The Borno state All Progressives Congress (APC) Concerned Youth Groups under the aegis of Borno Youth Progressives Forum (BOYPF) and Coalition for APC Support Group (CAPCSG) have called on Governor Kashim Shettima who is the leader of the party to immediately constitute a Campaign Team/Structure, as failure in doing so have contributed to factionalization in the polity of the ruling party in the state.
The Groups with thousands registered members jointly addressed newsmen yesterday, insisting that, the failure of governor Shettima to bring aggrieved members into one family may spell doom for the party in the forthcoming elections across the state.
Leader of BOYPF, Comrade Ibrahim Aliyu and Coordinator of Coalition for APC Support Group (CAPCSG), Engineer Abba Sheriff Adam at the briefing regretted that, since the fallout of the indirect primaries which brought in Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and his running mate, Usman Kadafur at the detriment of other aggrieved aspirants who felt being disenfranchised and later filed petitions before the Federal High Court poses great danger to the fortune of the said candidate and the party.
The groups further recalled that Governor Shettima had earlier constituted a so-called reconciliation committee after the primaries, but with the recent show of grievances/destruction of billboards and posters of candidates by some APC members suspected to be loyalists to other aspirants during last week tour of southern Borno and presentation of staff of office to emirs of Shani, Uba and Gwoza local government areas, the party is still unorganized and factionalized.
The groups also cited an instances of the inability of President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over APC flag to the Gubernatorial candidate, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum during the just concluded Presidential Rally at Ramat Square, Maiduguri, saying it was enough reason to signify danger due to numerous court cases pending before the Federal High Court as a result of the manner and way the candidate was said to have emerged in a controversial indirect primaries.
It also alleged that, the failed promise(s) made by Governor Shettima to some aspirants like his closest friend, Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai who contested as gubernatorial candidate and a host of others, including his Loyal Deputy, Durkwa which Shettima earlier promised should any of the aspirants emerge as APC gubernatorial Candidate, Durkwa who would be serving for only three years as Deputy under the second tenure of Shettima, be given automatic ticket to run as Deputy on the same party platform with the new Candidate, but reverse is the case.
The Group then advised that there’s still time for governor Shettima to rescind his decision and make correction in the position of Deputy Governor for the interest of the party.
“As loyalists to the ruling APC in Borno state, We have to call you Gentlemen of the Press to address you over the unfortunate happenings in our party. Presently APC under the leadership of governor Shettima lacks focus, as there is no constituted Campaign Structure/Team yet.
“Most of you were in Southern Borno Senatorial Tour and you have seen what transpired between our candidates and aggrieved aspirants, as well as the recent Presidential Rally in Maiduguri where President Muhammadu Buhari could not even hand over our party flag to the gubernatorial Candidate, Professor Zulum, but our counterparts in Yobe state witnessed dignified presidential rally with proper handing over of APC flag to its gubernatorial candidate, Mala Buni.
” This enough has demonstrated that we still have more bridges to cross in Borno if APC will reach the promised land in the forthcoming general elections.
” As it is the election is around the corner, but the leadership in the state is yet to constitute Campaign Team/Structure in the state.
” It is against this backdrop, that we will pressurize our Deputy Governor, Hon. Usman Mamman Durkwa who is a grassroots and the most seasoned politician to dump the APC and join any strong opposition party in the state.” The group stated.
Our Correspondent observed that this is not the first time some Groups who seem to be factional expressed dismay with the way the affairs of the party is hijacked by few individuals and appealed to the outgoing governor to leave a legacy for emulation but to no avail.
” It would be recalled that despite the committee of reconciliation headed by a former Deputy Governor, Adamu Dibal, much is still desired to be addressed through the major stakeholders to stop unilateral decisions taken by the governor himself, which many said were not in the overall interest of the followership of the party.
All effort to get reaction from the Chairman APC in Borno, Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori proved abortive as his phones rang without response, even as he was not in the office at at press time.
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