The All Progressives Congress Network Vanguard (APCNeV), has condemned in totality the proposal of the governors under the platform of the party and leaders of the party, to impose former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje or Senator Tanko Almakura, both Muslims, as the National chairman of the party and Senator Ajibola Bashiru, another Muslim, as the Secretary.
In a statement released in Abuja on Monday by its National Coordinator; Moses Abuh & its Publicity Secretary; Oladunjoye Oladiti, APCNeV said that such proposition, at a time as this, runs against the principle of justice and fairness within the party.
According to the statement, “We received with great shock and deep disappointment, the news report about the intention of the APC leaders and Governors to ratify a Muslim National Chairman and a Muslim National Secretary for our great party, APC, this is against the principle of justice and fair play.
“We cannot stand a situation whereby the overall boss of our party will be a Muslim and the head of the secretariat administration will also be a Muslim, it is totally unacceptable, hence we are calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Hope Uzodima who is the chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum, to rethink and rescind their speculated decision in that regards for equity, fairness, and justice which our party stands for.
“It’s wrong and unfair for the APC Governors and the leaders of the party to propose for a Muslim National Chairman and at the time a Muslim National Secretary for us.
“We urge the leadership of the party to maintain the status quo of ratifying a Muslim chairman and a Christian secretary or a Christian Chairman and a Muslim Secretary for balancing, so as not to tag our party a Muslim party among the electorates, our members, well-wishers and sympathizers,” APCNeV warned.
The group expressed support and loyalty to the administration of Tinubu/Shettima which is currently running and urged Nigerians to support and pray for its success for the benefit of the country and all of us living therein.
Meanwhile, the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress for North-West, Mallam Salihu Lukman, has officially resigned from his position.
His resignation letter was submitted on Wednesday to the Acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
The development is coming one week after the former National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, tendered their resignations.
In the copy of the letter made available to our correspondent, the Kaduna politician hinged his resignation on the alleged illegal acts and interference in the affairs of the party, which he claimed, was at variance with the vision of the founding fathers.
Lukman said that he opted to throw in the towel rather than remain in the party to continue his agitation and be seen as a distraction.
The letter read, “Your Excellency, I hereby kindly resign my position as National Vice Chairman, North-West of our great party, All Progressives Congress. My resignation is with immediate effect, which becomes necessary given my conviction that the atmosphere in the party is completely at variance with the founding vision of forming a progressive party.
“Rather than remaining in the leadership of the party and becoming a source of distraction for leaders and especially for the young government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is better to excuse myself and take time off from politics.
“I will however retain my membership of the party in the hope that our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will retract from acts that will be unjust and illegal, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.”
The outgoing vice chairman also applauded former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for nominating and standing by him throughout his tenure.
This is even as he promised to continue to support the party in every way that he can.
“I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to our leaders in Kaduna, especially Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for finding me worthy of nomination to serve at the highest level of the party’s leadership. I do hope all our leaders will appreciate that I am left with no option in the circumstance. I wish the party and all our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu all the best and will continue to give my modest support towards the success of the party from the background,” he said.
