“…..I can bet my last kobo that Mustapha was the best choice the APC ever made for the North East. Appraisingly, he’s outworked the position; he’s bigger than it now. If I were calling the shots, I’d know exactly where to place this workaholic, trusted fellow. And I believe many will concur.”
By Tom Garba
In a ringing endorsement, a prominent APC chieftain has lavished praise on Comrade Barrister Mustapha Salihu, PhD, the party’s North East National Vice Chairman, calling him an “unwavering pillar” and “priceless asset” whose tireless service demands elevation to even greater heights.
Alhaji Mustapha Atiku, a dedicated party faithful and long-time stalwart from Adamawa, didn’t mince words in his effusive tribute, painting Salihu as nothing short of a political maestro, the kind of leader who doesn’t just hold the fort but builds it stronger, brick by brick.
“Comrade Barrister Mustapha Salihu is the powerhouse of the APC in the North East,” Atiku declared during a candid interview with TGNEWS in Yola.
“He’s given his all to the unity and progress of our party in the region, galvanizing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term bid and keeping the APC flame burning bright in Adamawa, no matter the storms.”
Atiku’s words come at a pivotal moment for the APC in Adamawa, where Salihu has emerged as a unifying force, especially after high-profile defections like that of Chief Joel Hammanzad Madaki last week.
Salihu was front and center at the raucous welcome rally for Madaki at Mahmoud Ribadu Square, where thousands turned out to cheer the PDP heavyweight’s switch to the APC fold.
He’s intelligent, battle-tested, and always one step ahead
There, with his trademark energy, Salihu hailed the move as a “massive depletion” of the opposition and a clear sign of the party’s mounting momentum toward 2027.
It’s the sort of hands-on leadership that’s earned him quiet admiration and now, this very public push for more.
What makes Salihu stand out, Atiku insists, is his remarkable journey; a man who’s climbed every rung of life’s ladder with grit and grace.
Born and bred in Adamawa, Salihu cut his teeth as a military personnel, honing discipline and resolve in service to the nation.
He then pivoted to banking, where his sharp mind turned complex deals into successes, before diving headlong into politics and business.
“He’s intelligent, battle-tested, and always one step ahead,” Atiku said, his voice carrying the weight of someone who’s watched from the trenches.
“Whoever is faithful in little things should be entrusted with much greater ones. Comrade Mustapha isn’t just faithful, he’s exceeded every expectation. Despite all odds, he’s kept the party together, expanded its reach, and turned skeptics into believers.”
The numbers back up the hype. Under Salihu’s watch, the APC in Adamawa has seen a surge in youth involvement, thanks in no small part to his personal touch.
Whoever is faithful in little things should be entrusted with much greater ones. Comrade Mustapha isn’t just faithful, he’s exceeded every expectation
Just last month, he doled out N1 million each to about 50 young party members, kickstarting businesses that are already creating jobs and loyalty in equal measure.
And when the party hit rock bottom, literally stranded without a proper office in the state, Salihu stepped up, single-handedly securing a multimillion-naira space that now serves as the APC’s nerve center in Yola.
“That wasn’t just generosity; it was vision,” Atiku noted. “He’s united the faithful with the help of stakeholders like our own NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, turning potential fractures into unbreakable bonds.”
Salihu’s impact stretches beyond Adamawa’s borders, too. As North East Vice Chairman, he’s been the engine room for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the region, from spearheading e-registration workshops in Maiduguri last month to engaging stakeholders across the six states in strategic meetings that reaffirm the party’s ironclad support for the president.
When someone is doing well, it’s our duty as party members, as Nigerians to applaud them
In a recent powwow with executives, elders, and youth leaders from Adamawa’s 21 local governments, Salihu urged members to “close ranks and work collectively,” describing the state’s APC chapter as a “model of discipline and resilience.”
His efforts have quelled old rivalries, reconciled feuding factions, and positioned the North East as a bulwark for the party’s 2027 ambitions, no small feat in a zone where politics can turn on a dime.
Atiku didn’t stop at the praise; he made a bold call to action. “When someone is doing well, it’s our duty as party members, as Nigerians to applaud them,” he said, a spark of conviction in his eyes.
“I can bet my last kobo that Mustapha was the best choice the APC ever made for the North East. Appraisingly, he’s outworked the position; he’s bigger than it now. If I were calling the shots, I’d know exactly where to place this workaholic, trusted fellow. And I believe many will concur.”
It’s good for the APC to reward such individuals in a better way to encourage them and inspire the next generation
He wrapped up with a plea to the party’s national leadership: “It’s good for the APC to reward such individuals in a better way to encourage them and inspire the next generation.”
Whispers in Yola’s corridors suggest Salihu could be in line for a gubernatorial nod or even a national coordinating role, though sources close to him say he’s focused on the ground game, not the spotlight.
For now, Salihu remains the quiet architect of the APC’s North East revival a man whose service speaks louder than any title.
As Atiku put it, “He’s not just serving; he’s serving with purpose.” In Adamawa, where loyalties shift like the Harmattan winds, that’s the kind of anchor the party and perhaps the nation desperately needs.
With 2027 looming, all eyes are on whether the powers that be will heed the call and give this powerhouse the bigger stage he so richly deserves.
