President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been revived, energized and repositioned for its national convention and future elections. He then commended the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Yobe State governor, Malam Mai Mala Buni, for a job well done.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, the president spoke at the APC CECPC meeting held at the State House, Abuja.
The president said the fortunes of the party had been brightened by the re-organisation and reconciliation of members across the party, saying “with the work done by the committee the party has bounced back to life.”
“I have (watched) with great interest the remarkable job you have done so far. We are all witnesses to the crisis that engulfed the party leading to litigation and presented a picture of selfishness and division,” he said.
President Buhari said the party structure was disturbed by the conflicts that preceded and followed various elections, noting that the secretariat had been witnessing a beehive of peaceful activities after the reconciliation.
He told members of the committee that they would continue to enjoy the support of all party stalwarts and members to complete their assignment with the actualisation of the convention and leave an “indelible footprint.”
In his remarks, the chairman of the committee, Governor Buni said the committee approached the duty with commitment and dedication to rescue the party from imminent collapse.
He noted that all issues and members were given a fair hearing, and an open door policy was created to accommodate all those that were aggrieved, leading to withdrawal of cases in court and peaceful settlements.
“We are currently witnessing high power (defection) to our party, including governors from the PDP.
“The party is now more peaceful, orderly and accommodating than what we met on the ground. Although there was initial fear, the mobilisation and sensitization was able to allay the fears of members,” Buni said.
The Yobe State governor said the registration and revalidation of members across the country recorded more than 40 million members, and an appeal committee was also set up to hear all matters related to the process so that no member gets disenfranchised.
Buni also said the committee had instituted a process to review the party’s constitution and look into loopholes that usually fan conflicts and litigations among members, with more than 500 memoranda already received.
He told the president and other party members that 14 party members had indicated their interest to contest for the Anambra State elections, assuring that the primary elections would be free, fair and transparent.
While thanking President Buhari for his support and insight, Buni noted that a National Conference for the Youths was organized recently as part of the bottom-up approach to strengthen the party and ensure relevance of all stakeholders.
Some members of the APC who attended the meeting include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Progressives Governors Forum chairman and Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; and the chairman of Northern Governors Forum and Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong.
Others were governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el’Rufai; governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, and governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello.