Newly elected National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared his resolve to take tough but measured decisions in steering the party forward.
He also pledged to confront opposition forces with a clear strategy aimed at strengthening the APC’s hold across the country.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today shortly after emerging as APC chairman in Abuja, Yilwatda said, “The confidence they have in me is to make sure I take tough decisions but with gentility and teamwork for the collective interest of the party.”
He likened his calm approach to that of President Bola Tinubu, noting that despite the president’s soft-spoken demeanour, he is leading the country through difficult reforms.
“Look at the body language of Mr President; soft-talking, calm, gentle, but look at where he is driving the country, taking tough decisions, where people fear to even discuss,” he said.
Yilwatda vowed to embark on what he called “legwork” to attract more governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties into the APC.
“My job is to unite the party, (and) to expand the party. We have 23 governors and we are still counting. My job is to bring in more,” he declared.
He also pledged to draw from the experience of former APC chairmen Abdullahi Ganduje, Adams Oshiomhole, Abdullahi Adamu, and Mai Mala Buni, all of whom he noted remain active in the party.
“My immediate priority is that the party is united,” he said, adding that he will coordinate APC activities to fully implement its manifesto.
Yilwatda, a former governorship candidate in Plateau State, was sworn in as the APC national chairman on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Until his appointment, he was Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.