- Hails Buni, Omo-Agege, Malami, Erue over successful conduct of Ward Congress
- Urges misguided party members to retrace steps, join moving 2023 train
The Delta State Caucus of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has passed a vote of implicit confidence on the national leadership of the APC under the guidance of Governor Mai Mala Buni and all members of the Caretaker/Extra-Convention Planning Committee, (CECPC).
Coming on the heels of the successful Ward Congresses held on Saturday, July 31, 2021 across the entire country, the State Caucus in a press statement on Sunday August 1, 2021 passed a vote of implicit confidence on the national leadership of the party under the guidance of Governor Buni and all members of the CECPC.
The statement noted that Buni’s leadership has adequately prepared the party for sailing with great results to show for it, adding that the CECPC, deserves the full support of all members of the party.
“We pass a vote of implicit confidence on the national leadership of the APC under the guidance of His Excellency, Hon. Mai- Malam Buni and all members of the CECPC for steadying the sailing of our great Party with great results to show for it. The CECPC deserves our full support, not vilification”, the statement noted.
The Caucus however condemned what it described as unnecessary attack on the leadership of the party by mischief-makers who, according to it, were operating under a false and lawless self-styled group, the ‘Delta State APC Leaders Council’ who are determined to derail the successes so far recorded by the national leadership of the CECPC led by Mai Mala Buni, noting that they will never succeed.
It expressed satisfaction with the CECPC’s support for an all-inclusive growth strategy for the Party, adding that the strategy is working miracles everywhere in the State, as the party continues to win more grounds.
The statement commended the purposeful leadership of the Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the commitment of the State Caretaker Committee ably led by Prophet Jones Erue and the commitment of the Caucus, expressing gratitude to the CECPC for its preference for pragmatic, result-driven politics instead of narrow, selfish and unproductive politics.
“The attention of the Delta State Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to yet another unnecessary attack on leadership of our party by mischief-makers operating under the false and lawless style of ‘Delta State APC Leaders Council’. Few but noisy, they are bent on derailing the broadly successful Governor Mai Mala Buni-chaired Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), but it will never happen on our watch.
“Mainly, the grouse of this ‘Axis of Artificial Troubles’ against the CECPC is its total support for an all-inclusive growth strategy for our
Party in Delta State. A strategy that is working miracles everywhere in Delta, as the APC continues to take new grounds, thanks to the purposeful leadership of the Deputy President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the commitment of the State Caretaker Committee ably led by Prophet Jones Erue and the commitment of this Caucus. We are pleased with the CECPC’s preference for pragmatic, result-driven politics instead of narrow, selfish and unproductive politics”, the statement noted.
The Caucus also explained that contrary to the misleading interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment on Jegede v. Akeredolu case recently, by a group of persons with the intent to frustrate the programme of the party, the “CECPC is a Congress and Convention Planning Committee’ with responsibility to conduct our Congresses and National Convention and bring in executives from the Ward right up to the National level.”
“This power was duly delegated to the CECPC by NEC presided over by Victor Giadom pursuant to a court order. Therefore, the CECPC’s ad-hoc duty to organize congresses/convention is distinct and unchallengeable.
“Indeed, serving Governors often head similar ad-hoc committees constituted by their parties to conduct congresses and primaries. That, unquestionably, is not an ‘executive’ or ‘salaried’ role under the 1999 Constitution (section 183). So, it is political naiveté and mischief to question the validity of our hugely successful Ward Congress using a clearly flawed premise”, the Caucus further explained.
The State Caucus also applauded the effort of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Deputy President of Senate, Senator Omo-Agege whose timely intervention prevented the attempt by some persons to sabotage the party’s preparation for the Ward Congress which was successfully held across the country on Saturday July 31, 2021`.
“However, the futility of that scheme was smartly exposed and buried by many, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and our own Deputy President of the Senate. Confused about their dead-on-arrival plot to sabotage our Party from within, they have chosen to insult leaders who rallied our members to respect the directive of our Party to participate in the hugely successful Ward Congress of yesterday, Saturday, 31st July, 2021.
“Following the recent decision of the Supreme Court in JEGEDE v. AKEREDOLU, some hastily wrote and released supposedly “confidential” memos to the public to threaten, blackmail and stampede the CECPC from carrying out its hugely important assignment as delegated by our NEC – the highest organ of our Party.
“However, the futility of that scheme was smartly exposed and buried by many, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and our own Deputy President of the Senate. Confused about their dead-on-arrival plot to sabotage our Party from within, they have chosen to insult leaders who rallied our members to respect the directive of our Party to participate in the hugely successful Ward Congress of yesterday, Saturday, 31st July, 2021”, the Statement added.
On the allegation by some that there was discrimination in the sale and issuance of the Ward Congress forms, the Caucus condemned the embarrassment and disrespect by those who, according to it, were bent on attempting to “destroy the character of those in charge of our grassroots politics”, adding that “This extreme disrespect for the grassroots may partly explain why everyone in this blackmail league “ leadership Council”, except only one, lost all elections in their polling units during the 2019 General Elections.”
While congratulating the new leadership which the Ward Congress has thrown up in the State, the Caucus advised those it considered “fanning embers of disunity” that “it is better for the broom to sweep together”, as “No scheme will taint the massive success recorded by the CECPC at the just concluded Ward Congress nationwide, including Delta State.”
“We are satisfied with the conduct of the Ward Congress exercise which was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and congratulate our new Ward Executives in the 270 Wards of Delta State”, the Caucus concluded.
The statement was signed by Prophet Jones Ode Erue – Delta State APC Caretaker Chairman; His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege – Deputy President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Peter Nwaoboshi – Current Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Air Vice Marshall Frank Ajobena – Former Military Administrator of Abia State and Olorogun Otega Emerhor- Member of Board of Trustees of APC & Governorship candidate 2015
Others who signed the statement include, Hon. (Rev.) Francis Ejiroghene Waive – Current member, House of Representatives representing Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, Hon. Stella Okotete – National Woman Leader, APC National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Hon Fred Okpohworo- Former member, Federal House of Representatives, Chief Cyril Ogodo- Former Delta APC State Deputy Chairman, Hon. Halims Agoda – Former member, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Temi Harriman- Former member, Federal House of Representatives and Hon. (Engr.) Doris Uboh – Former Member, Federal House of Representatives. Hon. Innocent Anidi- Current Minority Leader, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Harvest Igben- Former Minority Leader, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Julius Okpoko Former Minority Leader Delta State House of Assembly, Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo- State Legal Adviser, Delta APC Caretaker Committee, Comrade Chuks Erhire – State Treasurer and Delta APC Caretaker Committee.
Also, Chief Paulinus Akpeki – Former Member, Federal House of Representatives, Evang. Anna Agoda- State Woman Leader, Delta APC Caretaker Committee, Chief Hyacinth Enuha – co-opted member of Caucus, Chief Ede Dafinone – Member of Board of NEXIM Bank and Co-opted member of Caucus, Chief Jerry Lucky Esigie – Co-opted member of Caucus and Hon. Moses Anaughe – Former Minority Leader, Delta State House of Assembly and Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission.
