By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA- National Chairman of All Progressive Congress, APC, Mr. John Oyegun yesterday re-echoed the determination of the party to relaunch Nigeria onto the path speedy development and greatness.
This was even as the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, former Head of State and presidential aspirant, Gen. Mohammdu Buhari, Governor Rabiu Kwamkwaso of Kano State amongst others said that APC was a party to beat in forthcoming 2015 General elections.
The APC chieftains spoke at the extra-ordinary non elective national convention of the party held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja.
The convention which attracted APC stalwarts from across the country was particularly held to amend some sections of the party’s constitution to conform with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
About 10 sections of the constitution were affected.
Essentially, Article 31.3 was entirely deleted from the constitution to allow new entrants to the party to subject themselves to the nomination process subject to the waiver provision.
The implication of this was that aspirants defecting to APC from other political parties would not be constitutionally encumbered by virtue of their short stay before aspiring to contest election on the party’s platform.
Welcoming the delegates, national chairman of the party, Mr. John Oyegun said that APC owed it as a duty to right the wrong of the past apparently caused by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and restore the country back to greatness.
“Let me say unequivocally that these are very trying times for our country. The times become even more challenging as the 2015 elections approach. Therefore, we all owe it a duty to our country, a duty to ourselves and a duty to the generations of Nigerians yet unborn to put our country first, and put it back on the path of development and the path of greatness.
“Let me encapsulate what I have said in a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States: ”This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in, unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”
“But how can we make our dear country, Nigeria, a good place for all of us to live in when a few desperate politicians are exploiting all the nation’s fault lines? Today, our people are more divided along ethnic and religious lines than at any other time in her history. Just because they want to win elections at all cost, they have pitched Christians against Muslims, Southerners against Northerners, and one ethnic group against the other.”
Oyegun also accused the PDP of using religion to divide the peoples of Nigeria.
“In particular, the use of religion to divide our people portends great danger. No nation has ever developed using religion as a divisive or campaign tool. And ours will not be different. The problems we face, be it insecurity, corruption, poverty, lack of infrastructure or economic growth without development, will not be solved by a religionist but by patriotic and competent leadership.
“What our long-suffering people want to know is who will provide them with security, improved welfare, uninterrupted power supply, jobs, modern health care, world class education and modern infrastructure, just to name a few.
“Now, the only reason the PDP has resorted to dangerous, divisive politics is because they have nothing to showcase to Nigerians to convince them to return the PDP to power at the centre come next year”, he said.
He noted that corruption was at its peak in the country.
“In the area of corruption, Nigeria has never had it so bad! Organized stealing of our crude oil has become a thriving business, and corruption has never been so institutionalized. Where do we start?
“There is also impunity, unprecedented impunity, which has in turn fuelled unparalleled lawlessness. Now, they simply deploy security personnel to lock up the courts just to prevent justice from being served. They organize to beat up judges just to have their way. Litigants and lawyers are fair game in their misplaced strategy to pervert the course of justice.
“To them, the doctrine of the separation of powers is a mere fancy. They don’t give a damn. In their perverted reasoning, might is right! Their violation of this doctrine flies in the face of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This undemocratic encroachment and erosion portend great danger for our nation and constitute a threat to our democracy. But they don’t really give a damn.”
Also speaking, General Buhari expressed optimism that APC would record landslide victory at the polls in 2015.
Kano state governor, Kwankwaso, while speaking concurred with the remarks earlier made by the party’s national chairman.
The Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal who marked his first APC public outing after formally defecting to the party from the ruling PDP also described APC as a party for progressives.
His words: “I hereby rededicate myself to the task of building and growing our Party, and helping our party achieve its mission of lifting Nigeria to glorious heights and restoring hope to the citizens of our great country. In this regard, I hereby call on all other like minded Nigerians to join this movement to deliver on the promise of a new Nigeria.
“The APC is the party where the progressive ideals of good governance to which I subscribe are wholeheartedly embraced and applied for the betterment of Nigeria.
“I have embraced the APC platform as a veritable instrument for genuine change and enduring national development. We must constantly remind ourselves that Nigerians yearn for true change and APC represents the hope for this change, and a promise of a brighter tomorrow.
“The work may appear tedious and the road ahead may appear long and hard, but our party is amply endowed with all the key ingredients of success. We need unity and solidarity in our ranks in order to face the challenges ahead.
“In the weeks ahead, we will engage party men and women and Nigerians on the future direction of our nation and means of rescuing her from the malaise of youth unemployment, insecurity, institutionalized corruption, poverty, socio-economic decline and infrastructural decay.”
Amended Articles
Some of the amended articles as read and explained by the party’s Legal Adviser included the following:
*Article 20 which introduced a new 3rd paragraph to provide essentially a platform on which nomination process goes through indirect system.
*Article 15(a) which makes all officers of the party accountable to the chairman at the levels.
*Article 9.5 was essentially to extend the scope of what will lead to cessation of membership and acceptance of appointment from opposition government and the membership of opposition government. For this to happen, approval must be gotten from the national office.
*Article 13.2b was to reduce the tenure of the members of Board of Trustees. Presently, it is fixed 5 years tenure but now reviewed to 4 years tenure to be consistent with the electoral Acts.
*Article 9.4 modified the process for the recognition of electoral offices of the party.
*Article12.5 focused on the number of people that will constitute the national caucus of the party as well as the Board of Trustees of the party.
*Article 31.3 was entirely deleted to allow new entrants to the party to be able to subject themselves to the nomination process subject to the waiver provision.
*Article 13.4 introduced a new paragraph which is XV, empowering the national executive council to set up the relevant caretaker committee and also determine the tenure of such caretaker committee.
The articles which were eventually subjected to vote by the party’s national organizing secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso after a motion was moved by Senator Lawal Shuibu from Zamfara state and seconded by Hon. A bike Dabire form Lagos State received overwhelming endorsement by the 5287 delegates that made it to the venue.
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APC"ll relaunch Nigeria onto path speedy development and greatness - Oyegun, Buhari, Tambuwal
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