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  • APC reconciliation: Tinubu in Sokoto, meets Tambuwal, Wamakko

    APC reconciliation: Tinubu in Sokoto, meets Tambuwal, Wamakko

    The Head of the Presidential Reconciliation Committee of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday  visited Sokoto, where he met with Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Senator  Aliyu Wamakko.

    Tinubu, accompanied by APC chieftain, Alhaji idi Farouk, held a two-hour closed-door meeting with his hosts at the Government House and Wamakko’s  private  residence at Gawon Nama.

    The meeting was later expanded to accommodate  Deputy Governor Ahmed Aliyu and  the National Vice Chairman of APC (North West), Malam Inuwa Abdulkadir.

    Speaking briefly to reporters after the discussion, Tinubu said he was in Sokoto for a family meeting.

    “Family members meet regularly to talk to each other and I’m here for that purpose.

    “We had a family talk, in talk of today, tomorrow and the future of our country and our ruling APC,” he said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Tinubu on February 7 to resolve the crises rocking some state chapters of the party.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Tinubu’s assignment that the  reconciliation process was part of the efforts to improve cohesion in the party.

    He said the process entails resolving disagreements among party members, party leadership and political office holders in some states of the Federation.

     

     

  • APC chieftain begs Tinubu to address Cross River party crisis

    APC chieftain begs Tinubu to address Cross River party crisis

    A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Utum Eteng, has appealed to National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to urgently address the crisis tearing the party apart in the state. Eteng, a senior legal practitioner, said Tinubu’s appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, to reconcile all aggrieved members of the APC lends credence to the overwhelming confidence in his person.

    He regretted that the crisis in the party in the state threatened its good chances in next year’s elections. His words, “I congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Jagaban Borgu) on the recent appointment by the president to reconcile all aggrieved members of the APC family towards repositioning the party to deliver on the change agenda of the APC led Federal Government. It is an appointment well deserved taking into consideration that the history of the emergence of the APC cannot be completely written without giving him a pride of place.”

    He continued: “This appointment is not only timely, but also lends credence to the overwhelming confidence reposed on your person. I have trust in your ability and capacity to succeed in the arduous task as always. “Sir, as you set to embark on this assignment I want to draw your attention specifically to the avoidable crisis eating deep into the Cross River State chapter of the APC. The crisis is gradually eroding the wonderful opportunity placed on the APC on a platter of gold to win the state governorship election in Cross River State for the APC come 2019 with less stress.

    “The APC debacle in Cross River State is largely caused by the mischief of some overzealous party members, extreme suspicion, pettiness and ingratitude between old and new members to the magnanimity of Mr. President. Every elder wants to make a state chairman out of his stooge at the detriment of collectivism. It is either Mr. A would be state chairman or nobody else even where the constitution of the party is breached. “I am therefore appealing to you to enlist the problems and challenges of Cross River State in your topmost agenda. President Muhammadu Buhari has rewarded Cross River State people with unprecedented patronage and favours and anything short of victory for this party in all elections will not be acceptable. “Once again congratulations on the well deserved appointment and recognition. To the President, I say unequivocally that he made no mistake in your appointment.”

  • Tinubu’s peace moves will succeed, says cleric

    Tinubu’s peace moves will succeed, says cleric

    The National President of the All Christian Leaders/Ministers Forum (ACLMF), Dr. Sam Ogedengbe, has said the appointment of Asiwaju Bola  Tinubu as the chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Consultation and Reconciliatory Panel by President Muhammadu Buhari was a welcome development.

    Ogedengbe, who spoke to reporters at the headquarters of the group in Abule-Egba, Lagos, said: “Such a delicate but very important assignment like this ought to have been given earlier, considering preparations for the coming general election.”

    He, however, said Tinubu, being a light-hearted person, could only be advised to take up the rigorous assignment, if the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, could resign honourably to enable him (Tinubu) concentrate on the assignment and correct the wrongs.

    Ogedengbe said: “If the President can allow Odigie-Oyegun to resign and let Asiwaju Tinubu do the job, the better for the party and Nigerians. But in a situation where stakeholders are not ready to hold on to the truth and extract the needed facts, the end will not augur well for all.”

    He said everything should be done to ensure that Asiwaju Tinubu is not fooled and advised that the needed tools and memorandum of understanding should be provided, to ensure the success of the assignment.

     

  • Tinubu: APC only hope for Nigeria

    Tinubu: APC only hope for Nigeria

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday swung into action on his presidential mission of reconciling the party, which he says remains the only hope to improve the lives of Nigerians.

    Speaking when he visited the party’s secretariat in Abuja, he said the reform the party brought after its 2015 victory could not be implemented like an “instant coffee”. He urged Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government.

    Tinubu arrived at the secretariat at exactly 2.00pm in a black Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and went straight to the office of National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. His meeting with the party leaders at the conference room started at about 2.15 pm and lasted till around 5.30pm.

    The former Lagos State governor said: “We worked hard for victory. We have never governed before, but we won the confidence of Nigerians to govern. We have a creed to really serve the country, change and reform the country. It is not easy to have those changes implemented like instant coffee. We have to grow it and face the challenges.”

    He told members of the National Working Committee (NWC) that he was at the secretariat to consult with them on the assignment given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconcile aggrieved members and set it on a sound footing for the 2019 general elections.

    Tinubu said: “It is a great honour to be before you as one of the leaders of this party. I am here to consult since you are already aware of the directive and announcement by the President who is the leader of our party and the President of this country.

    “First, let me sympatise with our National Vice Chairman’ North Central for the various incidents happening around that corridor and extend our condolences on behalf of the people and our party and equally condole with you on the death of John Shagaya, a very great national patriot. May his soul rest in peace and may God bring peace to Benue, Taraba, Plateau and to the country as a whole including Nasarawa and all other places affected by the age-old system that we are now currently facing the challenges of.

    “I came for consultations since you are aware of the assignment given to me by the President and I am all ears to listen to various challenges that we have. We have this party and we all work hard.

    “After the last convention of the party, congresses were held from various wards to elect representatives from the ward, local government and states’ levels as well as the national level

    “I sympathise with us and we should equally look at ourselves. Since we won the election, the expectation was very high and the goodwill was extremely high. But where are we today?

    “The solution is to seek opinion and advice on the various complex issues around some states or if there is any national one, to reconcile, move the party in a cohesive manner and reposition it and build the confidence among ourselves.

    “The challenges faced by our government and the President are enormous. It is only because people are not paying attention to the various statistics that are available. I won’t touch those areas yet.

    “The challenges of security, the challenges of reforms and re-engineering the finances of this country; stopping the corruption and challenging the status quo to change and reform ourselves is there. It does not go away overnight. You work on and work hard at it.

    “For us, we have been patient, we have persevered to having this victory, but how are we now? We should equally face the immediate, medium and serious challenges that politically, we will be facing. I believe that our party is the hope of Nigeria to improve quality of lives and we will do that.”

    Odigie-Oyegun said the visit was significant as part of healing the wound and preparing the party for victory in the forthcoming elections.

    He said: “Your visit is very significant in view of your Presidential assignment which I will describe as a peace ambassador, to heal wounds where the party has wounds and bring everybody together behind one single objective which is the APC being in good condition to be a fighting political force such that in 2019, the election will become virtually a runaway victory for the party.

    “There is no question at all that we have major issues with the National Assembly, major issues in Kano, Kogi, Benue states which are the current challenges we are facing. So, we truly welcome your appointment and I want to say that we will give you all the assistance that you will possibly need to make your assignment a most successful one.”

    National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said after the meeting that it was to strategise on how to go about the assignment given to the national leader, adding that the party had pledged to assist him to succeed.

    He said “It was an exploratory meeting to strategize on how to move forward. It was a meeting to share ideas and plan how we progress in the days ahead. We are all happy to work together and we are happy that the assignment was given to Asiwaju as our leader and we are willing and ready to cooperate with him.

    “At this meeting, we all made it clear that we want to work with him and the national chairman said we will cooperate with him in whatever way and support him in this assignment.”

  • Tinubu and burden of reconciliation in APC

    Tinubu and burden of reconciliation in APC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to reconcile aggrieved members of the party to ensure harmony and cohesion ahead of the 2019 general elections. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the issues involved in the affected state chapters and how the reconciliation move would enhance the fortunes of the ruling party at the polls.

    RESOLVING the intra party crises rocking many state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not likely to be a tea party. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu recently to lead the party’s reconciliation effort and improve cohesion within the fold, as preparations for the 2019 general elections gradually get underway.

    Tinubu’s mandate includes resolving disagreements among party members, particularly the leadership of the party in various chapters and political office holders. Given the existence of factions in virtually all the states controlled by the APC, observers are of the view that it is imperative for the ruling party to put its house in order before campaign for 2019 begins. If properly carried out, analysts believe the initiative is capable of rescuing the APC from disintegration and in turn enhance its performance in the next general elections.

    Analysts are of the view that Tinubu has a difficult job on his hands, because many chieftains in different state chapters and political office holders are at dagger drawn and the party is polarised in factions. Besides, the leadership of the National Assembly are not on the same page with the executive. Though the APC is in majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives and produced the leadership of both chambers, the party members in the two houses play the role of opposition, to the admiration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the official opposition party. As a result, budget proposals, government nominees and requests usually suffer delays in getting approvals.

    For the APC to succeed in papering these cracks, the leadership of the party must face reality in its approach to tackling the problem. Lagos lawyer and civil right activist, Mr Monday Ubani, cautioned the leadership of the party not pretend that all is well. He said there are issues that must be resolved, for the party to avoid protest votes by the aggrieved factions or individuals in 2019. He added: “It is not too late to address the contending issues that have created factions in many states chapters.”

    Ubani said the time to unite the party is now, because in few months the party, going by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) time table, would hold primaries to choose candidates for various elective positions for the 2019 general elections. He said the APC should avoid a situation whereby the aggrieved factions or individuals would use the convention grounds to ventilate their anger.

    The civic rights activist commended President Buhari for setting up a committee headed by Tinubu to bring all aggrieved members to a round table. He is optimistic that Tinubu will deliver. He added: “If the aggrieved members or groups know that you are serious with the reconciliation and all the mistakes are corrected, they will forgive you. To err is human and to forgive is divine.

    “The President should be sincere with Tinubu, so that the reconciliation would be genuine. He should be given the power to address the issues. Tinubu is not in government, how can he make changes and calm the frayed nerves. This can be done if the President accepts and implements the recommendations of the committee. If the leadership of the APC agrees to address the perceived injustice on time with genuine interest, it will help the party. If not, it will do more damages to the fortunes of the party.”

    To Professor Ayo Olukotun, the idea of saddling Tinubu with the reconciliation of aggrieved individuals and groups in the APC speaks volumes about the importance of the APC leader to the continued existence and success of the party. To that extent, he described the move as a good idea.

    Olukotun, a professor of Political Science at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), appears to agree with the statement credited to Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas that “if Bola Ahmed Tinubu dumps President Muhammadu Buhari, he (Buhari) runs the risk of losing popularity before the 2019 elections”. The statement added: “Tinubu is the only hope of Buhari’s re-election come 2019. If he says that he will not support Buhari, the Southwest is gone.”

    Aligning himself with Falola’s view, Olukotun said the leadership of Asiwaju in the APC is not in doubt. His words: “Whether you like Tinubu or not, you can’t take away from him the strategic importance of continued existence of the APC. Tinubu is the gate.”

    On the essence of reconciliation, Olukotun explained that “when you have a mega party like the APC, the different dimension of national question and the crack in the wall of Nigerian federation are transferred to the mega party. The party becomes a mini-Nigeria, reflecting the contradictions, the crisis and the cracks within the larger polity.

    “There is this feeling that Buhari has not been fair to the constituent parts of Nigeria, except his own part of the country. Furthermore, the strategic role played by Tinubu that led to Buhari’s victory in 2015 has not been given due recognition. All these facts will make the assignment difficult and somehow ironic.

    “It appears a belated recognition of the pre-eminent role which Tinubu played in bringing about the APC. It would have been nicer if the assignment had come earlier with the reverence that is due to Asiwaju Tinubu, so that it is not seen as an errand boy assignment. It’s a tough assignment.”

    But the Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr Anthony Sani, disagreed with Olukotun’s position. He said Tinubu does not need any tutorials to be able to deliver on his mandate. His words: “Senator Tinubu is a serious-minded politician who knows what is required to reconcile the party into a united platform that can face the challenges with clear head that comes with determination, harmony and stability. I do not believe Senator Tinubu needs any tutorials to be able to deliver on the promise of his mandate.”

    Sani also dismissed the insinuation that Tinubu has grievances with the APC leadership. He said: “I am not aware that Senator Tinubu has complained of being marginalised by the party, because he has debunked such reports and has asked Nigerians to support the current regime under President Buhari. I believe those who gave him the assignment would not do so, if his loyalty was in doubt.

    “The senator is a serious politician; I do not see him accepting the assignment if he does not believe in the party any more. What is more, Senator Tinubu does not see politics as an individual enterprise, but a collective mission. Tinubu’s constituency is adequately represented in this government. As a result, the senator would be too happy to serve a party which has given his immediate constituency the opportunity for their progressive ideology to find expression.”

    On the timing of the reconciliation move, the ACF scribe states: “One year is not too short for any reconciliation to take place and enable the party to come together, to confront the challenges ahead with unity of purpose, clear thought and morality. I do not think it is too late. The APC does not want to confront the coming general elections as a divided house, but as a sturdy platform brought about by the reconciliation.”

    Civil rights activist Comrade Mashood Erubami said President Buhari took the right decision by choosing Tinubu to lead the reconciliation process. He said that was the best decision, under the circumstance the party found itself. He advised those who were jolted by the choice of Tinubu as a peace envoy not to be biased, but to begin to understand and appreciate the position occupied by the National Leader in the party.

    Erubami was optimistic that the Tinubu-led peace committee will successfully reposition the APC as a mega party. His words: “With Asiwaju in the fore-front of peace-building moves among the members of the party and the strong confidence that the President has in him, forging a renewed and sincere alliance will bring the APC back into its glorious space and rekindle the confidence of the people in its undoubted capacity to deliver and help the masses from the state of penury to state of prosperity.”

    The activist said the peace building work that Tinubu has been saddled with must “not only bring party members together for the continued enjoyment the available patronages, but also encourage a new covenant between the people and the APC, particularly in re-jigging its manifesto to conform to current realities”.

    Erubami believes that with the reconciliation process, “conflict resolution among the party members will lead to genuine deliberative governance that will target new economic, political and ideological measures to be newly designed to improve the lives of citizens, with new orientation for gainful engagement, new and better welfare for the people”.

    The Tinubu committee is expected to move from one chapter to the other and reconcile the warring factions. There are a lot of grievances among major stakeholders that have proved intractable. These grievances are also responsible for lack of cohesion in the party. Some of the states where members of the APC are at cross purposes are listed below.

     

    Kano

    The political tussle between the immediate past governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso  and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje appear to have reached a point of no return. This is to the extent that governor declared recently that he has parted ways with his predecessor forever.

    Kwankwaso and Ganduje were former political associates who enjoyed harmonious relationship since 1999. But a fierce battle between them broke out immediately after the former handed over power to the latter. The crisis brought cracks within the ruling APC in the state. While the supporters of Kwankwaso are known as the Kwankwasiyya movement, those backing Ganduje are referred to as Gandujiyya group.

    The tension has been so high among members of the two factions that the Kwankwasiyya group had filed a lawsuit in Abuja to try to stop the recent local government elections. The Ganduje group has warned Kwankwaso not to visit Kano, because his safety can longer be guaranteed.

    Extolling his innocence, Ganduje said: “Everybody knows we are innocent in our crisis with Kwankwasiyya. What baffles me is that they are going round the country saying we can’t win election. This is ridiculous. This is lie. I have never seen such an enmity. Do these people love us? But they are calling for reconciliation. For what? If we reconcile, how do we manage this red cap? I myself, I’m about to remove my own. Kwankwasiyya is not a political party. So, what would be our position if we reconcile?”

    The Kwankwaso faction appears to have the backing of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau. Three of the former governor’s top associates declared support for the Kwankwaso movement on January 26, 2018. Shekarau was a foundation member of the APC; he was a member of the committee that harmonised the various political parties that transformed into the APC in 2014. He pulled out of the party when the APC national leadership appointed Kwankwaso as party leader in the state; a decision Shekarau considered absurd.

    A close watcher of Kano politics, Malam Idris Gwamaja, said the crisis has deepened to the extent that both factions have sworn not to come together again. He said with the calibre of the Tinubu-led committee coming to broker peace in Kano APC that there might be a solution in sight.

    He said: “I am sure they will listen to him. Both Kwawanso and Ganduje are close to Tinubu. Besides, the APC National Leader should extend his reconciliation mission in Kano to include Shekarau. He was a member of the committee that formed the APC. He should be brought back into the fold; he’s an influential politician in Kano.”

     

    Kaduna

    The feud between Governor Nasir el-Rufai and the Senator representing Kaduna Central Malam Shehu Sani has polarised the APC in the state. The crisis reached a climax in January 2016, when Sani was suspended from the party for 11 months for criticising the governor’s policies publicly and for portraying him in a bad light before the international community. The suspension lapsed on December 2, 2016.  Sani and his supporters had expected that they would be fully re-absorption into the party. But, the senator was again given an indefinite suspension. Besides, his house was attacked by some youths and his constituency office later vandalised.

    Analysts believe that the genesis of the crisis could be traced to the APC governorship primary where el-Rufai given the party’s ticket for the 2015 election. It was learnt that Sani had wanted to contest for governorship, but he was pressurised to allow el-Rufai who was considered the favourite of the President. Thus, Sani settled for the senatorial ticket. He contested and won the election. But, since then, there has been cat and mouse relationship between him and the governor.

    At a point, the APC national secretariat intervened and quashed the earlier suspension slammed on Sani by the state executive of the party. The mediation team that restored peace between the feuding parties was led by the APC Vice Chairman (North West), Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir. Despite the intervention, peace has continued to elude Kaduna APC.

     

    Kogi

    The crisis in the Kogi APC chapter was triggered by the emergence of Yahaya Bello as governor, following the death of Prince Abubakar Audu who was the APC candidate in the November 2015 governorship election. Audu died before he could be declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). As a result, his running mate Hon. James Faleke insisted that he was the right person to replace Audu, since they ran the election on a joint ticket. But, INEC after consultations with legal minds decided that the first runner-up in the APC governorship primary was the rightful replacement for Audu. Consequently, Bello was declared winner.

    Faleke headed for the courts to challenge Bello’s emergence. The matter went up to Supreme Court, which eventually ruled that INEC followed due process in replacing Audu. Since then, there has been no respite in the Kogi chapter. Stakeholders are concerned by the growing animosity between the governor and other major stakeholders; they appear to be working at cross purposes.

    Analysts believe that the Kogi crisis will not be difficult for Tinubu to handle, because he knows everything involved; he will prevail on Faleke and his supporters to embrace peace and join hands with the governor in the interest of the party.

     

    Oyo

    The battle of supremacy between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the Minister of Communication, Hon. Adebayo Shittu, has destabilised the APC in Oyo State. Shittu has never hidden his interest to succeed Ajimobi who will complete his second term in May next year.

    Before the APC came on board, Shittu belonged to the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He contested the 2011 governorship election on the platform of the party and lost to Ajimobi who was the candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Interestingly, the CPC and the ACN are two of the major parties that metamorphosed into the APC. After winning the 2015 presidential election, President Buhari who was the CPC presidential candidate in 2011 compensated Shittu with ministerial appointment, without consulting the state governor. Ajimobi considered this development a slight on him, as the party leader in the state.

    The cold war took a new dimension when Shittu reported Ajimobi to Buhari in a petition. He alleged among other things that the governor is trying to hijack the party in Oyo State. The strained relationship played out recently when the Southwest Zonal Campaign Office for President Buhari/Osinbajo re-election support group initiated by Shittu was commissioned in Ibadan. Ajimobi and other state APC officials, as well as other state governors in the region boycotted the programme.

     

    Ogun

    The governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Adeola has pitched him against Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Adeola is currently representing Lagos West in the Senate. He hails from Yewa in Ogun West Senatorial District, which has never produced governor since the state was created 40 years ago.

    Amosun has never hidden his feeling towards Adeola’s ambition. He has ruled out the possibility of the senator succeeding him. Despite the governor’s rebuff, Adeola has been going round the state to seek the peoples support. Another issue that Tinubu may have to contend with is where the APC governorship candidate will come from. The people of Ogun West Senatorial District are at loggerheads with the Ogun East senatorial zone. The people of Ogun West insist that the governorship position should be conceded to them, for the sake of equity and justice, because it was the only senatorial district that has not produced governor since the inception of the state over 40 years ago. But, Ogun East stakeholders argue that power rotates between the Egba and Ijebu divisions and not on senatorial basis. Amosun has publicly declared support for Ogun West as the zone that will succeed him in 2019.

     

    Ondo

    The Ondo APC governorship primary of September 3, 2016 was the root cause of the division in the state chapter. The incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, was declared winner by the Election Committee headed by Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar.  Aggrieved aspirants faulted the process through which Akeredolu emerged. One of them Dr Segun Abraham went to court to challenge the validity of the primary. The matter is still pending in court. Another aspirant, Chief Olusola Oke dumped the APC and joined the Allied for Democracy (AD) to contest the governorship election.

    The first casualty of the post-primary exercise was the state chairman, Isaac Kekemeke who was sacked from office, while his deputy, Ade Adetimehin, was elevated to the position of Chairman. Kekemeke has challenged his removal in court; the matter is still pending.

    While Oke has returned to the APC, those that followed him to AD are being rebuffed. They are seen as renegades that should not be pardoned, because they worked against the APC during the governorship election.

     

    Bauchi

    The power tussle for the control of the Bauchi State chapter of the APC between the federal lawmakers from the state led by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Governor Mohammed Abubakar, is responsible for the crisis rocking the chapter.

    Dogara and members of the National Assembly are on one side of the divide, while the governor, members of the state assembly, state commissioners and a large chunk of the party structure are on the other side.

    The genesis of the crisis dates back to 2014 governorship primary. Efforts to reconcile the aggrieved members appear to have failed. The Dogara group complained that the governor did not support him in his quest to become Speaker. They accused the governor of alienating other critical stakeholders in the administration of the state and the party secretariat.

     

    Zamfara

    The face-off between Governor Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Marafa has created a crack in the state chapter. The clash was over the nomination of Ahmad Bello Mahmud by President Muhammadu Buhari as Resident Electoral Commission (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Governor Yari had insisted that the nominee who was to represent Zamfara in INEC should not be confirmed by the Senate, because the nominee is from Sokoto State. Marafa said Mahmud should be allowed to represent the state. Since then the two gladiators have resorted to name calling.

     

    Sokoto

    For more than two years after he was elected governor of Sokoto State, there was no respite for Aminu Tambuwal. An APC governorship aspirant, Senator Umaru Dahiru, who lost the party’s governorship ticket to Tambuwal during the primary had challenged his nomination in court. The senator asked the court to set aside the party’s primary that produced Tambuwal on the ground that it was not validly conducted. The case dragged from the Federal High Court up to the Supreme Court. However, the suit was dismissed by the apex court late last year.

    The inability of the party leadership to resolve the dispute at the initial stage had left observers wondering if the antagonist is not enjoying the backing of some party leaders in the state that would have been happy to see Tambuwal sent packing.

     

    Gombe

    The inability of APC members in Gombe State to come together under one executive committee denied them victory in the last governorship election. Trouble started during the 2015 shadow election when the party was polarised into two factions, with one faction led by Magaji Doho and the other by Karu Ishaya.

    Both factions enjoyed the backing of some political heavyweights like former Governor Danjuma Goje and former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Senator Usman Nafada.

    It is hoped that the current reconciliation effort within the APC will help resolve the protracted crisis.

     

    Borno

    All would have been well with Borno APC, but for the running battle between Governor Kashim Shettima and Senator Abu Kyari who represents Borno North in the upper legislative chamber. Kyari is interested in succeeding Shettima in office come 2019.

    However, the governor does not want Kyari to succeed him. The political ambition of Kyari has polarised the APC chapter. Interestingly, both of them served as commissioners under former Governor Ali Modu-Sheriff.

     

    Bayelsa

    In Bayelsa State, the APC is in comatose. It is practically non-existent in the state; a situation which has given the PDP the chance to continue to dominate the state. During the 2016 governorship primary, the party split into two groups with the former Governor Timipre Sylva leading a group and his former protégée, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, leading another.

    The division was the major reason the party lost the last governorship election; as one faction was accused of selling out to the PDP. While the group that is loyal to Sylva claims that Orunimighe has been suspended from the party for anti-party activities, he (Orunimighe) insists “I am still the authentic chairman of the party and I can suspend anybody no matter the status of that person”.

     

  • Updated: APC must restore Nigerians’ confidence – Tinubu

    Updated: APC must restore Nigerians’ confidence – Tinubu

    The National leader of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said on Wednesday the party must strive to restore the confidence and overwhelming goodwill of Nigerians that brought it to power in 2015.

    Speaking at a meeting with the members of the National Working Committee of the APC in Abuja, Tinubu, who was given a presidential mandate to reconcile members of the party across the country ahead of the 2019 general election, said despite the challenges facing the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the APC remains the hope of Nigerians.

    He arrived the APC secretariat at exactly 2: 00 p.m. in a black land cruiser jeep and went straight to the office of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, before they proceeded to the NWC conference room for the meeting which started at 2:15 p.m. and ended at 5.30 p.m.

    He said although the party had never governed before the 2015 elections, it earned the confidence of Nigerians to govern and had a creed to really serve, change and reform the country.

    The former Lagos State governor was visiting the party secretariat for the first time since 2015.

    Tinubu told members of the NWC he was at the secretariat to consult with them on the assignment given to him by the President to reconcile aggrieved members of the party and put it on a sound footing ahead of the 2019 general election.

    He said: “It is a great honour to be before you as one of the leaders of this party. I am here to consult since you are already aware of the directive of the President who is the leader of our party and the President of this country.

    “First, let me sympathize with our National Vice Chairman North Central for the various incidents that happened around that corridor and extend our condolences on behalf of the people and our party and equally condole you on the death of John Shagaya, a very great national patriot. May his soul rest in peace and may God bring peace to Benue, Taraba, Plateau and to the country as a whole including Nasarawa and all other places affected by the age old system that we are now currently facing the challenges of.

    “I started to say that I came for consultations. Consultations since you are aware of the assignment given to me by the President and I am all ears to listen to various challenges that we have. We have this party and we all worked hard.

    “After the last convention of the party, congresses were held from various wards to elect representatives from the ward, local government and states levels  as well as the national level.

    “We worked hard for victory. We have never govern before, but we won the confidence of Nigerians to govern. We have a creed to really serve the country, change and reform the country. It is not easy to have those changes implemented like instant curfew. We have to grow it and face challenges.

    “I sympathize with us and we should equally look at ourselves. Since we won the election, the expectations were very high and the goodwill was extremely high. But where are we today?”

     

  • Tinubu visits APC secretariat for consultation

    Tinubu visits APC secretariat for consultation

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday visited the National Secretariat of the party to consult with members of the National Working Committee (NWC) on how to undertake the reconciliation of aggrieved members of the party across the country.

    He arrived the APC secretariat at exactly 2: 00 p.m. in a black land cruiser jeep and went straight to the office of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, before they proceeded to the NWC conference room for their meeting.

    Tinubu, who was visiting the secretariat for the first time since 2015, told his host that the party came into power with enormous goodwill which they must strive to restore.

     

  • Tinubu to Obasanjo, IBB: let Nigeria move forward

    Tinubu to Obasanjo, IBB: let Nigeria move forward

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday enjoined former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to retire and “allow us to move our country forward”.

    Obasanjo, in a “special press statement” last month, slammed the Muhammadu Buhari administration and “advised the President not to seek reelection”.

    Babangida followed it up with a controversial statement which was also not complimentary to the Buhari administration.

    Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande, the former interim chairman of the APC, met with President Buhari at the Aso Villa one and a half hours after the President’s meeting with another former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Responding to a question on the statements made by Obasanjo and Babangida, Tinubu said: ”I don’t address those shadows. We should let our former presidents join retirees’ club and take pensions but they can participate in our politics if they are interested.

    “It is a free world but this freedom is not served a la carte. They should allow us to move our country forward. It is a challenge to every Nigerian.”

    On the chances of the APC in the 2019 elections, the former Lagos State governor said: “You are asking me an obvious question. I belong to this party. My commitment is to this party. We have a better chance and we are strongly determined to prosecute election in a most transparent and democratic manner and we will win.”

    Tinubu, who is the head of a presidential panel to reconcile APC leaders and unite the party,  told reporters that he felt “greatly honoured” being offered the job.

    .He said: “I feel greatly honoured with the mutual confidence that the President has reposed in me, which is a very strong political challenge. We have started in earnest.

    “He has given me a free hand to put cohesion, confidence and trust in the party. Democracy is about conflict resolution process. You can’t do it without resolving conflicts.

    “We can’t build it without understanding the conflicts and sources where we are coming from. But we want to leave the country with a legacy. It’s not about Mr. President. That is what he’s telling the country.

    “It’s about our country and no other choice to democratic tenets than through political party platforms.”

    Tinubu described President Buhai as “one of those rare beings around the country, around Africa who have experienced both worlds: he fought a battle to save Nigeria and came to politics to save Nigeria.

    “Very rare people have such an opportunity in their life time and that’s what we talk about legacy, and where we have all the challenges, do what we should do. I’m enjoying the challenges so far.”

    Gen. Abubakar met with the President immediately after he received letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Niger to Nigeria, Mr Alat Mogaskia; the High Commissioner of Ghana, Alhaji Rashid Bawa and that of Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy Sea to Nigeria, the Most Rev. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi.

    The former Head of State declined to speak to reporters after the meeting, which lasted for less than one hour.

  • Tinubu condoles with Buhari over loss of sister-in-law, niece

    Tinubu condoles with Buhari over loss of sister-in-law, niece

    All Progressives Congress stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commiserated with President Muhammadu Buhari over the passing of his niece, Hajiya Halima Dauda, and the wife of the president’s brother Hajiya Ai’sha Alhaji Mamman.

    In separate letters, Asiwaju, also condoled the president’s nephew and close associate, Malam Mamman Daura, and Personal Assistant to Buhari, Mallam Mohammed Sabi’u Tunde over the loss.

    Hajiya Halima, who died at the age of 56, was the mother of Sabi’u, one of the 10 children she left behind.

    In his condolence letter to the president, Tinubu said: “Please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences over the death of your niece, Hajiya Halima Dauda and that of Hajiya Ai’sha Alhaji Mamman, the wife of your older brother, Alhaji Mamman.

    “Losing close relations can be a painful emotional experience. I know how it feels because I have been through this way before. But let us be consoled by the time we shared with them and the good memories we have. Time and courage will sail through this rough period.

    “My thoughts and prayers are with you Mr. President. May Almighty Allah comfort you and the family at this moment. May He give you the strength and courage to bear it all. To the deceased, I pray that Allah grant them eternal rest”.

    In another letter to Sabi’u, the APC leader said: “I cannot possibly imagine what you are going through at this trying time. It is never easy to lose a mum. Please let the fond memories of your mum and the good time you shared comfort you.

    “Rest assured that you are in my thoughts and prayers. At this time, my prayer for you and other members of the family at this time is that Allah in His infinite mercies comfort you and stand by you and the family.

    “Know that I’m available if you need a shoulder to lean on. May Allah bless her soul”.

    Tinubu, in another letter to Malam Daura, extended his commiseration to him over the loss of the two members of the family.

  • Give Tinubu’s panel a chance, APC chief tells aggrieved members

    Give Tinubu’s panel a chance, APC chief tells aggrieved members

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ekiti State, Chief Oladiran Adesua, has urged aggrieved state chapters as well as individuals, who are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the party, to give the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Reconciliation Committee the chance to reposition the party.

    President Mohammadu Buhari recently nominated the former Lagos State governor to lead a reconciliation committee with the mandate to resolve any crisis among members.

    Adesua, a former Ekiti State Commissioner for Works, said the President took a good decision to have saddled Asiwaju Tinubu with the reconciliation of aggrieved party members.

    He said Asiwaju Tinubu remained the most respected member of the party.

    Adesua, who addressed reporters yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, said the crisis rocking some state chapters of the APC were not beyond what the party leader can resolve.

    On the coalition movement being championed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the former commissioner said it was just a distraction.

    He urged the leadership of the party to examine some things Obasanjo said and use it to move the party forward.

    Adesua said: “My advice to our aggrieved party men and women is to give the reconciliation committee, led by our revered leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, the benefit of the doubt.

    “His choice to me is a right decision by the President. He remains one of the pillars of the party. I doubt if anyone has reservations about his choice because he is well respected.

    “Party crisis is part of democracy. Even in our nuclear family, there is disagreement, not to talk of a ruling party. I believe that Asiwaju Tinubu is capable of resolving the crisis rocking our party, if he is given the chance.”

    On Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), the APC governorship aspirant said the movement is not a threat to the party.

    Adesua said: “The coalition is just a distraction to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. But it will soon die. Obasanjo’s statement should be carefully examined to see if there is any lesson that could be learnt to move our party forward.”