MOBILIZERS AND PROFESSIONALS OF APC
TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRSSED BY
ISMAEEL AHMED, CHAIRMAN, ALL PROGRESSIVES YOUTH FORUM ON BEHALF OF MOBILZERS
AND PROFESSIONALS OF APC WHICH HELD ON THURSDAY, 2ND JUNE 2015 AT
THE APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OFFICE, CENTRAL AREA, ABUJA
1. Good
afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen of the press. Thank you all for coming.
2. My
name is Barr. Ismaeel Ahmed, I am saddled with the responsibility of
convening this round table press parley of Mobilizers and Professionals of APC
by my colleagues seated here, and I also Chair the All Progressives Congress
Youth Forum (APYF). With me here are members of the forum, and coordinators of
different organizations that have helped build the APC and sustain it during
its campaigns in different ways, and can be adequately referred to as the
custodians of the Change movement that ultimately heralded our victory in the
last election cycle.
3. Permit
us to begin this press conference by stating clearly that we are loyal Party
members and will do whatever is necessary to save the party we help build,
nurture and promoted from havoc or injury of whatever kind, especially if this
injury is internal, which in most cases could be more dangerous than any other
kind of injury. It is also important to note that our purpose here today is to
begin to urge the critical elements and stakeholders in the APC to bring about
an acceptable and lasting solution to the National Assembly Leadership
crisis.
4. As
it stands, we would also be remiss if we did not express that as young men and
women who have staked our personal and collective reputations, some on the main
streets and some on the virtual worlds of social media, defying all kinds of
hazards and harassments of being in the opposition and without the attendant
protection of money or security like some of the more privileged members of our
party, that the way and manner the party has handled the National Assembly
Leadership selection and election process has been disconcerting and very disappointing
to us as members, and actually frightening to the larger demography of young
people across the country.
5. This
is because, having emerged victorious at the polls, many young Nigerians
believed and still believe that the votes that they cast for our party,
signified a change from the business as usual antics of the last 16 years.
6. However,
it is clear that as a party we have misunderstood this contract of trust
between Nigerian people and us and have become arrogant in victory and made
these acts or omissions that have resulted in this crisis and a growing
negative perception about us. This election was never about who gets what
within the party and government, it is about what will be given in return for
such show of confidence by the Nigerian people. In simple terms, it is
not what we can get, it is about what we can give.
7. Similarly, the members of the
National Assembly currently embroiled in this saga seem to have either
forgotten or misunderstood the essence of the Change movement that we all
worked hard for. They have inadvertently concentrated more in elevating their
political status than the political situation of the country. Citing examples
of personal sacrifice as a reason for such pursuit. We are very disappointed in
their actions as well.
8. It is also critical for us at
this juncture to strongly register our displeasure and disappointment at the
emergence of a PDP Senator as the Deputy Senate President. The circumstances of
such a costly mistake is condemnable and must be rectified going forward.
9. Having
said that, as the emerging generation and the potential beneficiaries of the
successes or failures of this APC-led dispensation, given the activities that
have persisted over the past few weeks, we have come to the conclusion that it
is important we become part of the solution givers and not to dabble
too much into the blame game and finger pointing that has so far characterized
this sad development.
10. In
light of these, we are calling on the President as a committed party man, the
leadership of the party, elders of the party, the Progressive Governors Forum
and other relevant stakeholders to;
a. Immediately
convene a meeting of the relevant stakeholders, namely: the warring
factions; the leadership of the party; the various caucuses, and party elders,
to resolve the leadership impasse;
b. Insist
that all principal officers (not presiding officers) nominated should
honorably resign and allow the party to reach a widely consultative consensus
on the issue;
c. Everyone
must be ready to shift grounds and make the necessary compromises to find a
solution. The party cannot be seen to be dictating and the members cannot once
again defy the authority of the party. Amicable resolution is therefore tenable.
d. The
President should immediately appoint a National Assembly Liaison Officer who
will oversee the routine communications between the Presidency and the National
Assembly, especially in regards to party members. This will help to
bolster the confidence of the legislators, as they will know that they can
communicate with the President through his proxy.
e. Assert
that all interviews and press releases of whatever kind in relation to this
issue by any of the parties involved or leaders of the party must be suspended
pending the outcome of such negotiations;
f. Rectify
this unwelcome precedent by ensuring that the APC Constitution, bylaws, and any
other relevant governing documents be amended to incorporate the selection
process for National Assembly presiding and principal officers. Furthermore,
these amendments must be clear, democratic, and devoid of any ambiguity;
g. Demand
that all faulting parties, including the members of the NWC and the National
Assembly that contributed to this crisis must openly apologize to the party and
Nigerians. Furthermore, clear sanctionary laws must be effectively implemented
whenever the need arises for deterrence on both the leadership and membership
side.
11. We believe that these
are just some of the compromises that must be made in order to move the party
and the nation forward.
12. We must also
reiterate that the party has a crucial role to play in the actualization of the
mandate that Nigerians have entrusted our elected executives and legislators
with.
13. We have already
transmitted our wishes to the President, the Senate President and the Chairman
of the party, and will meet with many of our party leaders and elders over the
next few days to ensure that commensurate action is taken to rectify this
situation once and for all.
14. Now is the time for
nation building. Now is the time to fix Nigeria. We need all hands on deck for
the greater good, and with the guidance of the Almighty, who brought this
APC-led dispensation to pass we shall overcome. We shall fix Nigeria, for all
of us.
Ismaeel Ahmed
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