The All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee has established a National Reconciliation Committee ahead of the party’s national convention.
The ceremony was done on Monday in Abuja by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Chairman of the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
Buni added that the committee was formed to bring members who were dissatisfied with the results of the party’s congresses together.
Members of the committee, he added, were carefully chosen based on their individual track records of brilliance, and they had served the party with a strong sense of devotion and dedication.
He charged them with scrutinizing areas of contention at the party’s recently finished ward and local government congress and proposing answers to issues raised.
“I want to sincerely commend and appreciate you for the great sacrifices you made to the process of rebuilding the party.
“The much anticipated congresses have commenced and progressed with significant successes.
“We have also constituted mechanisms such as the appeal committees to address complaints arising from the conduct of the congresses.
“Your report on resolution of these discrepancies will indicate our readiness as a united and strong family for the national convention. Your assignment therefore, has great impact and influence on the convention,” he said.
He urged members of the committee to stay steadfast and committed to their tasks while maintaining a spirit of cooperation.
He asked them to put the party’s interests ahead of their own in order for the APC to stay strong and united as Nigeria’s foremost political party.
“The task before this committee is very important and crucial. It is to reconcile, harmonise, integrate and unite members of the party.
“The committee is also expected to resolve real or seeming differences and to cement all cracks for us to approach the National Convention with a united front,”he said.
He added that the committee was expected to conduct appropriate engagement between identified groups in each state where there were disputes.
He went on to say that the committee was supposed to engage in appropriate dialogue with identifiable organizations in each state where there were disagreements.
This, according to Buni, should be done in order to achieve genuine reconciliation and long-term peace and harmony inside the party.
He also stated that the committee would consult with party officials and concerned members as needed in order to achieve harmony within the party.
He did observe, however, that the APC had made considerable progress under the leadership of purposeful and productive leaders who supported justice, equity, fair play, and genuine reconciliation to offer party members a meaningful sense of belonging.
“I am happy to say that this has restored confidence and trust in the party.
“I am also glad to state that since we came on board, the party’s membership has enthusiastically supported the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and of course, the party leadership,” he said.
Buni praised committed party members for complying with the direction to abandon various court proceedings brought against the APC.
He went on to argue that this had no doubt aided the party’s quick reunification and rebirth, claiming that the APC was now more united, stronger, and larger.
He highlighted that the South-East zone, which had previously been seen as a stronghold of opposition groups, was progressively melting into the APC as the party improved its fortunes and became Nigeria’s most powerful political party.
“It was a crucial tool in the recovery of the party. Over 40 million members were registered while the process is still on-going.
“It provided existing and new members with a sense of belonging and ownership of the party.
“I congratulate all stakeholders, women and youth for the active roles they played towards the success of the exercise,” Buni said.
Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu chairs the committee, with Moses Adeyemo serving as secretary.
Former Benue Governor George Akume, former Enugu Governor Sullivan Chime, former Jigawa Governor Ali Saad, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara were among the committee’s members.
