By Ademuyiwa Balikis
Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to create a structured reward system that gives priority to party members, especially tradesmen and artisans, in the award of contracts and other empowerment opportunities.
Fashola made the call during a strategy conference of the ruling party where he spoke extensively about the need for the APC to reconnect with its traditional supporters and improve internal participation ahead of future elections.
The former governor, who expressed concern about the decline in voter turnout for the APC compared to previous election years, said the situation called for honest reflection within the party.
“At the state level, we used to be the party that led in votes, with our closest opposition having about one-third of the total votes we got. That’s what it used to look like. So, what has happened? Why have the votes dropped? I think that’s the heart of the matter,” he said.
Fashola urged the party to look inward and identify ways to restore enthusiasm among members. He particularly noted that the party’s reward system and economic inclusion strategy must reflect the loyalty and contributions of members at the grassroots level.
He asked, “What is our party reward system like? How do we network with ourselves? For instance, if we want to undertake a program involving specific tradesmen or tradeswomen, do we have a register of party members who would be interested?”
According to him, ensuring that party members who are artisans, builders, engineers, and other professionals are recognized and considered for government related programs would not only boost morale but also strengthen loyalty.
“These are questions this conference provokes us to ask because political party participation is based on enthusiasm. If people are enthusiastic, they’ll turn out and vote,” he added.
Fashola further called on the APC to restructure its engagement with the youth, pointing out that the sustainability of the party depends on how well it connects with the next generation of voters.
“Some speakers have mentioned the growing demography of young people. How many of our children are involved in what we’re doing? How many come to our rallies and campaigns? If it’s important to us, we must make it important to them and find a way to connect them to it,” he said.
He also suggested that APC controlled states should strengthen their youth wings and build direct links with students and young professionals, describing the party as one that should be open and accessible like any other organized group.
“APC can be like any other club in a university that you can join. These are the questions we need to ask and answer very honestly,” he added.
Fashola assured party members that despite recent challenges, hope is not lost, emphasizing that the spirit of renewed hope should be turned into renewed enthusiasm for the APC and its programs.
