National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has openly supported President Muhammadu Buhari opposition to tenure elongation for the current National Executive leaders of the party, under the leadership of Chief John Oyegun.
“In the clear, straightforward manner that is his mode of expression and that befits the moment, President Buhari affirmed our party remains faithful to the principles of internal democracy and the rule of law.”
Asiwaju Tinubu, in a statement today, recalled the words of President Buhari, at the March 27 NEC meeting of the APC held in Abuja, the nation’s capital today, where he said that talk of extension or elongation of the tenures of national and state party executive officers was improper and therefore declared that any such moves would contravene both the national and party constitutions.
The APC national leader, who was a former governor of Lagos State said that President Buhari’s action had saved the party from serious legal turmoil, saying that if the elongations were deemed illegal then all subsequent party actions, including the nomination of all of the candidates for elective offices, might also be of questionable legality.
According to him, such a predicament would constitute an unnecessary and mortal blow to the party and its role in promoting progressive governance to Nigeria.
“Moreover, President Buhari has affirmed for all to see that our party is one based on the rule of law coupled with a firm adherence to internal democracy. While it would have been easy to allow the ill-conceived motion of 27 February to stand, President Buhari showed principle and courage by steering the party back to its original and correct path.
“The President has spoken. Today is a good day for those who cherish democracy and legality. His action will also serve to strengthen the party by allowing party members, including present incumbents, to seek to contribute to the party by vying for executive offices as they see fit.
“His action will go far in advancing the process of internal reconciliation that is now underway. It is a time for the party to move forward and begin to plan and organize the needed congresses according to the existing timetables. After all, a party bearing the name All Progressives Congress should be the last party to resist holding congresses in which all its people have a fair say and fair chance to aspire to any position in the party for which they are qualified to hold.
“Again, this is a good day for the APC and democratic political practice in Nigeria. We shun the politics of old to move toward a new and better way of governing ourselves and this nation.” [myad]
