President Muhammadu Buhari and governors of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) on Monday met at the presidential villa, Abuja, in an apparent bid to stern the leadership crisis currently threatening the party
The suspension of the party Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole opened up opportunities for unbridled claims to the party,s leadership position, leading to the emergence of three main claimats to National Chairmanship position in the party.
The leadership tussle is revolving mainly around National Vice Chairman (South South) Hilliard Eta and Deputy National Secretary Victor Giadom and the Deputy National Chairman (South) Abiola Ajimobi who the party recognize as Acting National Chairman.
President Buhari in a bid to address the issue summond the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi state, Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong and Governor of Jigawa state, Abubakar Badaru.
Read also: Buhari commends development partners,as WHO says Nigeria is Polio Free
The meeting was held on the heels of an earlier one on Sunday evening between President Buhari and Senate President Ahmed Lawan, who had hinted that the President would come up with action plans for the settlement of the crisis within the next few days.
Bagudu while speaking with State House Correspondents, after meeting with Buhari on Monday, said the meeting discussed the “party issues and the position of the Progressive Governors to support all steps to unify and bring about peaceful resolution in our party, the All Progressives Congress”
He disclosed that the “President as a father, as a party leader and he gave us all the assurance we needed to know that resolution of contentious issues will soon be arrived at”
He disclosed that the party believes in dialogue, while President Buhari attaches importance to constitutionalism, due process and dialogue in resolving contentious party issues.
” Contentious issues arise when you are dialoguing and we will recall that because of the sanctity which President Buhari attaches to constitutionalism, we held our national convention literally at the same time we were holding primaries because Mr. President has always said that we told Nigerians that our party is going to be a party of due process and we will do that, no matter the challenge of the moment”
“So, young people expressing their views by demonstrating and members of the party challenging court processes, show that the people are free to express their views.
Badaru said the party will not suppress dissent,, adding that “What is important is that all will be taken on board in arriving at a conclusion that will be to the satisfaction of most party members and indeed Nigerians”
Why is it difficult for the party to summon a NEC meeting to resolve the crisis?
On why the party has not held its national convention as stipulated in its constitution, he noted that President Buhari, being a democratic leader, allows party organs to do and decide what should be done.
“He is very hesitant to use his standing even as party leader, talk less of his authority as Mr. President of the country to direct things, but at all times, he has been alive to the issue and like I said earlier, I believe with the encouragement he gave us this morning, with the level of details he has about all what is happening and the number of people he has listened to and heard, I believe that whatever needs to be done including the possibility of calling any of the organs of the party that is necessary for the resolution of lingering issues will be done immediately.”
He disclosed that ” the party is never a perfect assembly. There will always be issues and that is why we talk, but yes certainly, organs of the party needs to meet and Mr. President without directing is always supporting the necessity of party organs meeting appropriately”
