The Lagos State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC has disagreed with the National Working Committee, NWC of the party on the suspension of the national Legal Adviser of the party.
Joe Igbokwe, Lagos APC Publicity Secretary said in a statement Saturday that “the National Executive Committee of our great Party acted in a haste to try to rescue the sagging and battered image of Muiz Banire who is having a running battle with his political base in Lagos. The Lagos Chapter of APC will support and encourage our patriotic and hardworking followers from Mushin LGA to exercise their fundamental human rights without let or hindrance.”
It could be recalled the Mushin LGA chapter of the party announced the suspension of Banire over alleged anti-party activities.
Banire however insisted he has done nothing wrong. His only crime was that he insisted the APC primaries recently conducted in the state should follow due process,he said.
In its intervention, the APC national headquarters said through a statement by its national spokesman, Bolaji Abdullaahi that Banire has not been suspended.
But the statement signed by Igbokwe said in full, “We heard with one ear that the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said that the National Leaders Of APC (has) annulled Banire’s suspension by a local chapter in Mushin Local Government Lagos.
“Now how can we allow this assault on democracy? Are we saying that the local chapters of APC have no right to recall a party member at the National level for anti party activities? Can you climb upstairs with a ladder and kick the ladder away thereafter? What are you going to use to come down? Is BolajI not aware that he is not yet a substantive National Publicity Secretary until otherwise stated in a Congress? Does it not amount to brigandage and playing to the gallery by naming himself the National Publicity Secretary when the position is still enmeshed in controversy?
“Is Bolaji not learning one or two lessons from the former National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank whose problem started from his local chapter? This emergency step into Banire’s matter cannot fly.
“Just like any Constituency whether local, State or National is empowered by law to recall or suspend any recalcitrant officer, the leaders and followers in the local chapters have the rights to do the needful when their representatives step out of the track.
“Let it be made known that the National Executive Committee of our great Party acted in a haste to try to rescue the sagging and battered image of Muiz Banire who is having a running battle with his political base in Lagos. The Lagos Chapter of APC will support and encourage our patriotic and hardworking followers from Mushin LGA to exercise their fundamental human rights without let or hindrance.
