The inauguration of All Progressives Congress ,APC Coalition of Support Groups last Wednesday at the party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, almost ended on a sad note as disagreement arose among the members of the support groups, in the presence of the party’s Deputy National Chairman[South],Engr. Segun Oni, as well as the National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso.
Some leaders of some of the party’s support groups temporarily prevented Oni who stood in for the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun from inaugurating the interim leadership for the groups over alleged imposition.
Peace was however, allowed to reign after Oni admitted the lack of internal democracy in the process leading to selection of the members of the interim committee. One of the leaders of the support groups identified as Comrabe Baba had stood up to challenge Izunaso, on why he did not follow what he called a Democratic way of electing leaders into the position.
Baba told National Executive Members present at the event that “we are democrats, not rabble rousers. We want you to use your office to dissolve the office which was undemocratically structured.”
The position of Comrade Baba Mustapha was however applauded by the large crowd of the party supporters.
Responding, Engr. Segun Oni, who stood in for the national chairman, John Oyegun said, “I have listened to what happened, it appears that there was not proper internal democracy, we will therefore, like the National Organizing Secretary has said, inaugurate Interim leadership of the coalition and within three months, we expect all of you to have a proper elections amongst you and if you need the help of the party on that, we’ll do that”.
According to Segun Oni, “This interim people will be in place for the period of three months pending the time when elections will take place. Anybody who is interested in the election can begin to campaign but the interim committee will be the one to organize your election in three months time when the tenure of their (interim committee) would have ended.”
He appealed to the support groups for understanding, saying, “there must be respect for rule of law, discipline and respect for internal democracy.”
Speaking earlier, Senator Izunaso said the Coalition had been working for the APC even before the election.He added that “but this is a formal inauguration”, adding that “I. Commend you all for your work that led to the victory of our party. APC has a need to succeed as a party, it is not enough to be in government but it is more important to succeed in our victory.
“As we inaugurate you, we don’t want any acrimony or altercation. Everything must be done in a peaceful manner. As we move to Aso rock in the next 48 hrs, we believe this support group will continue to support the party and the government”.
In his acceptance, Chairman of the Support Group, Ambassador Lawal Mohammed Munir, said “during the few meetings we had before the elections, I realized that all members of the coalition of APC Support Groups have one thing in common, that is, to work within the constitution of our great party to ensure that we have the desired changes in running the affairs of the country”.
He added that “we all have realized that the problem with our country is leadership and therefore the needed change would start with leadership at all levels of government”.
The interim leaders of the committee include: Amb. Lawal Munir, Peter Okoroafor, Sokari Afiesimama, Mrs Tina Adike, Kehinde Adesola, Dr Tom Ohikiri, Hajiya Amina Idris, Dantijo Danjuma, Helen Irekula and Obeleku Shedrach.
