A faction of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) in Kwara State has dissociated itself from the 7-day ultimatum
given to President Muhammadu Buhari by members of the now defunct New Peoples
Democratic Party (nPDP) led by Abubakar Kawu Baraje.
The faction also asked the
Party’s national leadership not to succumb to Baraje group’s blackmail.
Recall that the nPDP
in a letter addressed to the National chairman of the APC, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun accused the ruling APC of marginalising its members in cabinet
positions, board appointments and working to block the emergence of Yakubu Dogara
and Bukola Saraki as speaker and senate president in 2015.
However, in a statement signed by
the chairman of the faction in Kwara state, Hon. Olayemi Olabanji and
Secretary, Alh. Abdulganiyu Saka, the group pointed out that the APC under the
leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has performed exceptionally well.
The statement reads: “We
appreciate the president’s efforts in re-positioning the economy of the
country, as well as his anti-corruption campaign which has positioned him as a
leader who has the interest of the masses at heart.
“Two weeks ago, we protested the
inclusion of Baraje in the National Convention Committee. Our protest was based
on his track record of doing hatchet jobs in such auspicious gatherings. We
have therefore, been vindicated by this latest development.
“Baraje has no political
relevance back home. He is just doing the bidding of his pay master who nobody
dares to challenge in our state. But we assure Nigerians that the narratives
will change in 2019.
“As against the assertion that
the president side-lined those who worked for the success of the APC during the
2015 general elections, we can categorically state that Kwara state, where Kawu
Baraje comes from, has benefitted tremendously from the Administration of President
Muhammadu Buhari.
“Aside from giving two powerful
Ambassadorial slots to Kwara, a substantive minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is also from Kwara state and he is making us proud
at the National level.
“It should also be borne in mind
that Kwara state was a beneficiary of Federal Board appointments which,
ironically, were cornered by Baraje’s sponsor and shared only among his cronies
including Baraje himself and another agent at the party’s headquarters, Bolaji
Abdullahi.
“Aside from juicy appointments
from the federal government, Kwara state is a beneficiary of the ongoing
infrastructural development across the country, and we are very optimistic that
more good things are underway.
“Arising from the foregoing
therefore, we want to say, without mincing words that the letter by the
Baraje’s faction of the APC to the party is a self-serving one and its not in
the interest of all party members.
“Ironically, the Kawu Baraje’s
faction of the APC is only crying wolf where there is none because in actual
fact, they are the ones depriving genuine APC members their dues, and not the
federal government.
“Since nPDP exodus from the PDP
to the APC, Kwarans have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy in the state.
The appointments have always been lopsided, and juicy positions are reserved
only for people who are loyal to the existing status quo despite the fact that
we all worked for the success of the APC in 2015.
“The State APC machinery is
solely run by Baraje’s boss, Sen. Bukola Saraki and not even the governor, Alh.
Abdulfatah Ahmed, has any say in the running of party affairs.
“The three Senators from kwara
State are Saraki himself and his loyalists. Five out of the six House of
Representatives members from the state were handpicked by Sen. Saraki.
“Furthermore, out of the 24
members of kwara state House of Assembly, only two are legacy members, the
other 22 were hand-picked by Sen. Saraki and they are doing only his bidding in
the house.
“To further exacerbate the issue,
the State Cabinet has been wholly Saraki loyalists. Just three days ago, the
governor submitted a list of 19 new commissioners and all of them are Saraki
loyalists. None for legacy, none even for independent-minded members of the
so-called nPDP .
“During the last ward congress,
our members were disenfranchised and those who tried to protest the injustice
were brutalised by the leadership of the party in the state.
“Therefore, the Baraje faction of
the APC does not have locus standi to talk about justice, equity and fairness
because in actual fact, this is lacking in Kwara APC.
“Publicizing a matter that ought
to have been resolved within the party machinery, shows that they do not have
the interest of the party at heart. Already, they have adopted a new slogan for
APC in Kwara state. Instead of APC’s registered slogan which is CHANGE, their
adopted slogan is now PROGRESS. What an affront.!
“The Party should be wary of the
group since they are known as serial defectors the moment their personal
interests are not met. They did same to Jonathan’s Government but this
administration must not allow them destroy our great party.
“Baraje and his indulgent faction
are inconsequential and must be ignored. The president and the party should not
submit to their blackmail; and they must be sanctioned in accordance with the
rule of the party for disrespecting the office of the President.
“We disassociate ourselves completely from
Baraje group’s threat and blackmail. They do not speak for the teeming APC
members in Kwara State who remain steadfast and loyal to President Muhammadu
Buhari and our beloved party.”
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