APC Convention: Oyegun Overrules Governors, Insists Party Will Wait For Buhari To Attend

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has stated that the party will wait for President Muhammadu Buhari to return to Nigeria and be part of the planned convention.

His position contradicts the initial resolution of governors and the National Working Committee, NWC, ‎to send a delegation to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to present suggested convention dates for him to pick from.

Recall that Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, told newsmen after the meeting that “The issue of the National Convention was raised actually, as it was part of the decisions we took at the last meeting. Unfortunately like you realised, Mr. President is not here.

“But today, we all agreed that we have an acting President the same process should start again through the acting President.”

Lalong noted that though the President as leader of the party normally should attend but that in the present circumstances, the presence of the acting President will suffice.

Governors in attendance were Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Solomon Lalong (Plateau), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa) , Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi). Others include: Sani Bello (Niger), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Sen. Atiku Bagudu and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

Others were Deputy governors of Kwara, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Nasarawa and Imo.

But speaking on Monday in Abuja on the midterm scorecard of the APC-led administration, Oyegun declared that the party’s midterm convention would have to wait until the president returns from his medical leave in London.

“The convention is an important activity of the party that the president should not miss. We will hold on so that he can be part of the convention”, he stated.

Oyegun further downplayed the impact of the ill-health of Buhari on governance in the country and the party.

“The thinking that ‘will he be president in 2019’ is really not doing any good, his need today is good health. When we get to 2019, it is for him to decide if he wants to run or if he doesn’t want to run and to consult the party on his decision.

“If he wants to run good and if he doesn’t want to run the country isn’t bereft, the party isn’t bereft of capable hands”, he said.

On Nigeria’s economy, Oyegun said government was working hard to end recession in order to reduce hardship the masses were facing, pointing outrenewed efforts to revamp the power sector.

On criticism by the People Democratic Party (PDP), he stated that while some problems that came in the way of rebuilding the economy were not foreseen, others could be traceable to the mismanagement of the past administration.

By Wale Odunsi

APC In Disarray, More Confused Than PDP – Timi Frank

Former National Publicity Secretary of the All progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, has maintained that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is more disorganised than the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Addressing reporters in Abuja, on Thursday, Frank disclosed that he has proofs to show that the ruling party is currently ravaged by leadership crisis.

Frank said, “Today, practically I don’t even think we have a party. The party today is in disarray, there is confusion. I think we are even more disorganised than the opposition.

“I challenge anybody who will come out and say we are not disorganised; I have every proof to show that we are even more disorganised than the opposition.”

Frank was suspended last year following the recommendation of a five-member panel, which investigated his alleged disparaging comments against the party.

He, however, stressed that despite his suspension, he was still acting in that office.

Frank expressed disappointment at the National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun’s position on the April convention of the party.

He said, “It’s very disappointing; if the chairman can come out and say we will have a convention in April; then suddenly he reversed himself with an embarrassing statement that we cannot have the convention because we have no money. This is very embarrassing for a ruling party.

“There was no time when we were in PDP, PDP will come out and say such. A party with over 19 governors? A convention is a very important issue. If I was the national chairman I would have resigned. A ruling party does not need to beg for money, all you need is to have a strong agenda.

“During the time of Baba Akande, he was acting chairman. That was my best time in the party.

“During that time, with less governors and no president, but we could come up to hold our convention. the party had money, we were paying salaries at that time, today we cannot pay salaries at the secretariat; even light bills we cannot pay.”

By Seun Opejobi

APC’s Leadership: Oyegun Has Failed – Timi Frank

Former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, on Tuesday said if given the opportunity, he will do a better job than the National Chairman of the party, John Oyegun.

In a statement he personally signed, Frank said Oyegun had failed to lead the party.

This, he said, was evident in the inability of the APC National Working Committee, NWC, to fix a date for a convention.

Frank stressed that the party’s constitution would be breached by the NWC if the convention failed to take place at the date earlier fixed.

He further declared that the ruling party will not make progress untill Oyegun resigns as APC leader.

The statement reads, “I have said it in the past that if I am given opportunity I can run APC better than Oyegun. His leadership has failed. How can NWC under him fix a date for national convention when they knew they didn’t have money? Who did they consult before they picked that date? This is shameful, now they are coming back to reverse the date. It means they are not prepared.

“But if this national convention does not hold it means the national working committee has breached the constitution of the party because the party law is very clear on when the convention should hold.

“Nobody will trust Chief Oyegun because of his mismanagement of party fund in the past and that is why our governors cannot release money for the party.

“Like before, I’m still warning that unless Chief Oyegun resign as APC national chairman, I don’t think the party can progress with this present situation.

“The postponement of convention has shown that even as a party we can not keep our own word. So, how do you expect Nigerians to trust the party.

“I’m calling on prominent members of the party who are still keeping quiet to speak up or else, this mismanagement might lead the party to unexpected end.”

By Seun Opejobi