From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
South East APC Young Progressives Forum, on Friday, asked President Bola Tinubu not to appoint people who’re not known to the party members in the geopolitical zone into various appointive positions in his administration.
National Convener of the forum, Paschal Candle, at a press conference in Awka, Anambra State capital, said that appointing ‘fair weather’ members who have never contributed anything to the party in the region or identified with it would hurt the party.
He said that some of the people parading themselves as APC members and lobbying for appointments were not known to the party at the zonal level and also in the grassroots, and as such have no electoral value.
“We pray that ministerial appointments should be given to real party members who can be accessible to the people, who were on ground during campaigns supporting the party, people with the requisite think home philosophy not those who will take the appointment and close the doors against Ndi APC Anambra.
“We need a minister that can unite the party, a minister and board members that will improve the fortunes of APC in Anambra, a minister that can help us win gubernatorial election; a minister that will galvanize the grassroots for the party, a minister that will be collaborating with Anambra APC Executives to build a vibrant party at all levels.
“We pray that Mr President will not give us an unpopular and unacceptable ministerial candidate. This will not augur well for the party in Anambra State. Those self-appointed APC members in Abuja and Lagos, who are not proud to identify with APC in their Wards, Local Governments and States, will not be accepted by us.
“That Mr President should as a matter of party interest demand from these lobbyists their Polling Unit and Ward Results. You cannot be claiming to be a member of a party or want something from the party which you cannot boldly identify with.
“We, in positive anticipation, are of the belief that such a call would be heeded and Anambra APC would be represented by genuine party members who have long waited for the Uhuru moment in our party”, he said.
The group pleaded with the president as a “thorough party man” to ensure that only core party members with sound profile, impeccable integrity and character in the South East were appointed as ministers, Special Advisers and others as it would help build a vibrant party with mass followership in the geopolitical zone.
“It is on record that one of the challenges of the party in Anambra State and South East is the harrowing non-reward system for party members who have slaved and toiled, and always being bypassed for expired leaders, people without any electoral value or those who are only APC members in Abuja by lip services, but who never identified with the party in their states.
“We may have understood such an absurdity owing to the former President Buhari’s disposition to party politics; but how can such, attempt to rear its ugly head again under the watch of a core party man such as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The stones will surely cry out”, he stated.