National chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has reacted to the alarm by the opposition leaders that Nigeria is drifting towards a one-party State, saying that looking at the China example, if that is what Nigerians want, so be it.
Gandje told journalists after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday that the ruling party cannot quarrel with Nigerians if APC controls virtually all States and the centre.
The APC chairman, who led three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators who reportedly agreed to move to the his party to see President Tinubu, said: “Leaders worried on one party state. If one-party state is a wish and blessing to Nigeria… One party state is not by force, it is by negotiation and it is by other political parties seeing the effect of the positive governance of our party. If they decide to come to our party willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that.
“Today China is one of the strongest countries in the world and it’s a one party system. We are not saying we are working for one-party system but if this is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that
“You know they say to many cooks spoil the soup, too many political parties spoil governance.”
Speaking on the recent diefections and visit with the PDP Governors to see the President, he said that “it is in continuation with the initiative of President Tinubu that APC must do what we must do democratically to increase our numerical strength. And in this incident, not only our numerical strength but also our quality and capacity of our followership.
“In this respect in particular for Kebbi State, a lot of discussions under ground. Negotiations went on underground between the major stakeholders in rhe State and now they have come to the conclusion that results, the three Senators, the PDP senators from Kebbi State have agrees and resolved that they are decamping to our great party, the APC.
“This is a good development and it is in consonance with what is happening in Nigeria today. Almost every week in the Senate and House of Representatives, you see members of other political parties decamping to our party
“So, we came here so that Mr President will bless this resolution and Mr President has graciously blessed this resolution and by Tuesday, you will see what will happen in the Red Chamber.”
Speaking on the influx, he said: “Our constitution is very clear about this and not only that. Our political dexterity in managing such affairs is on the table so I assure you that there will be a smooth integration.”
