A support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC,operating under the aegis of Concerned All Progressives Congress Members,Monday,handed down a 14-day ultimatum to the party’s caretaker committee to set up a convention committee or risk mass protest against it by members.
The group insisted that the Governor Mai Mala Buni- led Caretaker must l come up with time table for the National Convention slated for December as directed by NEC of the party within the 14-day time frame.
At a media briefing in Abuja, the group through its spokesman,Abdullahi Dauda,said as concerned members of the party, they have
“watched with amazement and disillusionment for several months the inability of the APC Caretaker Committee to provide direction for the party and set up timetable for December elective convention.”
In a prepared text circulated at the media briefing, the group said:”We are Concerned APC members, who have watched with amazement and disillusionment for several months the inability of the APC Caretaker Committee to provide direction for the party and set up timetable for December elective convention.
“We are not out to discredit the conscientious efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and his team that have taken commendable steps to fight for the progress of the party by setting up the present Caretaker Committee to save the party from internal crisis but to bring to his notice that there are certain areas that the Governor Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee has outrightly failed, especially as it concerns the non-compliance to the scheduled December National Convention.
“We are less than two months away from the December deadline and no meaningful plan is in place for the much awaited convention.”
While recalling that “the committee led by Mai Mala Buni was inaugurated to carryout two critical challenges faced by our great party”, it noted that,”One was for it to reconcile aggrieved members and second, was to conduct a National Convention by December 2020.”
” But information reaching us reveals that they are already scheming to extend their tenure for another one year,”it alleged.
The text read further: “The Buni led Committee has shown in its actions that tenure elongation is its priority and being stakeholders in the Party , we see the urgent need to speak out loudly on time to save our party from another round of self inflicted crisis. It is as our responsibility to speak up for posterity sake.
“We are aware that the composition of the committee is illegal and alien to our party’s constitution abnitio and we are aware some members are in court already as regards that anomaly but due to our respect for Mr President, we allowed the process as a child of necessity and supported it but the present action and body language of the committee necessitated our press conference today.
“Furthermore, we are aware that the committee is planning registration of members which is not part of the resolution of the last NEC. We call on the committee to let legally elected and constituted NWC to come and conduct the new membership registration for the party and jettison this idea. The question remains?
“Why is the Caretaker Committee planning to extend its tenure? To what end?Governor Buni is elected to govern the good people of Yobe state not to jetison his constitutional responsibility and be arranging a sit-tight regime in the party. A word is enough for the wise!
“Why were the caretaker members and all the governors not present at Edo rallies if they had not compromised the election?
“We note that Gov Fayemi said he did not attend because as chairman of Gov forum, there existed a silent rule not to campaign against another governor of another party. This shows Fayemi is more loyal to PDP than APC who gave him the platform to be a governor in the first instance.
“From our deep analyses, the Buni led Committee lost out in its first assignment in Edo where it allegedly conspired with some over ambitious Governors to sabotage the party.
“We have it on good authority that Governor Buni personally called Caretaker Committee members not to go for campaigns in Edo. This act of betrayal to a party that has done so much for him is condemnable.
“Ondo would have been another disappointment but for the unity of purpose by leadership of the South West zone to avoid another embarrassing outing.
We cannot hold our peace anymore, our collective silence is an indictment.”
The group further said,”We are worried about the damning personal interest of the committee led by Buni.”
” We are also worried that if not curtailed on time, it would mature to nurture the collapse of our party as we approach 2023 elections,”it added.
“We have therefore resolved as follows:That we are giving the Caretaker committee 14 day ultimatum to roll out plan of action/timetable for the party’s December elective convention, Or face mass demonstration of party members nationwide.
“That a time table leading to a hitch free convention be released within the next 14 days.
“That the Caretaker Committee should halt the proposed registration of fresh members and allow the next National Working Committee members to carry out such assignments.
“That Mr. President should call the Buni led Caretaker Committee to order before it buries the party,” the APC members threatened.
