Anthony Iwuoma
The Kaduna State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in feverish move to prevent looming mass defections from the party.
Consequently, stalwarts of the Party have set up a high-powered reconciliation committee to pacify aggrieved Party members and restore unity.
The committee is headed by Governor Nasir el-Rufai and comprises the State Working Committee, chairmen of various local government areas, elected representatives, and elders and members of the State Executive Council.
READ A;SO: http://APC nominates Ibrahim Gobir as new Senate Leader, APC caucus chair
The APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), Malam Salihu Lukman had, five days ago, at the Katsina Governor’s Lodge, in Abuja, announced that efforts were ongoing to reconcile aggrieved party members and forestall mass defections being reported in Kaduna and Kebbi states.
He added that Party’s leaders and stakeholders in the North-West zone had met to consider and take a decision on how best to arrest rising tension in the area.
The reconciliatory moves were triggered by the defection of at least 15 chieftains of the Party in Kaduna State, who cited lack of internal democracy in the party as reason.
Party members, who dumped the APC recently included Mr. Yakubu Simon, Mallam Audu Bode, Barnabas Samuel (Barry), Shua’ibu Yusuf, Samuel Wyah, Habila Latu, Boniface Ubandoma, Jashua Peter and Shuabu Ahmed.
Others were Samuel Ibrahim, Zaka Makoshi, Jonathan Fedelix, Camio Bitrus, Alexander Danladi (Lulu), and Patrick Paul (Pato).
Hundreds of the APC members in the Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi, led by Mansur Yargyra, a former House of Representatives hopeful in the party, also dumped the APC for the PDP.
Yargyra explained that he left the party because of acts of injustice meted to many party members by certain selfish elements.
READ ALSO: http://Land scandal: The Truth about Tayo Ayinde’s Involvement – Lagos govt.
However, the APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), said it is normal to have disagreement during negotiation among party members but empasised that a high level committee would be set up in each state to address the issue of alleged imposition of candidates and other abuse of privileges with a view to bringing all aggrieved members back to the fold.
To make real his promise, APC Zonal Publicity Secretary (North West), Musa Mailafiya Mada, in a statement on Wednesday announced the constitution of the high powered reconciliatory committee led by El-Rufai to address the issues.
“The National Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress North-West, Malam Salihu Lukman, urged participants to be sincere in their contributions because to him, the worst thing people can do in time like this is lying to themselves,” the statement read.
“As witnessed in all the states visited by the zonal officials, numerous issues were raised and deliberated upon but post primary election reconciliation takes the center stage. As a result, stakeholders therefore, decided to setup a committee of highly respected individuals among party men and women across senatorial districts of the state to form the Reconciliatory Committee at the state’s level.
“The Local Government Reconciliatory Committees will also be constituted afterwards. Respected party members were nominated by the participants for the task and the Governor assured the meeting of his readiness to give necessary support for the success of the Committee’s assignment before campaign starts.”
