By Abdullahi Mohammed
Speaker House of Representatives,Mr Yakubu Dogara has hailed warring All Progressives Congress,APC stalwarts from Benue state namely governor Samuel Ortom, Emanuel Jimeh and Joseph Waku who have agreed to bury their differences.
“Their willingness to place the party interest above their own personal ambition without demanding anything in return is the chief reason why we were able to resolve these issues today”Dogara said at the end of a meeting he held with the Benue chieftain at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
Dogara also announced that the reconciliation meeting which he headed was called by President Muhammadu Buhari whom he had the privilege of representing.
The Speaker said “I am here having the brief on behalf of the president . So I am reading this brief remark on behalf of Mr President and permit me to say that it is with a sense of humility and responsibility that we wish to begin by thanking the cream of Benue state politicians and the Benue APC gathered here for giving us the benefits of your time,your cooperation and your abiding trust. We are humbled by your kindness” .
He stated further that ” this high powered delegation- which comprises the executive governor Sokoto state , Imo state who is unavoidably absent, Benue state governor, Plateau and Nasarawa states . From the party the national deputy chairman, national vice chairman north central and national woman leader -that is put together by our president his excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR which I am privileged to lead from here on a passionate mission from Mr president to Benue state APC family “.
Dogara also announced that ” President Buhari’s special appeal to the Benue APC family is to see why Benue state must move ahead and make steady and rapid progress, (why) APC must actualize the dreams of the people for better life and why the leaders of the party here must bury the hatchet to work together to further the hope for a glorious future for this beautiful state that is known as the food basket of the nation” .
Adding that ” Mr president believes that the people who can turn around the fortune of Benue into a prosperous entity are all here in this room . In fact we further believed that everyone here is concerned with the future of this great state and as at one time or the other make sacrifice to advance the cause of that state . Above all, we believe that we can all come to an amicable settlement to solidify the gain of our party in the last election. The victory,losses, surprises, and disappointment are often normal consequences of all electoral contest.
The speaker affirmed that the party was embarking on a healing process. He made this assertion Thursday after the closed door meeting between the APC leadership and Benue state APC stalwarts at the party’s national secretary, Abuja.
Mr Emanuel Jimeh and senator Waku had earlier sued the Benue state governor on the outcome of the APC governorship primaries prior to the 2015 governorship election. Before Thursday’s meeting Jimeh and Waku had challenged Ortom in court . .
Dogara said that ” for the record we are here to undertake a healing process under the mandate of Mr President whom you all know is a man of great integrity on whose reputation for fairness, in (being) above board in spite the overwhelming victory of our party in the last election ” .
The speaker said further that he is glad that ” the people of Benue state showed their love for Mr president by voting him massively at the presidential election and therefore we have faith that you will not refuse him this request.
“This you will do by sacrificing personal (interest), expectation and ambition working (with) the commencement of the process of healing here and now without further judicial process” he advised .
Dogara added that ” The last PDP government squandered not only the common wealth leaving them with poorer in economy, body and spirit into inexplicable blood bath of senseless killings” .
” It is clear therefore that the great people of Benue state voted for APC in order to pass a loud and clear message that enough is enough. We appreciate you for bringing to an end the crisis that affect our party in Benue state.
I will do better than what I have done before – Ortom
Also speaking was the Benue state Governor Mr Samuel Ortom who said ” with the peaceful resolution of this matter I have to really thank them and give glory to almighty God and this is victory for all of us and victory for the entire state . And I think with this kind of reinforcement I will do better than what I have being doing before in Benue State and by the grace of God in no distant time security will be restored to Benue state and poverty, ignorance and diseases will be eradicated away from Benue state.
“I really appreciate them and people of Benue state and my brothers especially Jimeh and Waku who have shown love and commitment to this peace initiative” he said joyfully.
Also in attendance were Governor Al Makura Nasarawa state, Samuel Lalong Plateau state, Hon Waziri Aminu Tambuwal , senator Barnabas Gemade, George Akume, deputy governor of Benue state Engr Benson and many other APC big wings especially from Benue state.
