The Committee of Diaspora Chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) under the leadership of Yobe Governor Mai Bala Buni for its activities so far geared towards the progress of the party.
Recall that the ruling party had during the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa on June 25 dissolved the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) following protracted leadership crisis and set up a committee to manage the affairs of the party in the interim.
That resolution was reached at the emergency NEC meeting attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, APC state governors and other key members in June 2020, where the party-appointed the Yobe state governor, Mala Buni, to lead its 13-member caretaker committee.
The buni-led committee was not only tasked to pacify warring factions in the party but to conduct a national convention to elect new leadership for the party within six months.
In a communique jointly signed by Dr Philip Idaewor, Chairman, APC UK & Chairman, APC Diaspora Forum; Hon. Lawal Ayoola, Chairman, APC Scandinavia & Secretary, APC Diaspora Forum; Prof. Adesegun Labinjo Chairman APC USA; Barr. Hammed Adefioye, Chairman APC Ireland; Mr Charles Michelleti Chairman APC Ghana; Mr Stephen Adeayo Tella, Chairman APC Spain; Mr Olalekan Ogunwede Chairman APC Germany; Mr Olanrewaju Balogun, Chairman APC France; Crowned Prince Chima Ibezim Chairman APC Italy Chapter; Comrade Tony Isama, Chairman Emeritus, APC Chairmen Forum, it called on the party leaders to return the party to its original focus and vision.
It said, “As the party is starting revalidation of old memberships and new registration, we call on the party leaders back home to come together and return our party to its original focus and vision to deliver a truly social-democratic welfarist political ideology for good of all Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the caretaker committee has the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and other critical stakeholders of the party to commence a fresh membership registration and revalidation on December 12, 2020, and round off the exercise on January 9, 2021.
While urging the caretaker committee to keep up the momentum and focus on its mission, the committee was advised not to be deterred by any distraction but “keep their eyes on the tasks they are saddled with and, we the entire members of the APC in the Diaspora assure them of our total support.”
Also, the APC accredited Diaspora chapters expressed displeasure over apparently continued exclusion from the party structure and administration; it stated that “we strongly believe it will be taken care of in this new party structure because it is far long overdue.” Members of the party in the Diaspora should be represented at our table of brotherhood, they stated.
The Buni-led Committee has continuously received a widespread commendation for deploying a combination of reconciliation, consultation and inclusiveness in achieving unity and cohesion in the party within the past few months.
