Fresh facts
have emerged on why the non-elective mini-convention of the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to suffer series of postponements.
Daily Sun
gathered that ill health of President Muhammadu Buhari, the financial crisis
rocking the party, as well as the divisions among its leaders forced the party
convention into abeyance.
A member of
the party’s national leadership, who spoke to Daily Sun in confidence,
disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) had to cancel the first
convention, earlier fixed for April 29, 2017 because the Presidency was not
comfortable with the date, adding that they had promised to give them a new
date.
Although the
party constitution, which stipulated that the party must organise convention
every two years, did not specify the consequences of such failure on the future
of the leadership of the party, the situation has, however, created palpable
tension and speculation of impeachment moves against the party chairman, Chief
John Odigie-Oyegun and his NWC members.
However,
reacting to the indefinite postponement, our source noted that while the party
leadership awaited a new date from the Presidency, Buhari’s health challenge
forced them into discontinuing discussions on the new date, stressing that his
current health status was the main reason for the indefinite postponement.
Said he:
“Don’t forget that it is not possible for the party to hold national convention
without President Buhari being physically present. The President must be part
of the convention, especially to forestall the dangers of certain forces and
factions within the party threatening to hijack the party machinery from
succeeding.
“Mr.
President’s health challenges necessitated the delay in the Presidency giving
the party leadership new date for the convention after rejecting the April date
the party leadership initially fixed earlier this year. Now that Mr. President
is out of country on medical trip to London, we have to discontinue every
arrangement about the convention until he returns in good health.”
Giving
further reasons for the continued postponement, our source said the financial
crisis rocking the party equally contributed majorly to the problem, adding
that even if the President had sound health, funds must come from other
sources, especially state governors.
“Finance is
a big factor, but I can tell you that it is not only that. You know that even
if the president were in very good health, the party will still need the
governors making financial commitments to enable us organise a quality
convention, which will involve thousands of delegates across the country,” our
source said.
However,
speaking on the convention recently, Odigie-Oyegun said the APC postponed it
indefinitely, stressing that no date had been fixed yet.
Oyegun, who
made the disclosure while fielding questions from newsmen during a two-day
external communication workshop organised for the APC state publicity
secretaries in Abuja, said consultations were, however, still ongoing.
Asked to
update Nigerians on when APC would hold its convention, Oyegun said: “I want to
assure Nigerians that the party will hold the convention. Nobody knows the time
it would be held, but the assurance I want to give you is that it would be
held.”
Many had
argued that part of the reasons for the delay in holding the convention was the
Ondo State governorship primary elections, which caused devastating divisions
in the party, in addition to the failure of the party’s leadership to actualise
the proposed replacement of the Board of Trustees (BoT) with the National
Elders Council.
The crisis
that trailed the Ondo governorship primary resulted in the call by former
governor of Lagos State and chieftain of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for
the resignation of Odigie-Oyegun, over what he described as fraudulent
manipulation of the electoral processes in favour of Governor Rotimi
Akereduolu.
Said Tinubu
then: “In essence, the party was the embodiment of a democratic promise made
between its members as well as a democratic vow made to the public. Evidently,
some errant members believe promises and vows are mere words to be easily
spoken and more easily broken. Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good
pledges in a most overt and brazen display.
“In doing
so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is
an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira. The
party was supposed to buttress APC members elected to government at all levels.
Because of Oyegun’s conduct of our affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an
albatross to those it was meant to help. Oyegun’s comportment regarding the
Ondo State primary will become the textbook definition of political treachery
and malfeasance of the basest order.
“Again,
during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in 2015, the party
had resolved to scrap the Board of Trustees (BoT) and replace it with the
National Elders Council, however, not even the BoT or the Elders’ Council has
met to discuss myriad of issues crippling the party.”
According to Sun news, the APC
governors recently held several hours meeting with the NWC, resolving, among
other things, to find a convenient date for the convention, just as they
admitted that the ruling party is not adequately funded.
Commenting
on the outcome of the meeting, Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said they
resolved “to look at arrangements for our mid-term convention and put in place
the resources necessary to ensure that we have a convention as required by the
constitution
“The 24 APC
governors have committed to work assiduously at strengthening and rebuilding
the party and enduring reconciliation and unification of the party at all
levels. We also resolved to give the national leadership all the support it
needs. We will also engage in fund raising from our donors, sympathisers of the
APC to ensure that the national headquarters and indeed all organs of the party
have the wherewithal to continue the difficult work of rebuilding the party.”
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