Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Director of Public Affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has cleared the air on exclusion of the names of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha in the campaign list.
Keyamo,in a statement on Saturday explained that the APC followed the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari who demanded the exclusion of the two top government officials.
He stated further that the President gave the directive so that both men can concentrate on the running of government.
Keyamo ,however added that “the 422 man campaign team is not final and us subject to review in the days ahead.”
“Our attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds that there may be something amiss within the family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the name of our own revered and respected Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, is not included in the list of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council”.
“Nothing can be farther from the facts. For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari , GCFR, is the Chairman of the Campaign Council. As a result, Mr. President has SPECIFICALLY directed that the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha should be left out of the Campaign Council to concentrate on the governance of the country and administration of Government”.
“As a responsible Party and Government, all the key functionaries of government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns. The APC has the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May, 29, 2023, and this we intend to do with all sense of responsibility”.the statement reads in part
It added that “Our candidates and the leadership of the APC have also indicated that the list is not sacrosanct as there may be periodic review of it as circumstances dictate”.
“We will not toe the path of those who governed the country in an irresponsible manner before us and our Party is not in total disarray like those who wish to ‘rescue’ the country, but cannot simply manage their own internal affairs”.