The Progressive Governors who were represented by their chairman, Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, Wednesday met behind closed-doors with the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led NWC, passing a vote of confidence on the party leadership.
Addressing journalists after the meeting which held at the national secretariat of the party, Okorocha said the tenure of the Odigie-Oyegun led NWC ends in 2018.
A national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the Deputy Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Timi Frank have been vociferous in their calls for the national chairman to resign.
“You may recall that it was the same National Working Committee and these party leaders that saw us through during the last election.
What that means is that if these people were good enough to see us through and never betrayed us, they should be so honoured. I want to assure them that no one will bully them out or hush them out.
But, where there is need to make amendments, which is natural within any human organization, the party will be restructured for the purpose of making it stronger and to move forward as a people and as a party. “No one is going to boo anybody out.
Where there is need for amendment, we shall make amendment in order to save the party and move it forward.
“Restructuring is not in terms of changes; who comes in or who goes out. No. But, in every human organization, there comes a time when they restructure. It could be to add more people, it could be to strengthen the party at all levels. And of course, you know that these people are duly elected, whose tenure will expire by 2018. So, where there is need for restructuring.
“I have come to reassure them, because sometimes, when you have the fear or worry that you are not stable, you begin to react in a negative way, but if you know you are stable, you will put in your best. Here is a reassuring visit”, Okorocha stated.
The governors had last Monday met with the president to discuss several internal party issues and to also express their displeasure at the president’s unilateral decision to name ambassadors without due consultations with many of the governors.
It was learnt that the parley, meant to calm frayed nerves, did not however go down well with the party’s NWC many of whom felt slighted to have been excluded by the presidency at the last minute.
Buhari to address Party’s NWC within two months Consequently, the president will in the next two months meet with the leadership of the party to address concerns regarding the progress of the party.
According to Okorocha, “Mr President and Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the party would be addressing the party leadership very soon, in a couple of weeks to come or before the next two months and from there we would take it up but our party is united and strong and we must take advantage of the moment especially with the visible crisis in the PDP; many good people in the PDP want to join APC but they are still watching because they have not seen us show that which we were known for before the election and there is no reason why we cannot manage this victory.
APC must manage this victory and Nigerians are not going to ask us who can defeat one another in the party or who is able to bring down the other in the party.
They will ask us what we can do for the party. So, I came here for a call for unity and the governors are to show leadership in this regard by making sure that all the NWC, APC governors and the national assembly work together to show unity in our party.
“The issue of funding for the party was also discussed and every stakeholder would be part of it and it is not about a person or the president. Every member of APC would sponsor the party.
“But, let me say something about Ondo for those of you who have been having confusion about it. The system that brought President Buhari as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the system that we want to practice at all levels. And, that is the system I think has taken place in Ondo (primary) election. So, our internal democracy is well-respected, and we will make sure that nobody is hurt, and the right thing is done”, he added.
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