President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, APC, across the country to work for genuine reconciliation “for the benefit of our people and our nation.”

Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement on Thursday, said Mr Buhari spoke on Wednesday night in Abuja when he received a group of APC members including, a former deputy governor of Kano State, Hafiz Abubakar.

Mr Abubakar, a former ally of Rabiu Kwankwaso, resigned as Deputy Governor of Kano State and defected to opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and later joined the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, after losing the governorship primaries.

In welcoming the party leaders back to the APC, Mr Buhari said the house was large enough to accommodate everyone and promised to speak to the leadership of the party and government in Kano to accommodate and work with the returnees.

Other returnees at the meeting include a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Aminu Dabo; the immediate-past National Treasurer, Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa; Security Adviser to Kwankwaso, retired Gen. Danjuma Dambazau; Engr Mu’azu Magaji, all of them staunch members of Kwankwasiyya, as well as Isa Zarewa who left in protest against the last primaries.

The presidential aide disclosed that the returnees were led to the President by the Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru.

Kano state Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, was also at the meeting with the President.

Responding to the Presidential directive, Mr Ganduje welcomed the return of the party stalwarts and assured the President that he was ready to work with everyone to record yet another historic victory in the general elections.

NAN