National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Oyegun, has charged his party stakeholders to brace up for the political challenges ahead, warning that the APC will face tough battles during the 2019 elections.
Oyegun, who spoke at the inauguration of the party’s 68 man National Convention Committee, Monday in Abuja, warned his party against relying on the sense of a ruling party, adding that the county’s population is more wiser, and ready to fight for their rights as it has ever been in the past.
Oyegun, who described the APC as a living party, whose leadership were committed and dedicated “to make sure that it is out in a political fighting mood for the 2019 elections”, noted that the conduct of its national convention will return the APC as a stronger and united party ahead of the elections.
“I must confess that the group I am seeing today gives me the greatest joy because I did not expect the level of enthusiasm and attendance at this event. I am saying this with the background of what has happened in the last few months. I will not bore you with going into the seesaw that has brought us here today.
“The signs are clear that this is a living party, the signs are clear that this is a vibrant party. The signs are clear that this is a party whose leadership are committed and dedicated, in spite of the current event, to make sure that this party is put in political fighting mood for the 2019 elections.
“Everybody here has been specially chosen. Everybody here represents major interests in the party. I am sure that everybody here is aware that the task the task you are going to undertake now is a major one.
“Let me take this opportunity to explain that we are having a very short, sharp elective convention for good reason. For months, we have been talking forward and backward and sometimes, not in very acceptable terms and language about the leadership of the party. No responsible organisation will allow these doubts to continue indefinitely. The earlier it is resolved, the better so that this party can move and forge ahead. So, we decided on a short and sharp period of elections from ward level until the final event on the 14th of May.
“Yes, we would have wanted probably a little more time, but I am a catholic and I am sensitive to my religious observances. I was aware that the Muslim fast starts just a couple of days after the date we have set for the national convention.
“That acted as a constraint. Even though some people said we could still go ahead, I said no because I fast too and I know that the first few days are the hardest and towards the end, a lot of our leaders will be headed for the pilgrimage. Meanwhile, we will be sitting with doubt about the APC and its leadership and the rest of them. So, let us get this thing out of the way as speedily as possible.
“The task that you have undertaken to perform is a heavy and tough one. The APC is known, in spite of induced controversies, for the cleanest primaries and congresses. Our last presidential primary was by all account one of the best ever held and I dare say, anywhere. So, you have the task in the shortest possible time of producing a convention that is free, fair and provide a level playing field for anybody who wants to aspire to any position.
“What I want to see at the end of this exercise is a reunited APC under whatever leadership your exercise brings up. We have a tough election ahead of us and we must prime ourselves for that election.We must not cuddle ourselves with any false sense of being the party in power. Our population today is much more aware of their rights than they have ever been before. So, as you proceed, please ensure that all these discordant views and opinions are brought together under one single united APC,” he warned.
In his response, the convention committee chairman, Abubakar Badaru reassured the party faithful that he will conduct a convention to restore unity in the party, stressing: “My committee will not fail the party.”
Badaeu, who is the governor of Jigawa State noted, “We will do all it takes to come out stronger and united out of the convention because of our clear vision, our good heart and our love for the people of Nigeria. We all know that our leader has no business in running this government except for the care of our people. Most of us you see in APC are in the party today to serve our people. Our mission in APC is to rescue the country from near collapse we saw around 2014 and 2015.
“With that heart and with mind, we believe that God will support us, help us to come out stronger and re dedicate ourselves to the service of humanity and our people.
“I am very sure that we will come out stronger, united and there will be transparency and accountability. We will make sure that we keep our promise and to the expectations you rested in us. We reassure that we will not fail you,” he said.
