Says party mismanaged victory
From Romanus Ugwu and Fred Itua, Abuja
Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha said, yesterday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) needs restructuring.
Speaking when he represented the forum at a meeting at the headquarters in Abuja, convened to finding lasting solutions to rifts in the party, Okorocha urged stakeholders to do everything possible to restore peace and also, take advantage of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He further noted that the visit was to show solidarity with the national leadership of the party and commended National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun for a job well done, just as he assured no one will boo them out of office.
“Our mission is to meet with the National Working Committee (NWC), to deliberate on what we must do to ensure unity in our party. We noticed that there is so much bitterness among the ranks and members of our party and there is need for communication and dialogue because where there is no communication and dialogue, war is inevitable.
“You may recall that it was the same national leadership of this party that saw us through the last election and what that means is that if they were good enough to see us through and never betrayed us, they should be honoured.
“President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of our party, will address the party very soon; in a couple of weeks to come or before the next two months.
“We shall take it up to ensure the unity of our party. Our party is a united one and we must take advantage of the moment especially the visible crisis with the PDP. Many good people in PDP want to join APC but they are still watching because they have not seen us show that there is peace…”
At the Senate, Okorocha admitted the party failed to manage its 2015 victory and also expressed worry on the cold relationship between the executive and the legislature.
He made the observations when he visited Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the National Assembly.
Although Okorocha said that his visit to the Senate was belated, he, nonetheless, said “it is never late to make amends, where possible”.
According to Okorocha who told Saraki that he was visiting in his capacity as the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, said, “This is the very first time I am coming to your office and I am here because I am concerned.
“I am here because I am a stakeholder. I am here as the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum – your friends and colleagues in the struggle…”
Mr. Senate President, leaders of these great Senate, you may recall a few years ago that we were all in the trenches, in battle, asking for change in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I recall vividly the role most of you played in that very struggle.
“We became a government when no one gave us a chance to be so. And shortly, Nigerians believed in us and entrusted us with the responsibility of leading this nation. But one year and several months after, we have not been able to manage this God-given victory very well and it is very worrisome, Mr. Senate President.
“That Nigerians expects so much from us but yet we seem to be in crisis within ourselves. Not crisis made by the opposition parties but crisis created by ourselves for ourselves and which has kept us in total difficult position that we are not making the headway we need to make as a party.
“One wonders then what went wrong. Where did we get it wrong? And after these troubles and after the much hope we have given to Nigerians, we still cannot work together as a party, as a family. And I noticed particularly that there is so much bitterness in the system – from the party, from the legislature, from the executive, from the governors – and it seems to me like there is no more platform for us to chant those old songs which we used to sing in the days of struggle for change. One wonders, was this what we were asking for or was this the change we were asking for. I think Nigerians expect so much from us and at the end of it all.
“Nigerians will not ask us, how many of each other we have been able to destroy or how many we have been able to bring down. But they will ask us how many plates of food have we put on the table of the common man who elected us. So, I am here Mr. President of the Senate to call for unity among us and our party. And to sheath our sword in whatever form anger has gotten to us.
“We noticed and we know that we are a party in majority at the National Assembly and we are a party with majority in the number of governors – state houses of assembly – but we notice there is no cordial relationship between the Governors, the Executive and the legislature.
“And let me reemphasize that in all these arms of government, it is only the legislature with the executive that are the elected members. Not the Judiciary. And Nigerians will hold us responsible as the executive and legislative arms of government. So, we must act quickly to ensure peace reigns among us. I have discussed with the party – that was my first point of call – to seek what we must do to forge a way forward.
“The Governors recently met with the President all in a bid to move this party forward and bring about unity. Today, I am before you, the Senate President, number three citizen of this country and I ask you to use your wisdom to bring peace among our party. We need to enjoy that very vibrancy for which the National Assembly has been known for. We need to enjoy those things that PDP used to enjoy when they were a majority in the National Assembly.
“The APC government must see you as majority in the National Assembly not minority in the house. My Senate President, my Senate President, my Senate President, to whom much is given, much is expected and two wrongs can never make a right. It takes one arm of a relationship to make good the other. I liken my situation to what I see in my own government that it is difficult to succeed as an executive if you do not have the proper support of the legislature.
“I will appeal that we make amends where possible to ensure smooth running of the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And we intend again, to hold a meeting between the executive, the legislature and the governors and the presidency as soon as possible. I may suggest that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, has also agreed to address the leadership of our party very soon. But before then, I think all the rough edges must be smoothened.
“So we can truly tell the world that we are the government in power – our government is in the majority. Again, I want to thank you for the time taken to receive me and pray that this very visit would mark a new beginning in our relationship. Thank you,” the Imo State Governor said.
In his response, the Senate President told the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum that he has raised vital issues that the APC National Assembly caucus would look into, while assuring the Governor that the Senate will work in synergy to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians that voted the APC into power.
Saraki admitted that the crisis in the party is surmountable, saying nonetheless that the doors of National Assembly is open to the party as he noted that it remains a surprise that the leadership of the APC has not deemed it fit in the last 16 months to visit and meet with their members in the National Assembly.
He maintained that with synergy between the party, the executive and legislature, the interest of the common man would be maintained. The Senate President told the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum that the Senate is already working to complement the executive arm in churning out laws that will help turn around the economy.
“Today in the senate plenary, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) has passed its second reading while other economic reform laws has been passed into law,” he said.
He also told Governor Okorocha that the Senate has passed a resolution on the 21-Point Economic plan to bring the country’s economy out of recession.
Saraki who was joined by Senate leader, Ali Ndume, Senators Dino Melaye, Rafiu Ibrahim, Hama Isa Misau and Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi in receiving Okorocha further said that the APC caucus in the Senate is working with their colleagues in the other parties to ensure that issues of security, economic development and corruption are concentrated upon in the remaining tenure of the current Senate.
“We are so united before election and there is no reason we cannot manage this victory. So, APC must manage the victory because Nigerians are not going to ask us who is able to defeat one another in the party or who is able to bring down one another in the party but will ask us what we are able to do as a party.
“We can only do something when we are united. I came here for a call for unity and the governors are willing to show leadership in this regard by ensuring that all the NWC, the APC governors and the National Assembly work together to ensure unity in our party.
“Again, I want to specifically commend Mr Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun for a job well done and thank other national leadership because sometimes in our chequered history we forget to say thank you for those that have done very well.
“Their seeing me today reassured them that we are still one and that they have not been forgotten. They have done their best in spite of the situation we are going through but we should not forget that Nigeria is going through turbulent times and we shall come out it very soon.
“Lest I mat forget, we also discussed the issue surrounding Ondo State election and agreed that as a party we must show our strength and visibility in Ondo. We have therefore directed the NWC to relocate their office to Ondo to provide support.
“The governor should equally do same to ensure APC wins Ondo this month. Let me add that the system that brought President Buhari and the president of this country is the same system we want to practice at all levels and that is the system I think has taken place in Ondo election primary.
“Our internal democracy is well respected and we will make sure that nobody is hurt and the right thing is done. Secondly, Anambra is fast coming and we have to start early enough now to show strength in Anambra State so that APC can also capture the state.
“We equally discussed the financial situation of the party and agreed to make sure that every stakeholder will be part of the plans to make the party more financially viable. It is not a case of expecting the governors or president to sponsor the party but every member of APC must also sponsor the party.
Explaining more about the proposal by the Progressives governors to restructure the party, the Imo State governor said: “Restructuring may be in terms of changes of who comes or goes out. However, in every human organisation, there is time when there must be restructuring.”
“It could be to add more people, to strengthen the party at all levels but we should not forget that the national leadership are dully elected whose tenure will expire by 2018 but where there is need for restructuring, we will restructure. I have come to reassure them because sometimes if you have the fear or worry you begin to react in a negative form. If you know that you are comfortable.
Asked if the visit is a form of intervention for the party crisis, he said: “We are not here for intervention but a call for unity. I am here to remind them that our party will still stand and that we are all stakeholders. We are here to reassure them that the governors are solidly behind them. We want to encourage them to maintain and uphold that which made our party very strong.”