…Vows to resist imposition of leaders
…People will always complain when they lose -Akpanudoedehe
BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
A group, which described itself as Concerned Stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Wednesday in Abuja, at a media briefing declared the party a failure, and called for a rebirth for it not to sink.
The group also alleged that the party has been hijacked by some cabals which led it to deviate from the ideal political party the founding fathers envisioned during its formation in 2013.
The Convener, Concerned Stakeholders, Abubakar Usman, noted that the briefing became imperative to draw the attention of members and supporters of the APC, both within and outside the country to the urgent need to reverse the eminent descent of the party into possible extinction.
He said “It is on record that some powerful individuals in the political party that was then in power engaged in this habit of micromanaging almost everything that went on in the party. Members were denied their legitimate rights to full participation in the affairs of the party and those not seen to be falling in line are ostracized.
“The aforementioned characteristics contributed to the eventual implosion of the party, an opportunity we took full advantage of and moved from being an opposition party to the party in power. It is, therefore, very surprising, and indeed, worrisome that the APC since coming to power has continuously toed the part of what brought down the other party.”
In a speech titled “Before the All Progressives Congress goes to extinction”, he lamented the level lawlessness and impunity being exhibited by the cabals whom he alleged brand themselves godfathers of the party.
“As part of activities leading to our National Convention, we have held Ward and Local Government Congresses in a very undemocratic way, clearly imposing leadership on members at the grassroots in the guise of the so called ‘consensus’ candidate.
“While we acknowledge that consensus is one of our party’s Constitutional provisions, it is an irrefutable fact that the APC Constitution did not envisage a situation where certain individuals, whether as governors, former governors or party leaders would coerce members into accepting a premeditated outcome as a mutually agreed option. A forced outcome is never a consensus, because any procedure that does not uphold the freedom of choice of individuals cannot be said to embody the progressive politics that APC ought to represent
“Like majority of APC members nationwide, we desire a party that exists to cater to the varying interests of its diverse membership. We seek a party that is truly for all members, that is run by all members as stakeholders, that is owned by all members, and that derives its strength from the belief, trust and investment of the ordinary members, who are its backbone.
“We are committed to the rebirth of the APC as a viable party that is not owned by powerful individuals or cabals, but rather one whose strength and very existence are predicated on its ability to command the loyalty and dedication of its teeming members through justice, fairness and transparency. This is our expectation for the party, and it is the one cardinal desire in pursuit of which we are prepared to invest our time, energy and resources.
“Our mission is to push for the rebirth of the APC, both in name, character and substance, and return it to the path of the very ideals upon which it was founded, where all its principles and ideologies as put together during its formation are honoured and respected by all members of the party.
“We take the courageous step of admitting that the APC has deviated from the ideal political party our founding fathers envisioned during its formation in 2013. Having succeeded in winning the elections and enthroning the government in 2015 to birth the radical change that was in urgent need in the country, the onerous task of managing the party as a true and progressive political party began to hit brick walls as early as the party came into power. Much more than not, the APC has functioned as an association run and operated in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of whichever group that is dominant at any particular period.
“If it seems like the APC is headed in the wrong direction today, it is because we laid the foundation and nurtured it towards that trajectory many years ago. We cannot continue in this manner, and we believe it is time for the APC to rebirth and reinvent itself as a true, progressive and reform-minded political party that is constantly evolving in accordance with its philosophical objectives and the yearnings of the majority of its members, Usman added.
He warned the group would not fold hands and watch the destructive agents destroy the party which enjoyed the acceptance of the people on formation even when the ruling party at that time was a mega party.
“We may have missed the opportunity to right these wrongs at the two levels where congresses already held, but the forthcoming national convention presents a perfect opportunity that we must take advantage of.
“Consequently, these Concerned Stakeholders demand that open contestation must be the only option for every position in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, rather than the imposition of anointed candidates in the name of consensus as was the case with the party’s recent Wards and Local Government congresses.
“We demand that the set of leaders that will emerge from the forthcoming national convention must be those who do not only have what it takes to give a new life to the APC in the interest of all members, they must be people with unquestionable characters and proven records of progressiveness. Therefore, stringent conditions must be given as criteria qualifying anyone to hold a national office in the All Progressives Congress. The question of the many ex-this and ex-that having to run the affairs of the party despite their glaring failures in previous responsibilities must not be entertained.
“We equally charge the party’s Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee with ensuring that the National Convention’s date, guidelines, and other arrangements are made public prior to the state Congress slated for October 16th. This will not only dispel the widely held belief that the Buni-led committee is playing out a script with its continuous stay in office, it will ensure proper and adequate planning for the convention. Conducting this national convention and handing over to a duly elected and constituted National Working Committee is even more germane at this point in time that many legal challenges have been mounted against the Caretaker Committee in the court of law,” he said.
The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other concerned leaders to rise up to reignite the confidence of the people who believe in and rely on their leadership by ensuring that the forthcoming national convention right is not only with the enthronement of leaders the APC needs at this time, but also safeguard their legacies from being wiped away.
Reacting, the national secretary of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe said, “People have aspiration and if they fail or not meet, they are bound to form association. We will always look for credible candidates to win. People must make themselves to love the party. What people should be talking about is the performance of the party in delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians. It is their right to vent anger but consensus allows cohesion and cohesiveness.
“Those God wants to be there will be there. The beauty of this CECPC is to ensure rancour free process and we are doing that. But not everybody will be happy. I want to advise them to stay in the party and associate with the stakeholders and lobby them.
“We followed the Constitution of the party to conduct the process. The reports before us don’t give impression that the processes were flawed. People should stop playing to the gallery. We set up appeal panels and I am not sure they explored the channel for redress. Even when they go, they can’t prove their case,” he said.
He also dismissed claim that party faithful were not being carried along.
“We will continue to mend fences, I won’t say people are being carried along hundred percent bit I can say the party is owned by the people now, not by power blocs or minority.
They must trust the chairman of having the elasticity to accommodate everybody and bring everybody together. People will always complain when they lose. This Caretaker can say since inception, we have never had it so good as a party. We have stabilized the party and brought more people to the party. Instead of vilifying us, they should be praising President Muhammadu Buhari,” he concluded.
