All hands must be on deck to prevent the disintegration of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja charged all members of the party; even as he advised every party member to withdraw all pending litigations against one another and the party, and settle for internal reconciliation mechanism.
The President said this in his remarks at the emergency National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party, held virtually, warning that the mutating disagreements in the APC could lead to self-destruction, with dire consequences.
Urging members to refocus on the larger picture and place more emphasis on the unity of the party, the President said that the gains of the party could be reversed as conflicts overshadow the primary objective of service to the people.
He said, “Fellow party members, this is a very crucial moment in the life of our party and it is with a deep sense of concern that I stand before you today to speak as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has been elected on the platform of our great party – the All Progressives Congress.
“The issues currently confronting our party at this time are such that should worry every party member. At the moment, our great party is faced with internal wrangling; there are on-going litigations amongst some party members and we cannot clearly ascertain the status of certain National Working Committee, NWC, members.”
Expressing grave worry at the shifting loyalty within the party and inconsistency in leadership, which had opened the governing party to mockery, Buhari added, “There are also other associated disputes as to the legitimacy or otherwise of holders of certain national offices of the party. The party is also contending with judicial claims and counter-claims, orders and counter-orders and indeed judgments and counter-judgments that are predominantly at cross-purposes.
“Confronted with these issues, it is obvious that the fortunes of the party are currently in jeopardy, administration of our party is becoming impossible and there is consequently an urgent need for intervention to immediately arrest further drifts and internal wrangling which may lead to total disintegration.
“What we see clearly emerging, is that we are beginning to self-destruct. This, my dear party members, is not just regrettable but utterly gut wrenching.
The meeting may adopt the developed resolution as contained in the agenda and pass resolutions including: approving the immediate discontinuation of all pending litigations involving the party and its members; ratifying the primary election conducted in Edo State; dissolving the current National Working Committee, and appointing caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning committee for the party.”
He also reiterated the need to discontinue all litigations involving members of the party, which were connected to issues of the party, adding, “The directive had been issued before, but unfortunately some members failed to heed the directive. Thus, at this time, it must be made resolution of the party which must be effectively enforced with dire consequences for members who choose to ignore the directive.”
He charged the party to maintain cohesion by closing ranks, in order to return to the winning ways, charging that “we must be alive to the time and the task that is before us. As we all know, we are immediately confronted with the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states. Therefore, this is the time to get our acts together.”
Adopting all the recommendations put forward by the President,tThe emergency NEC meeting appointed the governor of Yobe state, Mr Mai Mala Buni, as Caretaker National Chairman, while Senator John Akpanudoede was designated Caretaker National Secretary.
