Dogara and Saraki Absent As APC NEC Approves 1-Year Tenure Extension For Oyegun, Others

 

True to political permutations, the National Executive Committee NEC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC has approved a one-year tenure extension for the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led 

 National Working Committee of the party as well as all other structures of the party at the state and local government levels. PC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammed Buhari as the President arrived to attend the National executive Committee Meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the Party’s national Secretariat, Wuse II, Abuja. Photo

by Abayomi Adeshida 27/02/2018 Pic. 3: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo being received by the House Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila while the SA Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (r); Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Lasun (l) and others looked on as the Vice President arrived to attend the National executive Committee Meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the Party’s national Secretariat, Wuse II, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 27/02/2018 At the meeting Tuesday which was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo national assembly leaders and state governors, NEC said the proximity of the end of tenure of the NWC to the elections made the extension imperative. When the issue was put to a vote, 104 NEC members voted in support while four voted against the extension. This was as President Muhammadu Buhari blamed the seeming face-off between the executive and the National Assembly as being responsible for the slow pace of governance. “I must acknowledge that the face of government has not met the expectations of many within our party. But few of us know or appreciated the depth of the rot when we took office and that we spent the last two years bringing the country out of the mess we met it. “Furthermore, the stand off between the executive and the National Assembly slowed down the process of government. We are working hard to resolve the differences so that the country can move forward.” According to the President, the current leadership of the country has successfully stabilised the nation. Buhari said: “I am happy to report that slowly and steadily, we have managed to stabilize the country and redirect the ship of state. We have restored prudence to the manage of resources and confidence in Nigeria has been restored. On February 23, Nigeria floated a 12 year and 20 year Eurobond in the international market which were both over subscribed. The 12 year bond was, within days over subscribed by 332 percent, while the 20 year bond was over subscribed by 372 percent. “We have stabilize the naira and increase our foreign reserve from 20 billion dollars to 40 billion dollars. Inflation rate is down. With considerably less resources available to the country, we have improved all the indices towards a stronger economy. “Above all, we must pay tribute to the Nigerian people who massively support the government inspite of distractions from proponents of business as usual. Nevertheless, I am not asking us to relax and take things easy. We all know that elections are looming in the horizon. We must therefore get our acts together. “Accordingly, I implore all members of the party to give the Asiwaju committee full cooperation to resolve existing differences among our members in the states affected. It is perhaps inevitable that there will be differences of opinion within the party. If we resolve them, then we can build a genuinely democratic party. But we must not lose sight of our common purpose as a party to break the mule of Nigerian politics and takes the country to new heights.” While commenting on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s reconciliation panel, Buhari said has asked National leader of APC to “lead this process of restoring order, manage differences and strengthen the party. “Soon, primaries at the wards, local government, states and the Centre will soon be due. I urge all members to take account of the fact that APC has a history of conducting free and fair primaries whenever consensus about any position is not reached. Regardless of the outcome of the primary processes which is imperative, we should all work together to ensure victory for our party.” At a post-NEC media briefing, Kogi state governor, in company of other governors and party officials, told disclosed that the NEC meeting decided to extend Chief John Odigie- Oyegun led NWC, relying on Article 13 of the party’s constitution. Bello said: “At the end of the National Executive Council meeting today, a major decision was taken in line with the constitution of our party. We are all aware that the tenure of the current NWC and the executive members of this party both elected and appointed comes to an end June this year. “Considering the time left for the party to conduct all the Congresses and convention and considering that our leader Sen. Tinubu has been charged with responsibility to reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we can not afford to approach general elections with more dispute and crisis. “So, relying on Article 13 of our constitution, which empowers the NEC to carry out the function of the convention, the NEC has decided to extend the tenure of the current NWC and other executive committees at various levels for another twelve months, starting from June 30th.” In his welcome address, Chief Oyegun said; “My colleagues from the NWC, we have a voice raised on our behalf during the caucus meeting and I want to assure you that as quickly as possible we will have a welfare package before the next NEC meeting so that our welfare can be better catered for.” Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and some other key members were conspicuously absent. Those in attendance included the Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Magnus Abe, Sen. Francis Alimikhena, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, Sen Andy Uba, Sokoto state governor Aminu Tambuwal, Benue state governor Samuel Ortom, Borno state governor Kashim Shettima, SGF Boss Mustapha, Bauchi state governor Muhammed Abubakar, Jigawa state governor Badaru Abubakar, Ogun state governor Ibikunle Amosun, Zamfara state governor Abdulazez Yari, Kastina state governor Aminu Bello Masari, Kaduna state governor Nasir El’Rufai, Niger state governor Sani Bello, Senator Sani Yarima, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon Ado Doguwa among others.