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| APC NEC Members |
Former members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC), appear to be spoiling for a fight as they
issued a seven-day ultimatum, asking the party to address their
complaints of marginalization.
Their letter which was addressed to the National chairman of the APC,
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was signed by by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje,
former National Chairman of the former PDP bloc and Prince Olagunsoye
Oyinlola, the group’s former National Secretary.
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was signed by by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje,
former National Chairman of the former PDP bloc and Prince Olagunsoye
Oyinlola, the group’s former National Secretary.
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Both signatories are known to be lukewarm to the alliance put
together in 2014, with Oyinlola openly rejecting a board appointment and
teaming up with Olusegun Obasanjo’s national coalition movement and
Baraje being accused by APC members in Kwara state of being anti-Buhari.
together in 2014, with Oyinlola openly rejecting a board appointment and
teaming up with Olusegun Obasanjo’s national coalition movement and
Baraje being accused by APC members in Kwara state of being anti-Buhari.
With the tone of the letter, the political bloc may just be preparing the ground to break away.
The group accused the ruling APC of marginalising its members in
cabinet positions, board appointments and working to block the emergence
of Yakubu Dogara and Bukola Saraki as speaker and senate president in
2015.
cabinet positions, board appointments and working to block the emergence
of Yakubu Dogara and Bukola Saraki as speaker and senate president in
2015.
The group also listed five other sins committed against them by the
APC, among them the lack of consultation of their members in decision
making and the harassment of their members, which was not substantiated.
APC, among them the lack of consultation of their members in decision
making and the harassment of their members, which was not substantiated.
They thus gave Chief John Oyegun, seven days to respond and arrange a meeting.
“Given the constraining factor of available time and in the interest
of our great Party, it is strongly advised that the said urgent meeting
be held not later than Seven (7) days from the date of the receipt of
this letter,” the letter read.
of our great Party, it is strongly advised that the said urgent meeting
be held not later than Seven (7) days from the date of the receipt of
this letter,” the letter read.
Here is the text of the letter:
TEXT OF THE LETTER
The National Chairman
All Progressives Congress (APC)
National Headquarters
Abuja.
REQUEST FOR REDRESSING OF GRIEVANCES OF THE FORMER NEW PDP BLOCK WITHIN THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)
We the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who moved over
from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to form the APC before the
2015 General Elections in Nigeria are desirous of strengthening our
party especially now that new party Congresses have commenced and the
Convention and another round of General Elections are imminent.
Obviously, this cannot be achieved without addressing fundamental issues
which we wish to raise in this letter.
from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to form the APC before the
2015 General Elections in Nigeria are desirous of strengthening our
party especially now that new party Congresses have commenced and the
Convention and another round of General Elections are imminent.
Obviously, this cannot be achieved without addressing fundamental issues
which we wish to raise in this letter.
We therefore wish, with due respect, to re-state our expectation then
and now that the APC we all laboured to build would be one united,
inclusive, cohesive and progressive party devoid of divisions, factions,
cleavages and tendencies. We envisioned a political party promoting
equal rights for all Nigerians and ensuring rapid and even development
across the country. Of course there is no gainsaying the fact that the
lofty ideals enumerated above cannot be attained without ensuring
justice for party faithfuls and citizens.
and now that the APC we all laboured to build would be one united,
inclusive, cohesive and progressive party devoid of divisions, factions,
cleavages and tendencies. We envisioned a political party promoting
equal rights for all Nigerians and ensuring rapid and even development
across the country. Of course there is no gainsaying the fact that the
lofty ideals enumerated above cannot be attained without ensuring
justice for party faithfuls and citizens.
2. Kindly indulge us to offer a brief reminder of the history of
events that led to the victory of the APC in the 2015 General Elections
and the presidential election in particular. It is an undeniable
historical fact that the movement of the former New PDP block to form
the APC contributed immensely to the victory of the APC in the
elections. The former new PDP included five sitting Governors of Sokoto,
Kano, Kwara, Adamawa and Rivers States and former Governors of Kebbi,
Gombe, Osun, former Vice President of Nigeria, former acting National
Chairman of PDP, sitting Speaker of the House of Representatives, many
serving members of the National Assembly and many renowned politicians
and PDP Elders. It was a watershed moment in Nigeria’s political
History.
events that led to the victory of the APC in the 2015 General Elections
and the presidential election in particular. It is an undeniable
historical fact that the movement of the former New PDP block to form
the APC contributed immensely to the victory of the APC in the
elections. The former new PDP included five sitting Governors of Sokoto,
Kano, Kwara, Adamawa and Rivers States and former Governors of Kebbi,
Gombe, Osun, former Vice President of Nigeria, former acting National
Chairman of PDP, sitting Speaker of the House of Representatives, many
serving members of the National Assembly and many renowned politicians
and PDP Elders. It was a watershed moment in Nigeria’s political
History.
3. Most of these leaders not only DELIVERED their States to the APC
at the elections, some of the Governors were also assigned specific
responsibilities to ensure that other States were also delivered to the
APC in the 2015 elections. The then Governor of Sokoto took charge of
Kebbi and the then Governor of Kano State took responsibility for Kano,
Kaduna and Jigawa States just to mention a few examples. There were also
unprecedented efforts by many stakeholders such as Senator Bukola
Saraki, in concert with others, to DELIVER the entire North Central to
the APC.
at the elections, some of the Governors were also assigned specific
responsibilities to ensure that other States were also delivered to the
APC in the 2015 elections. The then Governor of Sokoto took charge of
Kebbi and the then Governor of Kano State took responsibility for Kano,
Kaduna and Jigawa States just to mention a few examples. There were also
unprecedented efforts by many stakeholders such as Senator Bukola
Saraki, in concert with others, to DELIVER the entire North Central to
the APC.
4. These efforts, contributions and sacrifice were made in spite of
the fact that the presidential ticket was taken by the erstwhile
Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) and the Action Congress of
Nigeria, (ACN) blocks of the party. It is a matter for grave concern
that His Excellency, Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has never
publicly acknowledged our efforts in the face of clear evidence that the
total number of votes scored by the APC in States where leaders and
members of the then NEW PDP block held sway made the difference.
the fact that the presidential ticket was taken by the erstwhile
Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) and the Action Congress of
Nigeria, (ACN) blocks of the party. It is a matter for grave concern
that His Excellency, Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has never
publicly acknowledged our efforts in the face of clear evidence that the
total number of votes scored by the APC in States where leaders and
members of the then NEW PDP block held sway made the difference.
5. The stubborn facts are as follows: In Kano State APC scored
1,903,999 in 2015, and in Kwara 302,146. In Sokoto State it scored
671,926, and 374,701 in Adamawa. In Kebbi State, APC had 567,883 votes
and 885,988 in Jigawa. It was the same story in Gombe (459,898), Kogi
(264,851), and Benue (373,961) votes. These represented significant
additions to the APC victory column. Indeed, the influence, activities,
momentum and ripple effect generated by the former New PDP block was
significant in the victory of APC in the entire elections in the whole
country.
1,903,999 in 2015, and in Kwara 302,146. In Sokoto State it scored
671,926, and 374,701 in Adamawa. In Kebbi State, APC had 567,883 votes
and 885,988 in Jigawa. It was the same story in Gombe (459,898), Kogi
(264,851), and Benue (373,961) votes. These represented significant
additions to the APC victory column. Indeed, the influence, activities,
momentum and ripple effect generated by the former New PDP block was
significant in the victory of APC in the entire elections in the whole
country.
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6. At this stage we would chronicle a few grievances which if
addressed will lead to a harmonious APC where justice, equity, fairness
and peace will reign and enable APC avoid rancour, reinvigorate the pace
of national development and face the 2019 General Elections as one
united party.
addressed will lead to a harmonious APC where justice, equity, fairness
and peace will reign and enable APC avoid rancour, reinvigorate the pace
of national development and face the 2019 General Elections as one
united party.
7. Our grievances include:
(a) In the constitution of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) the
New PDP block was generally sidelined as virtually no position was
conceded to it. The only member of FEC that belonged to former New PDP
block comes from a State that contributed virtually no vote to the APC
in the 2015 presidential elections.
New PDP block was generally sidelined as virtually no position was
conceded to it. The only member of FEC that belonged to former New PDP
block comes from a State that contributed virtually no vote to the APC
in the 2015 presidential elections.
(b) There has been no significant patronage and appointments to
executive positions in various government agencies such as Chief
Executives and Executive Directors of government agencies and
parastatals as members of our block of the party continue to helplessly
watch as these positions are shared by the erstwhile CPC, ACN, ANPP and
even APGA blocks of the party and those who have no party at all.
executive positions in various government agencies such as Chief
Executives and Executive Directors of government agencies and
parastatals as members of our block of the party continue to helplessly
watch as these positions are shared by the erstwhile CPC, ACN, ANPP and
even APGA blocks of the party and those who have no party at all.
(c) In appointments into boards of various government agencies, very
few former New PDP members were patronised. These are however not
commensurate with our contributions to the growth and victory of the
party.
few former New PDP members were patronised. These are however not
commensurate with our contributions to the growth and victory of the
party.
(d) When members of the former New PDP block showed interest in
running for the offices of President of the Senate and Speaker of the
House of Representatives, they were subjected to a vicious and
relentless political opposition as if they were not legitimate members
of the APC family.
running for the offices of President of the Senate and Speaker of the
House of Representatives, they were subjected to a vicious and
relentless political opposition as if they were not legitimate members
of the APC family.
(e) During the party primaries preparatory to the 2015 General
Elections, most of the promises made to sitting members of the National
Assembly, who belonged to the former new PDP in terms of a level playing
field were reneged upon or observed more in breach.
Elections, most of the promises made to sitting members of the National
Assembly, who belonged to the former new PDP in terms of a level playing
field were reneged upon or observed more in breach.
(f) There has been general lack of consultation, non recognition and
even persecution of former New PDP members and leaders by the party and
government. For example, some of our leaders are denied the security
cover necessary to visit their constituencies even though they are
elected representatives of the people in a government they sacrificed so
much for.
even persecution of former New PDP members and leaders by the party and
government. For example, some of our leaders are denied the security
cover necessary to visit their constituencies even though they are
elected representatives of the people in a government they sacrificed so
much for.
(g) Harassment, intimidation and persecution of former New PDP
leaders by the government, is still an ongoing affair. We do not want to
overstate the obvious by cataloguing names of former new PDP stalwarts
that are targets of this political pogrom.
leaders by the government, is still an ongoing affair. We do not want to
overstate the obvious by cataloguing names of former new PDP stalwarts
that are targets of this political pogrom.
(h) There is inadequate reflection of programme and policy
contributions of members of the former New PDP block in the running of
the government.
contributions of members of the former New PDP block in the running of
the government.
8. Our belief is that it does not augur well for our party if a
section of it feels that it is being treated as outcasts and meddlesome
interlopers in the party they rightly belong with the legitimate
expectation to be treated with justice both in the running of the party
and the government.
section of it feels that it is being treated as outcasts and meddlesome
interlopers in the party they rightly belong with the legitimate
expectation to be treated with justice both in the running of the party
and the government.
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9. Arising from the issues outlined above, among others, we request
for an urgent meeting with the Leader of the party, and the Party
Executive leadership to find lasting solutions to the issues raised so
as to prepare the party as a fighting force to deliver more pungently on
its manifesto and face the 2019 General Elections with even greater
commitment. The meeting will also enable us to work out modalities to
ensure a level playing field for all in the Congresses and Convention of
the APC.
for an urgent meeting with the Leader of the party, and the Party
Executive leadership to find lasting solutions to the issues raised so
as to prepare the party as a fighting force to deliver more pungently on
its manifesto and face the 2019 General Elections with even greater
commitment. The meeting will also enable us to work out modalities to
ensure a level playing field for all in the Congresses and Convention of
the APC.
10. Given the constraining factor of available time and in the
interest of our great Party, it is strongly advised that the said urgent
meeting be held not later than Seven (7) days from the date of the
receipt of this letter.
interest of our great Party, it is strongly advised that the said urgent
meeting be held not later than Seven (7) days from the date of the
receipt of this letter.
11. In conclusion, we the members of the former New PDP block of the
APC wish to reiterate that this letter is written patriotically with the
best of intentions and the good of our party, the APC, and is issued to
alert the leadership of the APC and in particular, the leader of our
party, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who only recently indicated his
intention to seek a second term as President, of grievances that exist
within the party with a view to ensuring justice for all members of the
APC family regardless of the blocks they came from prior to the
formation of the APC.
APC wish to reiterate that this letter is written patriotically with the
best of intentions and the good of our party, the APC, and is issued to
alert the leadership of the APC and in particular, the leader of our
party, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who only recently indicated his
intention to seek a second term as President, of grievances that exist
within the party with a view to ensuring justice for all members of the
APC family regardless of the blocks they came from prior to the
formation of the APC.
For and on behalf of the former New PDP Block of APC:
Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje (CON), former National Chairman (nPDP)
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former National Secretary (nPDP)
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