APC Caretaker Committee to begin reconciliation process among party members

The Gov. Mai Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it plans to embark on immediate reconciliatory processes among aggrieved members of the party at all levels.
Buni said this on Monday at a swearing in of the committee members at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
He described the crisis affecting the party in the last few months as internal disagreements which were common in all political associations.
“What happened to us as a party in the last few months is not totally strange in a big political party like APC, internal disagreements are common in all political parties, so ours is not an exception.
“It is time for this commitee therefore, to commence the process of true reconciliation among leaders and members of the party at all levels.
“It is our believe that the decision by National Executive Committee (NEC) to constitute this committee will mark the begining of a new chapter in our great party.
“To achieve this, I urge all party members to heed to the appeal by our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari on his call to all aggrieved members who have instituted various cases in the courts to please withdraw such cases in the interst of our great-party,” he said.
According to him, change is inevitable and disagreement on issues and concepts are integral part of human and institutional relationship.
“As a political party built on strong ideology and, parading men and women of enduring principle and integrity, we must prepare for real and anticipated changes and their consequences.
“The outcomes of changes that evolve in our party politics must be decided by us.
“As the interim managers and leaders of our party, our priority would be the recognition of the need to act appropriately and acceptably in the overall interest of the party,” he said.
He said that the committee’s actions in the next few months would be proactive and responsive.
“From now onward, we will concentrate on medium and long term development of our strategies and internal organisation to support our public standing as well as our chances of electoral successes in all future elections.
“This is the time for us to focus with determination to create adaptive institutional capacity to weather the current divisions in our Party,” Buni said.
He called on the party leaders and members to put their grievances behind them and strengthen themselves for all current and future challenges.
“We will not be here today repositioning our party if not for the timely intervention of our indefatigable leader, the President and members of the NEC.
“We are totally grateful to the President and the NEC members for this wisdom that brought the impasses to an end,” he said.
The immediate past acting National Chairman of the party, Mr Victor Giadom, assured that with calibre of people in the committee, it was certain that it would pilot the affairs of the party into the National Convention.
Giadom also called on immediate past members of National Working Committee (NWC) to learn from their mistakes and join hand with the caretaker committee to strengthen the party.
“I’m grateful to God, the President and party leaders for rescuing our party from what would have fallen it.
“Today, our party has been repositioned to greater height and I can assure you that with calibre of people so selected by the NEC, the committee will pilot the affairs of this party into the National Convention.
” I feel indeed grateful and reassured that our party will remain strong and come out from the crisis which we were all in in the past few months better than where before.
“I’m more grateful to the members of our party and decision of NEC,” Giadom said.
He added:” All immediate past members of NWC should be able to learn from their mistakes, including my humble self, to join hand with the caretaker committee to see how they strengthen the party.
“The party is bigger than all of us. So, it is our collective responsibility as former members of NWC to hand with the committee to see to its success.
“APC is a larger family and every family, there is bound to disagreement and what is important is ability of the family to come to agreement.
“Today, with the formation of caretaker committee, we are close to agreement and I’m sure this committee will do the needful and our party will become stronger,” he said.
The ceremony was performed by APC Deputy Director, Legal Department, Mr Dare Oketade, who read the oath of office to the committee members.
Members of the caretaker committee and extra-ordinary convention planning committee headed by Buni included Gov. Isiaka Oyetola of Osun (South West) and Sen. Ken Nnamani (South East).
Others were Ms Stella Okorete – Women Representative, Gov. Sani Bello of Niger (North Central), Dr James Lalu physically challenged, Sen. Abubakar Yusuf- Senatè – Representative and Rep. Akinyemi Olaide – House of Reps.
Mr David Lyon (South/South), Mr Abba Ari (North West), Prof. Tahir Mamman (North East), Mr Ismail Ahmed – youth leader and Sen. Akpan Udoedehe as Committee Secretary. (NAN)