President Muhammadu Buhari has narrated how the coming of the leadership of Adams Oshiomhole had saved the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from being run down by planned massive defection.
“Let me congratulate the current leadership of our party led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The team emerged at a most turbulent time when there were rumours and speculations of massive defections in a way that will possible rock the very foundation of the party.”
President Buhari, who addressed
Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC today, Thursday in Abuja, recalled that despite the reconciliatory attempts to keep the house together, some members were held bent on pulling down the roofs.
“They left plotting to go along with scores of people thus upsetting the party. But due to yeoman’s work by the able party leadership, the exit barely made attempt in our super structure as they could not muster the figures they had envisaged to cause an upset, particularly in the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“APC remains in control and increases by the day with quality people joining our fold. I say congratulations to the new members.
“Hope is rekindled in our hearts but we will give our country purposeful leadership that will improve the quality of life of the people.”
President Buhari assured that his administration will continue to secure the country, fight corruption and position the economy in a way that jobs can be provided for the youths and give them a future and hope.
He further assured that his administration will fulfill all promises made to Nigerians adding: “we are fulfilling them and will continue to serve with heart and might to build a nation where peace, justice and prosperity shall reign.”
On the forthcoming primaries, he said that the party must continue to come out with free and credible primaries.
“Today, we are meeting to look at some major decisions that will lead to excellent performance at the polls next year starting with party primaries at various levels.
“I urge you all to ensure that the decision taken here today are those that will be for the good of the party and that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of our teaming members and supporters nationwide. They look up to us for guidance and we must not disappoint or fail them.
“As we stand on the threshold of party primaries, I urge all and sundry to ensure that we play the game according to the rules. Let us come out with free, fair and credible primaries which will be precursor to free, fair and credible general elections next year.
“Let us shine the light through our primaries and the rest of the country will find the way. Our primaries must be in complete compliance with the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the Electoral Act and above all the constitution of our party, the APC.
“The times in which we call for unity, harmony and togetherness, let us all join hands to move our party forward, we must take our party to the next level and I urged all and sundry to give support to our national working committee.”
In his opening remarks before the meeting went into closed doors, the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, gave the scorecard of the party’s achievement since the new leadership stepped in over two months ago.
He said that the leaders consider it a huge privilege to be elected and are indebted to the president and members, adding that they owe it as duty to ensure fairness and justice to all.
He recalled that the party won all the elections held under the new leadership in some states, including that of the Governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives.
According to him, in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi Stayed, people reaffirmed confidence in the leadership of the party.
Oshiomhole said that the party lost the House of Representatives elections held in Cross Rivers, Yobe and Taraba, adding that it confirms that democracy was working.
He insisted that those who left the party did so for personal agains, adding, “The decampees felt it will be a huge blow to our party but I repeat those that left for personal ambition, those with no political address, migrant politicians and Rolling Stones politicians, I won’t loss my sleep. Many felt my comments were arrogant but we needed to be blunt.
“Those who have grievances arising from genuine misunderstanding our responsibilities is to help our party to have common ground and genuinely resolved those issues and we have been trying are best to do so as can be arrested to by those that have remained.”
Oshiomhole described the decampees as conservatives that needed to move away for the party to move forward.
“We have purged ourselves of excess fat that will clog our veins and we are much more certain of our future.”
He encouraged President Buhari to continue to provide the leadership and change the nation needs, even as he commended the President for continuing to speak truth to power and for demanding that looted funds stashed in foreign countries be returned.
“If you had money in foreign countries you won’t have the courage to tell the leaders to return stolen funds.”
