A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, and 32 others have been named as members of the Action Democratic Party’s mobilisation committee for the 2019 general elections.
The ADP made this public at an event at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday. The Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Alani Bankole, who was at the unveiling ceremony confirmed that his son, the former Speaker, who was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, is now a chieftain of the ADP.
In response to a question as to whether the former Speaker was nursing any political ambition on the party’s platform, the senior Bankole said, “The man you are talking about is almost 50 years old, he can speak for himself and I am sure you have access to him, you can ask him.”
Also speaking on the kind of people the party would give a chance to fly the party’s flag in the forthcoming polls, Bankole said no person above the age of 60 would fly the party’s flag either as presidential or governorship candidate.
He, however, said aspirants for senatorial seats would be exempted from the age requirement. According to him, while the party welcomes all Nigerians to join its ranks, the party is poised to give women and youths the chance to move the country forward.
The 32-member committee is to be chaired by Senator Roland Owei. Other members include Senator Isa Ndako, Senator Chris Ukpabi, Ambassador Mathew Adoli, Gen. Muhammed Gana (retd.) and Hajia Hadiza Muhammed.
Also speaking during the event, the party’s National Chairman, Yabaji Sani, explained that the party set up the committee to reach out to Nigerians in all walks of life.
He said, “The committee is to serve as a vehicle to reach the unreached or the reluctant to join in taking decisive measures to rescue Nigeria. “Our economy is in the doldrums, education has virtually collapsed and insecurity has become pervasive with several of our countrymen mowed down daily by criminal elements.
“Obviously, we cannot keep silent in the face of evil and daunting challenges. The ADP has stepped in to change the narrative. “We are determined to rebuild Nigeria into an egalitarian nation where tribe and religion will never be factors that determine a citizen’s level of attainment.”
Responding on behalf of other members, the chairman of the committee, Owi, explained that the committee was set up by the party because of its genuine interest to raise a new generation of party faithful who have Nigeria’s best interest at heart.
