AA Presidential Candidate, Al-Mustapha urges Nigerians on understanding, unity
The embattled fractional Presidential Candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd.) has advised Nigerians to establish with one another relationship that would continue to promote understanding, unity and peace in Nigeria.
Al-Mustapha gave the advice while speaking with newsmen after visit to the National Chairman Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shahu Gabam, at the party National Secretariat on Thursday in Abuja.
The former Security Aide to the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, said he was at the SDP Secretariat to reciprocate a true brotherhood from SDP National Chairman Gabam.
Al-Mustapha whose Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace his name as the presidential candidate of AA, said Nigerians need to share ideas for the development of the country.
He said the visit was to also show to the leadership of the party, the executive and indeed the entire members of SDP that “we are in a modern Nigeria.”
He said: “Crossed fertilization of ideas between parties, between leadership and candidates is at this point in time a very paramount thing to do.
“Limiting our scope of thinking and reasoning within parties that we all belong to will not augur well for Nigeria.
“Numerous ideas and innovations exist inside all NIgerians; hence the need to be brought minded, to be large hearted in understanding that rendering service to Nigeria and Nigerians is one paramount thing we must do,” he said.
He said that it may be strange to some people that at the critical moment of election a candidate of a party is visiting another party.
He said the visit was not to discuss alliance but to demonstrate to Nigerians that whatever happened the unity and security of Nigeria and Nigerians must not be compromised.
Mustapha said he had visited many reputable Nigerians and politicians across party lines and would continue to do so.
“You may not be surprised to see me in another party’s headquarters tomorrow. We should be large hearted and be broad minded.”
In his remarks, Gabam commending Al-Mustapha visit said that politics should not be a-do-or-die affairs, but the fundamental tool to make sure that Nigeria moves forward.
He said their discussion was not about individuals or political parties but cross fertilisation of ideas to build a modern Nigeria.
“We need younger generation with capacity, with dexterity and capability to drive a new thinking, to generate a new idea.
“We need a collection of people who have the determination to look beyond their immediate political party, but to look at the larger picture, Nigeria.
“This is not about joining the SDP. It is about fraternity between us, sharing ideas. How do we work together, how do we strengthen our common understanding building a modern nation called Nigeria?
“We have been friends for decades of years. It is not politics that brought us together and we will continue to work towards building a better Nigeria,” he said.