Politics: APC Ward, LG Congresses: Deputy Speaker, Kalu Welcomes Officials, Preaches Peace, Unity Among Members
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, LL.D, CFR has welcomed officials of the Congress Committee to Abia State, emphasizing the importance of peace and cohesion within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in Umuahia, the State Capital on Wednesday shortly before the rescheduled ward congresses started, Kalu who is also a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Caucus recalled that the exercise could not hold last week in the State due to some irregularities.
He revealed that the party’s highest decision-making body had directed a single congress form in each state to promote harmony and unity but surprisingly, multiple forms were seen flying in the State, contrary to the directives.
Addressing the issue, Kalu said he met with the authorities who insisted that the party’s decision be implemented, stressing that no one individual is bigger than the party.
The Deputy Speaker expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentwe Yilwatda and the National Working Community (NWC) for their timely interventions that resolved the issue.
He also appreciated members of Abia APC caucus who participated in the recent meetings in Abuja, where they resolved to give everyone a stake in the party.
Kalu welcomed officials of the Congress Committee, urging them to ensure a peaceful and inclusive congress.
He said: “You will recall that last week, we were supposed to do our Congresses but there were multiple forms in our state against the directives of the highest decision making body of our party, the Caucus and the NEC which I happen to be a member of. We agreed under the leadership of the President of the Federal of Nigeria, the father of our party that in the spirit of continued cohesion in our party, there was no need to do any other kind of Congress than that which we believe will strengthen our cohesion which was nothing but harmonization. A Congress of harmonization and harmonization is where the stakeholders are given the sense of belonging in deciding who will lead from their ward to their local government as well as the State where everybody is given sense of relevance and importance; where it is made obvious that no one man owns the party, not me, not anybody. That is the vision of the President.
“We did not agree that we will have more than one form in any State where people will fight each other. We agreed that we will harmonize and come with a single form. And I thank God for the President. He is a listening father of the party. He said that what the party agreed to must be implemented. No body can change it. He said no body can change the decision of NEC and the caucus. No body is bigger than the party. The party is supreme. And I tell you, the cooperation of the national chairman and that of the national working committee was activated immediately.
“But now, it has been resolved and that is why I came back and that’s why everyone is here. We are here to implement what the party has said: returning the party back to you so that you can be a stakeholders with a stake.
“And I want to thank you for participating in the meetings we had in Abuja. We came out with a resolution that we should go back. If you are angry with your brother, go and make up. Give everybody a stake. That is why we are here today and I am happy to welcome the chairman of the Congress Committee who is here. The chairman of the Congress appeal committee and the screening committee chairman and the screening appeal committee chairman and their members. So, these are the people who are going to pilot the affairs”.
Also speaking, the chairman of the 7 man local organising committee constituted by the National Working Committee of party to work with the visiting officials from the national headquarters, Chief Marc Wabara pledged their commitment to achieving the desired mandate.
“Just last week, the caucus in the presence of the national working committee asked us to elect a 7 man committee and unanimously, it was done zone by zone, two members per senatorial zone, then, one person as the chairman. And to God be glory, I was made the chairman of this committee. It’s a 7 man committee and we are complete here. The secretary is the Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, former speaker of Abia State House of Assembly. We were mandated to ensure, just as we have emphasized that the party belongs to the people, there is harmonization. And I want to confirm that that is exactly what we have done since we were given that assignment. And since we are going to be liaison between us and the people who are here to conduct these Congresses, I want to assure you that this confidence you have place upon us, we shall discharge our responsibility very well”, he said.
On his part, the chairman of the Congresses Committee, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Go’ar who is also a former Speaker of Plateau State State House of Assembly and former member of the House of Representatives said that they will discharge their duty without fear or favour, warning members of the party against bringing in fake forms.
“We will work with the three and seven man committees as you people have constituted it. Anything outside it, we will not take it. And the forms we have brought, I don’t want to tell you all the features on it because you wouldn’t know. If you go and parade any other form apart from the one we brought, you will be caught liable because we have security features on the form. So, your own will be automatically rendered useless and if you will bring any fake form here, you will be liable for it.
“As the chairman, I don’t want anybody to call me. We are here to do what is right and to do what is just. Anything outside that, it is not our mandate. So, believe in us, trust in us that we are going to do Congresses that all Abia State APC members will be happy with. I am happy to hear as you have demonstrated that the party belongs to no one person. The party belongs to all of us. So, we solicit for your cooperation and together, we will do what Abia APC members will all be happy with”, he said.
Signed:
Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
