The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has directed all the party’s chairmen in Rivers, Taraba, Oyo, Delta, Cross River, and Lagos states not to inaugurate their executives until all the issues relating to the crises that bedeviled the conduct of congresses in those states are addressed.
Oyegun gave the directive yesterday in Abuja during the swearing in of state chairmen elected during the congresses which were characterised by violence and disagreement in most states, as factions held parallel congresses.
“There is serious need for quick reconciliation especially in Rivers, Taraba, Oyo, Delta, Lagos and others. Let the chairmen here wait and not inaugurate their executives like the others until the issues with the Congresses in such states are resolved.
“I am going to set up a committee headed by the deputy national chairman, North, Senator Lawali Shuaibu to study the situation in such states for possible actions. There will be concessions and harmonisation after the exercise within this week,” he said.
“There is serious and immediate need for reconciliation. You have seen states like Oyo, Cross River, Delta, Taraba and even Lagos State. Don’t go back and say ‘we have won’. This is not a winner takes all situation. Political parties are not organised in that way.
“It is something that must be done, and if possible, tidied up way before the National Convention. So that we will have as rancour-free a convention as is possible for any political party. Let me emphasise once more, there is need for reconciliation, give and take, compromise and I hope those sitting here will have the courage and expanse of spirit to embrace those we may think have technically lost out but are still important party members,” he said.
