National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has told his Ghanaian counterpart, Stephen Ntim of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that good governance is the antidote against the current wave of military coups in West Africa.
Ganduje, who spoke while receiving a delegation from Ghana’s ruling party led by Ntim at the APC National headquarters, Abuja on Sunday, said that with good governance, the masses themselves will resist incursion of the military into governance across African countries, which is derailing democratic rule.
According to the APC chairman: “This kind of visit is important and good to help us exchange ideas on how to deliver good governance to the people, and it can even reduce the tide of military incursions that we are witnessing recently.
“While we are discouraging military coups, we must improve our governance systems, when this is done, the masses will be the first to even resist any such military interventions.”
He noted the long historical affinity between Nigeria and Ghana, adding that it would be apt for the ruling parties of both countries to share ideas on delivering good governance to their citizens.
Describing the visit of the NPP national chairman as an ice-breaker that would strengthen the relationship between the ruling political parties of both countries, the former Kano State Governor said this is important because Ghana and Nigeria share the same values and political history.
Ganduje said the relationship between both countries was long-standing, noting that they passed through the same colonial masters and shared the same national language: English.
He recalled how both countries secured independence from Britain without shedding blood and spoke English as their official language which further strengthened their bond among Francophone neighbours.
He said the Ghana ruling party national chairman was breaking the ice by developing a strong tire between leaders of political parties in the region.
Speaking earlier, the Ghanaian ruling party national chairman Ntim congratulated Ganduje on his emergence as APC national chairman and the celebration of Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary.
“We are happy and proud to be sharing this day with you. It signals greater days ahead and we hope you will want to reciprocate this visit,” he said.
He told Ganduje that it would be significant for the APC and NPP to be sharing ideas on enthroning good governance so that the parties would remain in power for many more years.
The NPP national chairman said his party had a lot to learn from Ganduje and Nigeria’s ruling party,the APC.
“As a party, we have a lot to learn from Ganduje as an individual, and from the APC as a political party,” he stressed.
He said his visit was to begin a journey between the ruling parties of the two countries on how to enthrone good governance in the interest of its citizens.
Ntim noted that Nigeria and Ghana had a long standing relationship that could not be taken for granted, adding that since 2017, Ghanaian Presidents had visited Nigeria 45 times.
He thanked the APC national chairman for accepting to meet with him in spite of the short notice, saying he looked forward to having him visit Ghana before long.
Ntim was accompanied on the visit by the Ghanaian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Rashid Bawa and some officials of his party among others.