Gaya made the call during a meeting with members of the Gaya APC Caucus at his office in Kano, where he reaffirmed his commitment to the progress, unity and growth of the party, as well as the protection of its members’ interests.
He commended caucus members and other party supporters for their continued loyalty despite the challenges confronting the them, stressing the need for greater inclusiveness and cooperation among members.
According to him, party leaders at all levels must work together, regardless of whether they are identified with the old or new faction of the party.
Hon. Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya said leadership required collective responsibility, urging those in positions of authority to ensure that all members were treated fairly and equally, despite perceptions of unnecessary divisions within the party.
Gaya said the party remained supreme and promoted equal treatment of all its members, urging those in authority to discard the notion of “old” and “new” members.
He said the government had introduced various empowerment programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people, but alleged that long-standing members of the APC were not being adequately carried along in the implementation of the initiatives.
He therefore called for a fair and transparent sharing formula, suggesting a 50/50 arrangement to ensure that both old and new members benefited from government empowerment initiatives.
Gaya specifically appealed to those in positions of authority in local government areas to avoid discrimination against members on the basis of whether they were regarded as “old” or “new” in the party.
He said the meeting also provided an opportunity for members to express their concerns and grievances, adding that he had listened to their complaints and would explore available channels to present them to the relevant authorities for consideration.
Speaking at the meeting, a veteran politician and APC member, Alhaji Nafiu Fatee, called for adjustments in the affairs of the party, alleging that some long-standing and loyal members were being excluded from its activities and decision-making processes.
Fatee said the party leadership and local government leadership needed to make necessary changes to ensure that old members were adequately carried along.
“With the way things are going in the party, there is a need for adjustment because we, the old members of the party, are being excluded and are not being carried along,” he said.
He said long-standing members had remained in the APC largely because of their respect for Hon. Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya, whom they described as a just and fair leader. According to him, Gaya had consistently used his personal resources to support party members, despite not holding any public office, and remained a pillar of the party.
