Convention Crisis: Matawalle tackles Akeredolu, asks APC govs to stop ridiculing party

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has expressed reservation over the use of “unprintable words” by his Ondo state counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, over the crisis rocking the ruling party.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently embroiled in leadership crisis.

• APC Crisis: Only ‘Yahoo, Yahoo’ Governors are with Buni – Akeredolu
• APC Crisis: El-Rufai, Umahi divided over Buni

Governor Sani Bello of Niger had on Monday in Abuja assumed the APC leadership after President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly approved the removal of the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as the chairman of the CECPC and in his stead, okayed his Niger State counterpart as a replacement.

This has led to controversy because Bello had on Monday shortly after presiding over meetings at the APC national secretariat said he was only acting as chairman.

However, on Wednesday, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said Buni who is on a medical trip in Dubai had been removed at the instance of President Buhari.

He blamed Buni for the widening crisis in the party and said that the Yobe governor had been removed for good and that Sani Bello was fully in charge with the support of at least 19 governors of the ruling party.

While reacting to the ongoing crisis in the ruling party, Akeredolu had said “only Yahoo Yahoo governors are with Buni”.

In a statement,  Mr Zailani Bappa, his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, issued on his behalf, on Friday, Matawalle cautioned his counterparts against “unguarded statements” over the party’s crisis.

“It is not right for us to wash our dirty linens in the media, especially at this critical time of the party’s transformation as we move towards a decisive period in 2023.”

“I believe that each of us has been trying his best in his way to move the interest of our great party forward.
“His Excellency, Gov. Mai Mala Buni has no doubt, contributed immensely to the promotion of the party’s fortunes and indeed all other governors who disagreed with one another.

“However, we all disagree to agree. That is the beauty of democracy. There is no point in promoting disharmony among ourselves after disagreements are settled,” he said.

Matawalle added: “It is not wise to drag the name of His Excellency, Mr President into taking sides on issues that are ordinarily a normal political misunderstanding common to every collection of interests. Now, more than ever before, the party needs the strength and unity to face the challenges ahead as we move towards the critical period of elections of which the party must maintain its supremacy at all levels. Together as one, we shall continue to conquer and prosper.”