The newly selected National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has disclosed how he emerged as the party’s leader despite his gentle, and easygoing disposition.
Yilwatda, who was former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs will be in charge of over 20 APC states and a majority in the National Assembly.
Yilwatda who appeared on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Thursday was asked how he intends to handle the ruling party, the Plateau-born politician said he would follow in the footsteps of President Bola Tinubu.
“Look at the body language of Mr. President, soft, calm, and gentle. You can see where he is driving the country’s economy, taking tough decisions where people fear to even discuss,” he said.
When asked if he would be taking tough decisions, he said, “I will, because that’s what the President asked me to do, and the members asked me to do also. Take tough decisions, but with a gentle tone and also incorporate teamwork in it for collective interest in the party.”
He added that decisions would not come from him alone, noting that he is not the sole member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
“It’s our party. It is all about consultation, because I am a coordinator of the national and the sub-nationals,” he said.
“Well, you should know, based on our party constitution, the structure of the party starts from the ward. The wards are owned by the governors and the state party chairmen,” he said. “We have very little job here to do, just coordination,” he added.
Asked how he was nominated by the governors, he said, “They endorsed me.”
When asked the kind of politics he played to attain this position without having a governor in his state, he responded, “You can see how exemplary APC displayed. Very smooth, very mature, no controversy, because this party is built on consultation.
“So almost everything was done based on consultations. You consult, you discuss, because that is what politics is all about. It was consultation at all levels.”
