By Joy Odor
The Chairman of the Election and Planning Sub-Committee for the recently-conducted National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Badaru has presenter certificate of return to the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and other members of the Party’s leadership elected at the 26th March, 2022 National Convention.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the certificate presentation at the APC heaquarters in Abuja on Friday, the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu informed that the party have zero tolerance for failure in the new dispensation because they have responsibility ahead 2023 general election.
Senator Abdullahi explained that they have a marching order by the leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver without excuses whatsoever, saying the new leadership need every hands on deck.
“The National Convention is all about electing new officers for our great party. And the Election/Planning Sub-Committee conducted its assignments in a very efficient, honest and very equitable manner as circumstances of the day permitted. We appreciate you. So thank you very much for spending time to be with us on this occasion and we look forward to your cooperation every way you can.
“We have zero tolerance for failure in this new dispensation of our great party, because we have an enormous responsibility ahead… On the coming elections, we cannot move the way we are to election. We have a marching order by the leader of this party, President Muhammadu Buhari. We will have to deliver, there will be no excuses whatsoever and we need every hands on deck for this to happen.
“They say my early lessons in English proverbs that I think one of the literature books Animal Farm. Say All animals are equal. But some are more equal than others. I say today all committees are equal, but some committees are more equal than others.
“But for the good job you managed to do with the convention won’t be here to tell this story to a matador until I take your job seriously just like any other committee, but you are involved the main the main event. The convention is all about electing new officers for our grid party. And you conducted yourselves conducted your assignments in a very, very efficient, honest and very equitable manner as circumstances of the day permitted you to so do we appreciate you.
“Now we have the lawyers amongst us. Now we have Lucas right now we have our certificates. And even though the circumstances made it possible for us to start some skirmishes the operation, but we haven’t gotten to the main the main substance of assignment as a working committee. Its not because we are waiting for the certificates. But it was one of the reasons because it’s what gives us credibility. In the eyes of APC members and the general public.
“We are grateful, there’s one thing which I want to share right away, you don’t win us today. You know, I saw this article winning, we are products of the convention and we will want to have you stay with us a bit so that we don’t behave as if we’ve not everything. Nobody knows everything. And there is still room to learn for those of you who have been in the defense of this party at the national level. I remember my sister, all those who are involved right through the first election 2015 election 2019 She was very much there. I remember you are among those controlling the control room, i remember when I brought the results of my state she was there with the Minister of works Fashola to receive our reports .
“These are people that have been working for this party from inception to date. I want to thank you and I want to bear this in my place. I don’t know you’re all very busy persons who have not finished establishing our team. Whether they want to behave as if we have preempted the election itself. And the policy we’re going to put on it. So there are quite a lot of things that are there that we will need your expertise. You may not be coming to join us as permanent members. In our Secretariat, whatever assignments we may be wanting to undertake some ad hoc responsibilities for us.
Particularly in areas where you are now authorities as far as APC is concerned. So I hope because the two of you are here with the two of you by the time I meet the totality or the bigger number of this kind of persons. We would be explicit and we will be talking to you particularly to talk to the Governance Forum through you to our chairman of the progressive governors forum. We will need your services from time to time and it is my hope that when we get to that point, whoever amongst you we call to please come and join us to get us over certain situations.
“Will find you ready partners. As for those of you who just received your certificate just like me, members of the working committee I’ve told you during our first meeting of the committee, I am a team player. I am a team player as much as is possible i want to carry everybody along with me. But to work with me, not because I’m the best and everything. You have to be loyal. You’re loyal to me is not loyalty to me but loyalty to the party. You have to recognize the authority of the party. In all that we do. And the interest of the party is paramount.
“You are lucky you around because we had agreed by Wednesday we are having our next meeting because we wanted the committee to give us a report we want to know where the party is where exactly, so that we don’t get taken by the exuberance of winning election and just plunge into the into the into the pond pool or not know how deep is the temperature of the water.
“As for you the director of admin, you have no hiding place. We will we will count on your loyalty to the party. It is in God’s pleasure that we are here at the helm of affairs of this party. We’ve come with a very very open mind but you have to reciprocate in same spirit.
“We will definitely by the will of God Almighty, the Secretariat, we need to look at you but am not saying anything today until the transition committee submit its report. It is my hope that by the time the report is submitted, you have what they call clean bill of ledge that’s my prayer. Right? My sister knows what I’m talking about.
So thank you very much for spending time to be with us on this occasion and we will do look forward to your cooperation every way you can” Sen Adamu noted.
Earlier in his speech, The APC Chairman of the Election and Planning Sub-Committee and the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru informed that there were seventy-eight positions contested for the NEC members and the zonal executives.
According to him, out of the seventy-eight positions, concensus was achieved in sixty six positions which means that positions that were contested and elections conducted were twelve.
He congratulated all the APC new leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari for his guidance, his kind words and for his appeal to Party members to embrace concensus which has helped the Election Committee to do their job smoothly and easily.
“The National Convention of our party held from 26th and ended on 27th March when we did the swearing-in of the National Chairman and the Secretary of our great Party.
“We certified the winners and agreed with Mr. President to perform the swearing-in on the 27th for at least the Chairman and Secretary. And we agreed to fix another day to issue certificates even though they were certified publicly to the listening of all Nigerians.
“I use this opportunity to once more congratulate our Chairman and also thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his guidance and his kind words and for his appeal to Party members to embrace concensus which has helped the Election Committee to do their job smoothly and easily.
“There were 78 positions contested for the NEC members and the zonal executives. But from these 78 positions, concensus was achieved in 66 positions which means that positions that were contested and elections conducted were 12.
“This demonstrates the fact that the APC is indeed one family and the members will always listen to President Muhammadu Buhari and his call for peace and unity of the party.
“So, we thank all the contestants for really behaving in a mature and understanding manner for the interest and progress of our party.
“They are heroes of our party. Despite their personal interests, they chose to withdraw to allow for concensus so that our party will come out stronger and indeed this was what happened.
“I thank them and I believe they deserve all our commendations and the party will never forget them” Gov Badaru stated.
