The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Saturday, said imposition would no longer be allowed in the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He said there would be “no more crowning from Abuja.”
Buhari spoke shortly after he revalidated his membership of the the party in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.
The President, who was accompanied by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, Mai Buni; members of the committee; President of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; state governors and other party members, said he was committed to ensuring that the party is returned to the people at the grassroots.
He said, “No more crowning from Abuja downward. Let the people know this and appreciate it that they are in charge of their constituencies and they are in charge of the party.
“Without any incentive, they must come out and defend the party at any level so that we, you and the party will feel secured and comfortable because the old time of putting hands in the pocket is over because the money is no longer available.”
The President insisted that the party’s structure should no longer be Abuja downwards, saying “ouur party style and structure should no longer be Abuja downwards, but from the ward level upwards. So that people can defend the party and its policies even at every level.”
Buhari again recalled how his regime inherited a country without infrastructure despite the money made by past administrations.
He reiterated his call the nation’s elite to consider such factors before criticising his regime.
APC membership drive: No more endorsement from Abuja – Buhari
By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that no longer will people be endorsed from Abuja.
The President spoke on Saturday in Daura, Katsina after successfully completing his party membership revalidation exercise.
The President, who was accompanied by APC Caretaker Committee members; Senate President Ahmed Lawan; Governors and other party members, said his objective was to ensure APC party is returned to people at the grassroots.
“No more crowning from Abuja downward. Let the people know this and appreciate it that they are in charge of their constituencies and they are in charge of the party.
“Without any incentive they must come out and defend the party at any level so that we, you and the party will feel secure and comfortable because the old time of putting hands in the pocket is over because the money is no longer available.
“The problem is that I will like especially the elites to please be reflective. When we came, where we were, the resources available from them and the condition of the infrastructure.
“I was compelled to go over it several times to tell Nigerians that between 1999 and 2014, let them check with the NNPC, let them check with the Governor of Central Bank, production was 2.4 million barrels per day and the average cost was $100 per barrel.
“So for a year’s daily production, Nigeria would earn having 2.4×100 dollars everyday. But look at the condition of infrastructure, you know this better than I do.
“I know I went to every local government of the country in my three consecutive attempts to become the President. You know the road more than I do. You know the condition of the rail, the railway is dead. Now look at it everywhere we go, what did they do with all these monies?
“When we took over the administration, production went down to about half a million barrels per day, the price collapsed. We had to do what is called a bailout, wherever we got the money from.
“Upon all the money from 1999 to 2014 we gave out money from the centre to pay salaries. No, Nigerian elites are not interested in rating the competence but they are interested in harassing us with all efforts we are making.
“You, who are in the field in charge of your constituencies, you have to make efforts to convince the elites to please give us the due relevance and respect we deserve that we are working so hard with limited resources,” he said.
He described the company of the Senate President and the Governors who accompanied him to his constituency for the exercise as a morale booster.
The President also thanked the Caretaker committee chairman of the party, Mai Mala Buni, for shouldering the responsibilities of the APC.
He described him as the most suitable person for the leadership position having been Secretary to the party for such a long time before becoming the Yobe Governor.