Blair to speak at APC policy forum

The All Progressives Congress is set to hold a two-day forum to unveil the policy plan of the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration.

According to a statement by the party, a former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, will be the keynote speaker at the dialogue where input for the actualisation of the policies of the incoming administration would be made by experts drawn from different fields and members of the public.

The policy dialogue themed, “Implementing Change: From Vision to Reality,” and organised by the Policy, Research and Strategy Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council would hold in Abuja on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Deputy Head of the Directorate and a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, would declare open the dialogue which would be chaired by Vice-President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (SAN).

Abdullahi said the programme would focus on the economy, governance, job creation and security – in line with the APC manifestoes of change.

He added that some of the topics to be discussed are “Improving the national economy for shared prosperity, “Repositioning agriculture for job creation and economic prosperity,” “Developing infrastructure for national development;” “Achieving sustainable reforms on oil/gas sector” and “Reducing inequality and achieving sustainable human development.”

The statement added that others who will speak at the event are a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ifueko Omogui-Okauru; a former Minister of Power, Dr. Rilwan Babalola; and a former Country Chair, Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority, Dr. Tajudeen Umar.

Also expected to speak at the programme are the Chairman, West African Examination Council, Prof. Pai Obanya; Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Otuoke, Prof. Bolaji Aluko; a former Nigerian Permanent Representative, United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; a former Lagos State Solicitor-General, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, among others.