A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) Osita Okechukwu, has dismissed an ultimatum given to the governor Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee to conduct a national convention by December.
A group known as Concerned APC members had on Tuesday gave a 14-day ultimatum Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to roll a plan for December 2020 national convention.
But reacting to the development through a statement Tuesday in Abuja, Okechukwu said that reconciliation is more germane for APC now than the convention.
“Am not the spokesman of our great party, am just an ordinary foundation-slip-card carrying member of All Progressives Congress (APC) from Eke Ward in Enugu state. However, am in league with the spokesman of our great party, Yekini Nabena that this is not the time for ultimatum. It is first reconciliation and subsequently election convention. Our great Zik in similar scenario admonished that we first prepare the ground well before we lay the mat.
“I personally can’t factor the true reason behind Alhaji Abdullahi Dauda’s concerned APC members preference for a December, 2020 National Convention to genuine reconciliation of gravely fractured party before convention?
“Truly, methinks we should all support the Mai Mala Buni (MMB) led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to diligently fix and reposition our great party before any convention.”
Asked about the time limit he proposed, Okechukwu said, “A cursory glance at the damage done to the soul of our great party, beginning from our victory in 2015; to regrettably the culture of impunity which bedeviled our 2018 primaries to say the least is unprecedented. Accordingly, the MMB’s Committee requires deep introspection to gather the pieces, reconcile the various warlords and tendencies. If it takes six or twelve months, one may not mind so as to achieve substantial cohesion before the crucial 2023 general elections.”
Reminded that the Concerned APC members are of the opinion that it will be counterproductive to extend the tenure of the MMB’s Committee, Okechukwu quipped, “please help me ask them, what’s the main terms of reference of the MMB’s Committee? For me the main one, is reconciliation! reconciliation! reconciliation! Reconciliation is the main ingredient in forging a united front in line with our symbol, the broom. Without which the second terms of reference, which is the national convention will definitely produce a factional national chairman, who in turn will produce a keg-leg presidential candidate. Lets avoid such sordid scenario, as much as possible.
“Thirdly, it is important that they conclude biometric party registration. What we have today is slip-card and no one can in a finger tip, tell us our numbers. By the time they conclude biometric registration, we will know our exact number and exact demographic membership. This will help in 2023 general elections.
“If actually they do not want to discredit the conscientious efforts of President Buhari and his team, according to them, that took commendable steps to fight for the progress of our great party by setting up the MMB’s Caretaker Committee; then one cannot locate their amazement and disillusionment. When the Committee has not only commenced reconciliation, but had devoted much efforts towards Edo and Ondo State gubernatorial elections.
“Maybe they forgot how the Committee mobilised Progressives Governors Forum to embark on trouble shooting across the country, culminating on the historic visit to our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A visit meant to allow Governor Godwin Obaseki to run on APC’s platform. If Asiwaju had prevailed on Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, our great party could have been the greatest beneficiary. For them now to blame the MMB’s Committee for our loss is more or less charitable.”
