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The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led reconciliation efforts in the ruling All Progressives Congress APC may have been twart following the decision of the party leadership to scale up crisis mediation efforts ahead of the 2019 General Elections.

Buhari had weeks ago mandated Tinubu to reconciled aggrieved party members, in the APC.

But the party now seems ready to resolve its crisis its own way in spite of the Tinubu led committee.

The former Lagos State governor had on February 14 visited the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led National Working Committee NWC of the party at its secretariat in Abuja to intimate them about the commencement of his work as well as solicit their support in delivering on the presidential mandate given to him.

At the meeting, Tinubu was alleged to have listed several terms including asking the party leadership to stand down all ongoing reconciliation efforts in order not to work at cross-purposes with his team.

Tinubu on his own in a letter he wrote to Chief Odigie Oyegun days after the meeting, said he had also requested for documents on the state of affairs of the party in some States, a request he said had not been granted as promised.

He had also asked the party to appoint a liaison officer to interface with him and the party in the course of his troubleshooting assignment, a request that had since been granted by the party through the appointment of the APC Director of Organization, Alh. Abubakar Kyari.

It is not known whether Tinubu has named his full team. However, Saturday Vanguard learned that the party has been making efforts to resolve its crisis, a move that has left the Tinubu committee with nothing much to do.

“Kogi is one of the flash point states that Tinubu is so much interested in. Even in his last letter to the national chairman, he stated it. Now, the NWC has insisted that the status quo ante bellum be maintained in the state, meaning that Haddy Ametuo, obviously favoured by Tinubu against Gov.

Yahaya Bello’s choice of Alh. Ibrahim Ahovi, remains the chairman of the party in that state”, said a national officer of the party who did not want his name mentioned in the report.

In Kaduna, the party had recently set up a committee headed by its Deputy National Chairman, South, Engr. Segun Oni to wade into the crisis Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi” the party in the state. Other members of the fact-finding committee were the National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu and National Woman Leader, Hajia Rahmatu Aliyu.

The team was to “ identify the remote and immediate causes of the disagreement and circumstance that led to the demolition of the house of Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi” among other issues.

Apart from mediating in the crisis in other states including Cross River, the party leadership earlier in the week took its efforts a notch higher by wading into the continued altercation between the National Assembly and the Executive when it visited its Senate Caucus on Wednesday.

Consequent upon discussions at the parley, the NWC and the senators resolved to set up what could appear as a parallel crisis mediation team to resolve all the crises in the party.

At the end of the meeting which lasted about three hours, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan said the party would soon constitute a caucus, comprising members of the executive, the legislature, governors and the party leadership, to resolve issues confronting the party.

“The discussions centered around so many things, including the issue of election sequence. We are coming to a situation where that can be resolved.

We are hoping that as soon as that caucus is constituted, this kind of issue will easily be addressed and resolved. Senators took the opportunity to express problems bedeviling the party.

The party will soon constitute a team that will comprise the Executive, Legislature, governors and the party itself. The meeting was worthwhile and the party was happy to be here this afternoon. It was a frank discussion.

“The idea of bringing everybody to the table is to ensure that we are able to resolve any issue; issues at party, National Assembly and at the executive levels and with some of our governors.

Should there be any issue, we should be able to discuss and dispense with it as quickly as possible.

“When you have everybody on the same page, you would have reduced misunderstanding to its barest level or eliminated it completely.

There may be times when there will be disagreements. Such disagreements must not be allowed to become a clog in the wheel of progress.

“This is our government. This is our administration. We should not be fighting dirty in the public.

If we have misunderstanding, we should be able to deal with it inside our house. It is not as if a political party will not have problems, what makes the difference is for the political party to manage such challenges that will arise from time to time.

We are on top of the situation. We are going to resolve all our problems.”Describing the visit of the NWC to the Senate “as a father visiting his family”, Lawan said the NWC had requested for an interaction with the party’s Senate caucus to review events in the party and the country.

BIG STORY

Road To 2027: Tinubu Not Threatened By Obasanjo, Kwankwaso, Obi’s Talks — APC

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The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, stated that it was not intimidated by the weekend visit of former presidential flag-bearer of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, to the Abeokuta, Ogun State home of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo “to discuss the political future of Nigeria.”

In recent weeks, there have been growing debates about the 2027 general elections after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, advocated for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

According to Akume, there will be no vacancy in Aso Rock until 2031, when Tinubu would have completed a second term.

However, the opposition has rejected this notion, insisting that the ruling APC would be removed from power by 2027.

Over the weekend, Kwankwaso and Duke, a 2007 presidential aspirant, visited ex-President Obasanjo in Abeokuta and held a closed-door meeting.

Although the specifics of their discussions remain undisclosed, sources close to the leaders suggested that the meeting was part of a broader effort to strategize for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Obasanjo, a key figure in Nigerian politics, has been actively engaging various stakeholders to explore alternatives to the ruling APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The ex-President has recently been highly critical of Tinubu’s administration, condemning alleged corruption and rising debt burdens.

Kwankwaso, an influential figure in Kano State politics, brings significant clout and followership, while Duke, a former governor from the southern region, is expected to offer his unique perspective on governance and national unity.

Though the details of their conversation remain confidential, Kwankwaso’s statement after the meeting suggested a collective intention to challenge the existing political structure and pave the way for a new direction in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Confirming the meeting via his verified Facebook page, Kwankwaso stated, “I was pleased to be in the company of my friend, His Excellency Donald Duke, and other associates to pay a courtesy call on former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta.”

He added, “Deliberations on significant national issues, including the future of politics and governance in Nigeria, defined the conversation. We are grateful to Baba for his warm reception, support, and hospitality.”

However, responding to the development in an interview (with The Punch) on Sunday, the National Publicity Director of the ruling APC, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the meeting as a potential threat to APC continuity.

Ibrahim asserted that Tinubu’s political stature and relevance in contemporary politics had far surpassed those of the opposition figures and statesmen.

He said, “With due respect, I hold Obasanjo in high esteem. As a former President, ex-Head of State, and an elder statesman, I don’t want to take issues with him. But when it comes to the politics of Nigeria, particularly contemporary politics, Tinubu is not their mate.”

“Tinubu is head and shoulders above them in modern politics in Nigeria. So the combination of Obasanjo, Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, and Donald Duke, who was my schoolmate, does not present a threat to Tinubu. These are people who were trashed in the last election.”

“This is not the first time Obasanjo has rallied around someone, and that person was defeated. Remember, he supported (ex-President Goodluck) Jonathan, who later lost to Buhari. Obasanjo supported another candidate, Peter Obi, in the last election again and Tinubu trounced them.”

“So they can have marathon meetings and meet till the end of time, they will not present any threat to the government of APC. Who among Kwankwaso, Obasanjo, Obi, and Duke was not beaten? If they are bringing angels, it’s a different story. But if it is these same spent forces that will combine and meet, their meeting cannot bring any good outcome.”

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BIG STORY

Rowdy Session As Another LP Reps Defects To APC, Cites Leadership Crisis

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The member representing Jos South and East Federal Constituency, “Alfred Illiya Ajang,” has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, “Tajudeen Abbas,” during plenary on Thursday, the now-defected member claimed that the crisis in the Labour Party was the reason for his defection.

The House was thrown into a rowdy session as some lawmakers raised eyebrows over the content of the letter.

Lending his voice, Minority Leader “Kingsley Chinda” says the letter is not in accordance with the constitution of the House and, as such, should be rejected.

He said that as a standing order, any member who wishes to defect must first inform his constituents and party members on the platform on which he was elected before any letter is read.

Chinda argued that since this criterion has not been met, the letter should not be admitted.

The speaker, however, overrode the observation.

Meanwhile, a former Minister of Labour and Employment and now-serving senator “Simon Lalong” was at the House of Representatives complex to witness the defection and give support to his colleague.

The House had earlier suspended its rules to admit Lalong, representing Plateau South senatorial district.

His defection from the LP to the ruling APC adds to the swelling number of federal lawmakers dumping one of Nigeria’s main opposition parties.

A few days back, another lawmaker, “Dalyop Chollom,” representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, dumped the LP for the APC. He cited the crisis in the party as his reason.

Some weeks back, four members of the House of Representatives dumped the LP for the ruling party, citing squabbles in the Labour Party.

Following their defection, the LP threatened legal action and claimed their action was unconstitutional.

The Labour Party made inroads in national politics in the 2023 general election years after its formation. It got six Senate and 34 House of Representatives seats.

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Atiku’s Former Aide Daniel Bwala Decamps To APC

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Daniel Bwala, Atiku Abubakar’s former aide, has decamped to the All Progressive Congress.

This comes weeks after President Tinubu appointed him as his special adviser on media and public communication then later changed his portfolio to SA on policy communication.

In a post on his X (former twitter) page, Bwala posted a picture of him at the APC media centre and captioned it ‘Sweet Home’.

This however, is a fulfillment of the prediction of many after the former PDP apologist accepted to serve the APC government.

Meanwhile, Bwala used to be with the APC before he left for the camp of Atiku’s PDP during the 2023 presidential election campaign.

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