Governors of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna were in Ado-Ekiti on Monday where APC’s national peace and reconciliation committee held an interactive hearing with aggrieved party members from Ondo and Ekiti States.
The committee which has Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Professor Modupe Adelabu, D-G of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside and Barrister Sa’ida Sa’ad Bugaje as members is chaired by Governor Shettima with El-Rufai as Vice chairman.
The committee’s secretary, Malam Isa Gusau said in a statement emailed yesterday, that during his opening remarks, Governor Kashim Shettima urged members to draw some inspiration from leaders who have made sacrifices under difficult situations.
“party politics is sometimes unpredictable. However, we must summon the courage to fight our instincts by looking into the wider picture. If we are to go back to the formation of the APC, I think the first victim of the party’s compromises is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We all know what Asiwaju had put into the APC but when it was time to determine the running mate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju had to painfully compromise his interest for the overall interest of the party. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who will join us here, is for me, winner of Nigeria’s politician of the year award. From 1999 to date, I don’t think any Nigerian politician has demonstrated his level of courage in the way he has handled the outcome of the governorship primaries in Lagos. He is a Governor who has worked exceptionally but as I said, politics sometimes comes with unpredictable outcomes. Our courage in reacting to situations like Governor Ambode has withstood is what separates boys from men. I think anyone unhappy with the outcome of the APC primaries should draw inspiration from Governor Ambode.
So, we are here to make all of you here recognize that each and everyone of is very important to the APC and you can’t be disregarded as if your feelings do not matter. We are here not only to respect your individual self esteem and console you but also to look into possible ways we can recommend for the party to placate aggrieved members through immediate windows or future opportunities” Shettima said.
Governor El-Rufai, former Deputy Governor of Ekiti, Adelabu, Peterside and Bugaje took time to appeal to the aggrieved members to look into the future in the best interest of the party.
The aggrieved members who took turns to explain their grievances from fall out of the APC governorship, National and state assembly primaries, also gave suggestions on how to resolve the party’s crisis.
A unanimous position shared by most aggrieved members is their commitment to working for the party’s presidential election. Majority indicated interest not leave the APC.
Party members made both written and oral submissions.
The committee had last week met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to consult him on issues affecting the party in the southwest.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos was not in Ekiti but expected to join the committee’s hearing on Tuesday.
