From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has described the disruption and attack on him at the party’s North East zonal stakeholders meeting as irresponsible and unpatriotic.
His response was contained in a statement by Oliver Okpala, his Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, as his official reaction to the highly tense stakeholders meeting held in Gombe State last weekend.
The statement noted that the disruption, acts of thuggery, and brigandage by some members of the party at the zonal meeting were totally condemnable, grievously irresponsible, and unpatriotic to the current political dispensation in the country.
“There is no space for violence in Nigeria’s political space presently; therefore, party members should resort to the civilised tenets of political decency, decorum, and comportment in their political activities in the country,” the statement read.
Reacting further to the unfortunate political crisis, Okpala remarked that it was the kind of unwarranted political crisis in the Western Region in the First Republic that developed into a major national crisis in the country that contributed to the collapse of the First Republic.
“The National Chairman of APC is a father to all, and since he assumed office, he has been working and uniting all members and showing love to all. His closeness and relationship to the President and Vice President are not in doubt, as it is as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.
“Even when Dr Ganduje tried to diffuse the tension by letting them know that it’s a joint ticket, these individuals, whose actions looked recalcitrant by nature, failed to see reason to agree with his genuine submission.
“He had emphasised that the North East produced Nigeria’s number two citizen and that the APC values the zone. That the President and Vice President are a single ticket under the constitution, yet they refused to listen.
“What kind of politicians are these individuals seeking violence with lack of tact to resolving whatever grievances they may have?” Okpala asked in the statement.
He further called on politicians across the country to advise their supporters to eschew violence, which he described as an ill wind that blows no one any good.
“Political leaders should advise their followers and supporters to always show restraint and play by the rules; politics is not about violence, it is dialogue, lobbying, and consultations. No matter what people feel, they should control their tempers.
“This attempt by these individuals to physically attack the National Chairman was an unruly act which must not be allowed to be swept under the carpet.
“As everyone could see, the National Chairman was going to his car, and they accosted him just to attack him. Thanks to the Nigerian police personnel and other security operatives who acted promptly, preventing them from physically attacking the National Chairman and stopping the situation from degenerating into total anarchy and chaos.
“This was not just an assault on Dr Ganduje but on the entire APC national leadership which he leads. How do you treat a man who has laboured round the clock for peace like this?” Okpala wondered.
“We condemn this act in its totality. Nigeria will never be allowed to descend into such brigandage; such an occasion is supposed to be one with decorum. This act does not portend well for the image of the country.
“This is a dangerous precedent. This was even an occasion where state governors from the zone were in attendance. What an effrontery!
“Those responsible for these ignoble actions should immediately return to the path of political rectitude because this, to say the least, is a mark of indiscretion which has no place in the current political dispensation.
“Dr Ganduje has always worked for peace and the unity of this country, and no one should pay him back like this. No, this is unacceptable. Violence can never have a place in our polity,” Chief Okpala concluded in the statement.