Patrick, Lagos
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State are at daggers drawn over the alleged intention of the state governor and member of the G-7 governors, Alhaji Murtala Nyako to defect to the party.
At the forefront of the battle are the state executives of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 21 local government areas of Adamawa State, led by Muktar Aliyu Yusuf, who are accusing the National Vice Chairman of the party in the North East, Alhaji Umaru Duhu of aiding the plan.
While the Yusuf led group said that Governor Nyako and his political associates need to be sober and be ready to settle their political dispute with the PDP national leadership following the disbarment of the New PDP they belongs to by a competent court, rather that looking for another platform to take their crisis, but Duhu thinks otherwise.
According to the spokesman of the group Yusuf, Nigerians are fed up with the traits of PDP and its characteristics, adding that admitting the crisis ridden faction of PDP will amount to APC not truthful to its words of injecting vibrancy in the politics of Nigeria and setting a pace for democratic culture of rule of law, fairness, justice and the truth.
He said that Nyako’s supporters are registered members of the outlawed Baraje new PDP and are strange bedfellows who cannot match the APC foundation members that are noted for peace.
He added that Nyako’s camp of the PDP should not think they can use APC as their last bet and a shield for its warlords, or a soft landing for them in the name of membership drive stressing that without any iota of doubt they envisage that the same characteristic that were apparent in the New PDP and the larger PDP are bound to resurface in the APC, if the group is wittingly admitted into APC even on individual basis
According to him the said Nyako group has succeeded in destroying PDP in Adamawa State and elsewhere in Nigeria.
The group however advised the national leaders of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande to be cautious of admitting a group known for crisis into the party
“Outright admission of such individuals should not be allowed to hijack the party machinery in the name of membership drive. Nigerians deserve a democratic culture hence the strive for a worthwhile change that will institute a formidable and durable democracy in Nigeria” the group stated
Yusuf explained that APC has its own agenda of making a vibrant democratic nation, believing that social contact with Nigerian people is paramount; stressing that Nyako group may not share these feelings of the APC.
He however held the Interim National Vice Chairman of the party in the North East, Alhaji Umaru Duhu responsible for any inevitable crisis that may likely erupt in the party.
According to him “we are aware that our National Vice Chairman of the party in the North East, Alhaji Umaru Duhu, has extended membership invitation to Governor Murtala Nyako, his cabinet members, his Advisers and other aides.”
“While we do not frown at that, we are however constrained to state that membership drive is a hand shake that has crossed to the elbow and an attempt to hand over the APC structure to Nyako,” he stated
He noted that it has come to their knowledge that the interim Zonal leader of the party, Alhaji Duhu has opted to use his position to co-opt a disbanded New PDP, by a competent court of law to the APC which has been formed and registered based on the yearnings of the generality of Nigerians, stressing that the disbanded new PDP has been shrouded in crisis and does not deserve its members or its warlords to join the brand new APC which he claimed is poised to set a pace for a new democratic culture in Nigeria.
Reacting to the allegation against him by the ex-party executives, Duhu denied plans to trade the party structure to Governor Nyako and his political supporters
Duhu said that APC leaders has made it as a policy, the serving governors under the banner of the party will lead the party, not to take over the party as insinuated.
He however assured all members of APC in the North-East and Adamawa State in particular, that, the APC Nigeria has not rolled out any tangible programme to engage members of the party into doing serious APC activities.
According to him “As the National Vice Chairman, I am fully aware of that, and cannot operate outside the resolutions of the party which I am a part of.”
“The only major thing the party has done so far, was the compilation of the State Harmonisation Committee list, which the rules states that, the former chairmen of the merged parties are to be met by me to draw up the list.
“That I have done, and the National Headquarters of APC will soon inaugurate the SHC before the start of the registration exercise.”
He explained that the members of ACN and CPC in Adamawa State are aware that the PDP members in Adamawa State decamped to the ANPP before the consummation of the merger. Therefore, the former PDP members are a part of ANPP, which is now the APC Family.
His words “On the 25th of October, 2013, the former ANPP Family met in Yola to inform it’s members that, we are no more ANPP, but APC, hence we must prepare to sacrifice and embrace our brethren in the new APC.”
“That was the climax of the meeting and nothing was discussed more than that.
“As a political party, I Umar Duhu or any member of the APC in Adamawa State cannot bar any member or former or serving governor from joining the APC.
“Party politics is a voluntary association, and people are free to join or move out at anytime they so wishes.
“For any member of the APC to think I will use my office as the vice chairman to bar any PDP member from joining the APC should have a rethink.
“We need more people in the APC, and our doors are open to all well meaning Nigerians. We must distinguish between personal and group interest. Party politics is dynamic and must be handled effectively.
“Members in Adamawa State must realise this and should be patient until such a time when the party rolls out its programme of activities. The only assurance I will give members is that, as the National Vice Chairman, I will ensure justice is done to all members and that, it is not, the governor will take it all as insinuated.
“What APC is saying is that, the serving governor will lead the party, not to take over the party as insinuated.”
