Legal threats, mere media creation
Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, on Friday, expressed his view on APC crisis, saying that the alleged threat by some of the party’s members, of seeking redress on the dissolution of the NWC was a creation of the media.
Emerging from a meeting with President Buhari, Bagudu said the president did no wrong by dissolving the NWC of the party.
“Media says a lot of things, but Mr. President is very clear that he received due legal advice, and remember, before the 2019 primaries, Mr. President demonstrated to everyone in this country that he will never sacrifice due process for expediency,” he said.
Continuing, he said: ”Even when it was convenient to extend the tenure of the then executive so that we won’t have a convention and primary at the same time, Mr President said no, no matter how tough it is, we are going to do the correct, legal thing. So Mr. President will never do anything which the constitutional provisions of party, much more of the country, do not allow him to do.”
On the dissolution of the party’s NWC and the setting up of a caretaker committee, he said it was one less distraction to governance for President Buhari.
He said: ”He is happy that at last we have one less distraction because Mr. President is conscious of the mandate given to him by Nigerians and even though he bothers a lot about his party, what dominates his daily action are the economy, security, transparency and the progress of Nigeria. So he’s very happy.”
Bagudu who was accompanied on the visit by Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, the newly inaugurated Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee and governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni;Governor i Sani Bello of Niger State ; and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State said they were at the State House to thank Buhari for the way he resolved the crisis rocking the party.
The governor said “we thanked Mr. President for all he has been doing for the Progressive family, which culminated in the visionary and momentous resolution of party disputes that took place yesterday (Thursday). Testimonials, news, commentaries, media from across the country are all happy for what has done.
“Equally, to appreciate all the gains that have been made under his capable, brilliant and visionary leadership. Our country is more food secured, the economy, though challenged by the Coronavirus pandemic and recovering from the 2016 recession, is doing better than most countries in similar situation.
“Accountability has increased tremendously, we are hearing of security gains on daily basis in all parts of the country and those are what Mr President campaigned upon and Nigeria has one of the most robust responses to the coronavirus pandemic, all because of his thoughtful imaginative and patriotic leadership.
“At the same time, it’s to introduce, yet again, the Chairman of our Caretaker and Extraordinary National Convention planning Committee, who is a very seasoned administrator and politician, the governor of Yobe State, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, and to thank him on behalf of the Progressive Governors’ Forum for deeming it so fit to include three governors in the committee: the Chairman, governor of Niger State and the governor of Osun State; Gboyega Isiaka Oyetola.”
Governor Bagudu, was in the company of four other governors, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi; the newly inaugurated Chairman of the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee and governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni; the governor of Niger State, Alhaji Sani Bello; and the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.