Tinubu Woos Aggrieved Members, Gets 2nd Term Endorsement

…Says Nigerian Economy On Path To Recovery
…Buhari, Amaechi, Osinbajo, Fayemi, Others Shun Meeting
…NEC Passes Vote Of Confidence In Tinubu, Ganduje
…I Inherited N8.9bn Debt As APC Chairman — Ganduje
…Party Warns El-Rufai, Says Criticisms Would Invite Responses

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ap­pealed to aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC) members to bury the hatchet, charging the party’s leaders to set up reconciliatory committees to rec­oncile them in all states.

This is even as former President Muhammadu Buhari, his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo; Rotimi Amaechi, former Min­ister of Transportation; former Gover­nor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna; former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti; for­mer Senate President Ahmed Lawan; former speaker and current Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabi­amila, among many others, shunned the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday.

Their absence, it was gath­ered, may not be unconnected with the various issues linger­ing in the party and the hostile attacks on the administration of APC.

In his speech during the NEC meeting, President Tinubu, who got an overwhelming vote of con­fidence to contest the 2027 pres­idential election, expressed joy that food prices are going down particularly during this Rama­dan period.

He said: “The National Work­ing Committee is doing a good job and I am happy with them. In all the various states let us set up reconciliatory committees to liaise with these aggrieved leaders. I am appealing to them, please be calm.”

President Tinubu, who got the endorsement of “no vacancy at the Aso Rock,” said, “I have heard your various remarks on how we have strengthened the security of our sovereignty and food security in the country.

“I am grateful to all Nigeri­ans for the electoral successes that we have from one state to another and I am also happy for the various people joining us in the National Assembly.

“On the economy, I am happy the food prices are going down particularly during this Rama­dan period.

“Let the NEC find a way to celebrate our progressive ideals. And I promise you our governors and Nigerians that we will sus­tain these progressive changes.

“Everywhere in the world, es­pecially in Europe, we have eco­nomic shocks and we are doing everything possible.”

The president also spoke on the need for the party to look for a larger and bigger location better than the present place the party headquarters is located.

He said: “The place we are gathering today is too small for us and I agree with you that we need a bigger location. I think the Minister of National Economic Planning is here, we discuss with the minister in charge and we will do something about it.”

On his part, the National Chairman of the party, Abdul­lahi Ganduje, revealed that the National Working Committee (NWC) he led, inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8.9 billion, ranging from legal engagements during the pre-election matters and oth­ers, adding that they are working very hard towards reducing the debt burden.

He said: “Your Excellencies, the current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663.00 from all the cases outlined above, ranging from legal engagements during the pre-election matters, election cases and appeals for legislative, governorship and presidential elections.

“While the National Legal Adviser has been making frantic efforts toward reducing the debt burden through dialogue and other alternative dispute resolu­tion mechanisms. However, we still passionately appeal to the National Executive Committee to intervene accordingly. It is im­portant to note that some of our accounts are still garnished.”

Ganduje, who also got a vote of confidence from NEC mem­bers, added that the commitment of his NWC is to secure and own a national secretariat complex befitting of a ruling party.

He said: “Your Excellencies, also as part of our commitment to secure and own a national sec­retariat complex befitting of a ruling party and one that would conveniently accommodate our national officers, the newly estab­lished The Progressives Institute as well as the three wings of the party, we have formally applied for a land at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) that will drive this project.”

He further said that the fo­cus of the party leadership is to prepare for Anambra and Osun states, adding that they have also embarked on massive reconcilia­tion of aggrieved party members.

He said: “Your Excellency, our focus is now on Anambra and Osun states. And in compliance with the time-table released by the Independent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC), the party has already begun prepara­tions in earnest for the conduct of the primary elections in Anam­bra scheduled for April.

“Your Excellencies, we have also embarked on massive recon­ciliation of aggrieved party mem­bers, and this move is gradually yielding desired positive results for the party. Through dialogue, we have initiated high-level dis­cussions amongst party leaders and other stakeholders with a view to resolve lingering differ­ences between our members. The conflict reconciliation committee which you are about to approve will build on this.”

Addressing newsmen after the NEC meeting, the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Mor­ka, berated the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Ru­fai, adding that such person shouldn’t be taken serious.

Morka, who downplayed the absence of some of the party’s key members, defended the par­ty’s growing influence, attribut­ing the defection of lawmakers from opposition parties to the APC’s vibrancy and effective­ness.

Morka stated that a signifi­cant number of legislators had already decamped to the ruling party, a move, he said, reflected the strength of the APC.

“How else do you explain the vibrancy of the party? How else do you explain the mass move­ment of people? More than 18 legislators in the National As­sembly have joined us. If their former parties were working efficiently, they wouldn’t be leav­ing,” he said.

Morka emphasised that defec­tion is a democratic right, noting that individuals have the freedom to associate with any political party of their choice.

He also dismissed criticisms driven by personal grievances, suggesting that such remarks should not be taken too seriously.

Addressing comments made by El-Rufai, Morka argued that respected political figures must continue to justify the trust and regard they receive from the public.

“It is not ideal for someone dissatisfied with personal expe­riences to channel that grievance against an entire system. Every fight is personal, but at the end of the day, no individual is bigger than the party,” he asserted.

On the attendance of APC leaders at the NEC meeting, Mor­ka clarified that full attendance at such gatherings is rare in any po­litical party, especially given the busy schedules of key figures like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“There’s always a lot of ne­gotiation behind the scenes to ensure key leaders are avail­able. For instance, coordinating the president’s schedule for a meeting lasting several hours is no small task. The fact remains that today’s meeting had a com­prehensive list of attendees, and we even expanded the number of invited leaders,” he explained.

He further dismissed con­cerns about the functionality of the APC’s internal organs, stat­ing that the party remains active and effective.

“The APC and its structures are working as efficiently as pos­sible. Today’s meeting was well attended, and we had successful discussions,” he concluded.

Morka also advised the former Kaduna governor to be mindful of his public engagements, warn­ing that open criticisms would naturally invite responses.

“He is a highly respected figure, but he must consider his status when making comments. If he continues to engage in pub­lic criticisms, people will have the right to reply,” he added.