…Approves reconciliation committee, relocation of ‘Buhari House’
…Ganduje reveals how he inherited N8.9bn debt as APC Chair
…Why Buhari missed APC NEC meeting — Garba Shehu
By Sodiq Adelakun
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for calm among aggrieved leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), assuring them that he would not let them down.
Speaking at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, Tinubu expressed his satisfaction with the leadership of the party under National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and reaffirmed his commitment to uniting the party.
Tinubu’s remarks came after the APC’s highest decision-making body passed a vote of confidence in his leadership and the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Ganduje.
The meeting, which was attended by top party leaders, governors, and members of the NWC, also resolved the ongoing controversy surrounding the zoning of the office of the National Chairman, officially allocating it to the North West.
In his address, President Tinubu commended the efforts of Ganduje and the NWC, particularly praising their handling of the party’s affairs.
President Tinubu also approved the relocation of the party’s national secretariat, commonly known as ‘Buhari House.’ The new location is expected to be more strategically positioned to facilitate better communication and operations within the party.
“The National Working Committee is doing a good job and I am happy with them. I am very happy and I promise not to let any of you down,” Tinubu assured the members present.
The President urged the NWC to establish reconciliation committees to engage with party members who felt sidelined or aggrieved.
“Let the NEC find a way to celebrate our progressive ideals. And I promise you our governors and Nigerians that we will sustain these progressive changes,” he added.
Earlier, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), took the opportunity to highlight the numerous accomplishments of the Tinubu administration, including advancements in infrastructure, security, food production, and the recently launched student loan scheme. He moved a motion for a vote of confidence on President Tinubu, which was seconded by former National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomole.
Uzodinma, who spoke highly of Tinubu’s leadership, emphasised the importance of supporting the President to ensure his continued success.
“If a dancer dances well, the best thing to do is to encourage him by supporting and clapping for him to enable him to dance more and do it better,” Uzodinma remarked.
The vote of confidence motion was unanimously endorsed by all NEC members present, further solidifying Tinubu’s position within the party.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, called for unity and urged all members to set aside their differences for the greater good of the APC and the nation. His appeal to calm was welcomed by the party leadership, who expressed readiness to work together to achieve continued success in governance and party affairs.
In the same vein, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed on Wednesday that he inherited a staggering debt of N8.9 billion from his predecessor when he assumed office.
Speaking at the ongoing APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Ganduje explained that the debt was accumulated during various legal battles, election cases, and appeals for the party’s legislative, governorship, and presidential elections.
He stated, “The current NWC inherited debts and legal liabilities to the total tune of N8,987,874,663, arising from various legal engagements.”
Despite the financial burden, Ganduje assured that the party’s National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdul Kareem Kana (SAN), has been diligently working to reduce the debt. He further appealed to the NEC to intervene and assist in resolving the financial strain.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for former President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Garba Shehu has provided an explanation for the absence of Buhari at the recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Former President Buhari, alongside former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, was absent from the gathering.
In a statement to BBC Hausa, Garba Shehu explained that Buhari was invited to the meeting late.
According to Shehu, “President Muhammadu Buhari is not a caucus member of the party.
“He was supposed to attend the NEC meeting, but unfortunately, the invitation was forwarded to him on Monday and it reached him on Tuesday. For this reason, he could not leave Daura for Abuja even though he owns a private jet.”
“Buhari is a founding member of the APC. He was nominated by the party for president twice. He is a member of the APC, even though he did not attend the meeting,” Shehu said.
