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•Police occupy secretariat, presidency splits NWC members, inauguration stalled
•Abia flays imposition of national welfare secretary
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
National secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja was practically a battleground, yesterday, when the leadership attempted to inaugurate six newly appointed members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and zonal leaders.
Tension started building up in the early hours of the day when a large detachment of battle-ready police personnel stationed in all entrances of Blantyre Street housing the party’s secretariat. They frisked every staff and visitors before allowing them access into the facility.
The presence of the fierce-looking security agents, however, did not deter protesters from Cross River State, numbering hundreds, who barricaded the Barcelona Hotel end of the street and grounded both vehicular and human traffic.
The gun-wielding police team had stormed the secretariat in more than nine patrol vehicles to beef up security around the secretariat.
Similarly, in combat ready style, aggrieved Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, also stormed the secretariat at 9am heightening tension in the complex. His mission was to stop or disrupt inauguration of the anointed officers from Kogi, comprising the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, and Zonal Organising Secretary (North Central Zone), Ikani Okolo.
It was also learnt that Governor Bello, after undertaking a fruitless visit to the house of the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Wednesday night after the NWC settled for the alleged candidates of James Faleke, had decided to storm the secretariat to stop the inauguration. In a show of solidarity, all members of National Assembly on the platform of the party and a serving minister from the state joined Governor Bello in the protest. The governor spent over seven hours before he reluctantly left the party’s secretariat by 4.33pm.
While Governor Bello occupied the secretariat, the protesters from Cross River, backed by major stakeholders and party chieftain like Florence Ita-Giwa, who also stormed the secretariat, refused to shift grounds in the occupied part of the streets. Brandishing placards bearing various inscriptions like “Cross River State quota cannot be stolen”, “Cross River only APC state in South South”, “We say no to daylight robbery,” “Cross River State we stand”, “Cross River must reclaim their woman leader position”, “Edo State has two NWCs already, why go for third representative,” the protesters refused to bulge despite threats from security agencies.
While the protest was ongoing, Chairman, Cross River APC chapter, Adolphus Ogar, who arrived the secretariat in company of Odey-Ekpo, was delayed by security agencies for close to 30 minutes before he was allowed access into the premises.
Coordinator of the protest, Bukkie Okaigbe, who addressed journalists lamented the unfair treatment by the leadership of APC, claiming attempts to short-change the state of its slot under the guise that Mr. President has honoured the state with two ministers.
“The reason we are protesting is very clear. It is about the position of the National Women Leader that Betta Edu left and by the grace of God, she is now the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs. According to the party constitution, we are supposed to continue with the slot because it is an elective position. Right now, we don’t know what is happening in the party. Feelers have it that they have chosen somebody else from another state to replace our nominee. So, we are here to pass a message that our people from Cross River cannot be intimidated. Cross River is arguably the only APC state in the South South and one of the states that delivered Asiwaju. We are, therefore, pleading with the party to do the right thing.”
Confirming the crack over the imposition of the candidates, an NWC member told Daily Sun that members were not happy with the decision by the presidency to short-change, particularly, Cross River State chapter.
Abia State also rejected what it termed imposition of a new national welfare secretary .
In a statement by the chairman, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu and the Secretary, Chief Chidi Avajah, the state organ of the party called on the NWC to reverse itself and respect the party’s constitution.
The duo pointed out that the constitution of the party was clear on who has the mandate to nominate a replacement Incase of vacancy. And this, according to them, falls squarely on the State Executive Committee.
“The party pointed out that following the death of the last occupant of the office, F.N. Nwosu, the state chapter in line with its mandate in APC Constitution nominated her state Organising Secretary, Mr. Obinna Atuonwu and forwarded the same to both zonal and national organs of our great party for ratification.
“The State chapter of the party is deeply worried that some stranger elements are trying to destabilise the Abia State chapter of the party after their treachery and betrayals during the last election.”
It noted that the party that this group initially wanted to foist a suspended member of the party as replacement.
“They resisted. And when they realised their folly they now changed to their present candidate.
•Continued on sunnewsonline.com
“It’s not in the interest of the party that that some chieftains of the party will just gang up and share party’s office using Mr. President’s name. But we know that Mr. President as a consummate politician respects the constitution of the party and due process. Mr. President’s name should not be vainly used. We therefore, call on the National Working Committee of our great party as men of honour to refuse to be used in this unconstitutional and illegal voyage aimed at the usurpation of the powers and mandate of the State chapter of the party.
“The Abia State chapter of the party remains loyal to Mr. President, the National Chairman and the National Working Committee.
But strongly urges the national headquarters of our great party to reverse this ugly division which will not stand the test of moral, political and judicial scrutiny.” The reinstated it’s belief that common sense and the constitution of the party should prevail, noting that Obinna Atuonwu remains the duly nominated National Welfare Secretary from Abia State.
