major road networks in the North-Central, which suffered neglect during the PDP years, are now receiving the attention of the Federal Government.

“The roads include the Jos-Akwanga road, Makurdi-Oturkpo-Otukpa road, Makurdi-Ankpa road, Jos-Saminaka/Kaduna road, Minna-Bida road, and Ejule-Otukpa road. Others are the Ganawuri-Manchok road, Lokoja-Abuja road, Lapai-Agaie-Bida road, Birnin-Gwari-Bokani-Mokwa road, and Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora road.

“There were little or no federal projects in the North-Central during the PDP government. Major federal roads across the North-Central were neglected and in a dilapidated state for several years without any intervention by the Federal Government,” the statement noted.

Further highlighting why the APC is best for the North-Central, the Forum pointed to the recent establishment of the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) following the signing of the enactment bill by the President.

“The President’s action showed that he is a listening President. He listened to the cries of the North-Central APC Forum, which had agitated for the creation of a Development Commission for the region, as had been done for the other geo-political zones—for the sake of equity and justice,” the statement observed, adding that the Commission would ensure the accelerated development of the region.

The North-Central APC stakeholders added that the region has been given prominent positions, including key ministerial portfolios, in the APC Federal Government.

The statement identified key ministries headed by ministers from the North-Central to include: the Ministry of Justice, headed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, from Kwara; the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, headed by Mohammed Idris from Niger State; the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, headed by Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda from Plateau; the Ministry of Women Affairs, headed by Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim from Nasarawa; the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, headed by Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo from the Federal Capital Territory; and the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, headed by Prof. Joseph Utsev from Benue.

“Added to these is the high-profile position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), given to the North-Central, with Senator George Akume of Benue State holding the office,” the statement said.

The Forum added that the Tinubu-led APC government has made considerable progress in tackling insecurity in the North-Central.

“The current level of insecurity in the North-Central is less than what was obtainable during previous administrations. Before now, it was difficult for our people, who are mostly farmers, to go to their farms because of insecurity. But now, due to the leadership provided by Mr. President, who has given marching orders to the Armed Forces and other security agencies, the people can now go to their farms to cultivate and harvest their crops,” the Forum said.

Further urging the North-Central political leaders and elders in the opposition to join the APC, the Forum observed that the PDP leadership had sidelined the party’s chieftains from the region.

“North-Central elders like Saraki, Iyorchia Ayu, David Mark, Jonah Jang, Suswam, Ortom, and Babangida Aliyu have been sidelined by the current leadership of the PDP.

“We are not happy that these eminent personalities of the North-Central are being sidelined in their party, the PDP, and that is another reason why we want them to find a home in the APC.

“They are welcome to join the APC anytime. We assure them that they will feel valued and appreciated in the APC, unlike what they are going through in the PDP, which does not even have a future due to the problems in the party.”