The National Coalition of Buhari Support Organisations (BSO), has endorsed Malam Saliu Mustapha, as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mustapha is among the big wigs of the party seeking to clinch the coveted position at the March 26 National Convention.
The coalition made its position known during a courtesy visit on Mustapha at his campaign headquarters on Monday in Abuja.
Mustapha was a former National Deputy Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a front-line APC national chairmanship aspirant.
Mr. Peter Oganto, leader of the coalition, described Mustapha as, ”a loyal supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, who deserved to be backed for the APC chairmanship position by all.
“Saliu Mustapha is a product of Buhari politics who stood solidly behind the president through thick and thin and still remained faithful to the cause in spite of the injustice he has suffered in the party.
“So, having seen other chairmanship aspirants, we have decided to endorse him as the only one that can truly keep the Buhari legacy alive long after he must have left office,” he said.
Also speaking, the coalition’s Deputy Chairman (South), Chief Jerry Johnson, said Mustapha should have been a clear consensus choice for the party based on his contribution to its development.
He added that as a loyal and faithful member of the APC, Mustapha deserved the support and backing of all for standing firm with President Buhari through the years, from the days of CPC and now the APC.
Mustapha, who is also the Turaki of Ilorin in his response, thanked the coalition for the show of support and outlined his plans for the members of the APC.
“Aside from what we are bringing to the table in terms of our 10-point agenda, we are the only one with real experience of party administration.
“As a founding APC member, I have enough institutional memory of the party to ensure that members are duly rewarded for their efforts in building the party to what it is today,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mustapha had earlier bought the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms @ N 20 million.
This marked his clear intention to contest the party’s chairmanship position along with six other aspirants.
Some of the aspirants included Sen. Sani Musa, Dr. George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, as well as a former Gov. Abudulaziz Yari of Zamfara.
Others were former Gov. Abdllahi Adamu of Nasarawa and Sen. Tanko Al-makura also a former governor of Nasarawa State.