APC National Convention: Group applauds commitment of party stakeholders, El’rufai
The All Progressives Congress (APC)Rebirth Group, has applauded the renewed commitment of the party’s stakeholders to ensure that its forthcoming National Convention slated for March 26, is held.
Malam Aliyu Audu, Coordinator of the group in a statement on Monday in Abuja, however, expressed disappointment that the convention could not hold on Feb.26 as earlier announced.
He added that the group was not surprised at the turn of events because according to him, the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) did not demonstrate willingness to conduct the convention.
“While we have nothing personal against the CECPC.
“Our concerns as we have always expressed, is to ensure that handlers of the party at any point in time conduct affairs in ways that will stabilise it and preserve its fortunes for the tasks ahead.
“We hope that the CECPC will prove to be above board in this regard.
“The recompense for us in the new reality of things is that an early commitment to deliver the convention has been demonstrated with the few activities that has immediately preceded the announcement of the new date of March 26th,” he said.
This, Audu said, was especially with the coming into the fray of the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El’rufai unlike what was initially obtainable.
Audu added that El’rufai inspired confidence with the communication of the decisions reached at the various meetings of the party’s stakeholders.
He said the Kaduna State Governor went ahead to ensure that the zoning arrangement which had been an issue on the minds of many members of the party was also communicated to the public as agreed.
He added that the development had not only calmed frayed nerves, but had helped to inspire confidence in the March 26th National Convention date.
“We believe that his long silence and that of many others contributed largely to the state in which the party has been thrown into.
“We hope that lessons would have been learnt and occurrence of this nature will be prevented in the future,” he said.
He added that having agreed on the new date for the convention, the APC Rebirth Group was committed to joining hands with other stakeholders of the party to ensure that it delivered a convention that would be the pride of all and the country.
Audu, therefore called on interested individuals and groups to join hands with the APC leadership to ensure that success was attained at the end of the day.
“We beseech Gov. Mai Mala Buni, Chairman of APC CECPC to conclude his stewardship as party interim Chairman on a good note by delivering a transparent, free and fair convention.
“As we look forward to the convention, it is our wish that the APC will embrace proper democratic ideals which thrive on guaranteed freedom of choice of members,” he said.
He said this was critical to ensure that the new National Working Committee (NWC) members that would be elected at the convention would be as representative as possible.
“One of the issues for which we believe APC needed a rebirth is one that bothers on imposition in whatever guise, and it is our hope that the forthcoming convention would be above board in this regard,” Audu said.(NAN)