.Stakeholders Must Compromise To Restore Peace, Says Odigie-Oyegun
The Prince Tony Momoh-led All Progressives Congress (APC) fact-finding and reconciliation committee constituted to address contentions in the Kogi state chapter of the Party on Wednesday, June 7 submitted its report at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
Recall that the APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun on April 17, 2017 inaugurated a five-member committee with a terms of reference to amongst others: interact with all major stakeholders of the party in Kogi state to ascertain the source, basis and depth of the hostilities; pursue a framework for establishing peace and reconciliation between all levels of the Party in the state; examine the role and actions of all individuals in the crisis and recommend necessary measures to promote party discipline and respect for order.
Other Committee Members are: John Shagaya, Barnabas Gemade, Ahmed Aboki and Olubunmi Adetunbi.
The chairman of the fact-finding and reconciliation committee while presenting the report disclosed that the Committee between April 18 and May 30, 2017 met in Abuja with: the Kogi State National Assembly Caucus (April 18); Kogi House of Assembly members (April 24); Party elders, stakeholders and sundry interest groups (April 24); Kogi State APC executives (May 2); appointees and loyalist of the governor (May 2); Hon. Abiodun Faleke and supporters (May 8); Governor Yahaya Bello and his team (May 11); Sen. Smart Adeyemi (May 15); follow-up meetings with Governor Yahaya Bello (May 17&18); Committee meetings to deliberate on materials gathered and recommendations (May 23 and 30).
The committee chairman thanked the Party’s national leadership for entrusting the committee with the “sensitive assignment”. He also thanked Kogi stakeholders for “their enthusiastic cooperation and eagerness that peace returns to their state”.
According to the committee some of the issues identified after engaging with stakeholders showed that the contentions emanated from ruptured party government/government relations; poor stakeholder consultations; appointments; political reconciliation of the Audu/Faleke group; workers salaries; internal security; membership registration; anti-party activities amongst others.
“Our engagement with key stakeholders was to ensure win-win concessions. Mr. Chairman, the Party is hereby invited to study the committee’s report and the detailed presentations with a view to taking action, speedy action, to begin in earnest the re-establishment of communication lines among the various stakeholders in Kogi Stated APC. Delay in implementing the recommendations will deepen the disagreements in Kogi State and endanger our fortunes in that state.” The committee chairman stated.
The APC National Chairman, Odigie-Oyegun while thanking the committee for diligently carrying out the assignment, traced the controversies in Kogi APC to issues resulting from the demise of the Party’s late governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu.
Odigie-Oyegun said compromise among stakeholders was inevitable for peace to return to the party in Kogi state.
“I want to give you the assurance that we will study this report very closely and carefully. We will take the quickest action to lay the problems in Kogi state rest. I hope that all those who are party to it will also be ready and willing to make the compromises that are necessary, vital, inevitable if we are to reach a solution and restore a sense of belonging in the Party in Kogi state.” The APC National Chairman stated.
APC National Working Committee (NWC) members present at the meeting included: Deputy National Chairman (South), Segun Oni; National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi; National Treasurer, Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa and National Youth Leader, Dasuki Jalo.