President Muhammadu Buhari has urged members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to keep faith with the party as it address lingering issues that arose from the just concluded congresses at various levels.
Buhari, who spoke on Saturday in Abuja at the second APC elective National Convention, hailed the party members for embracing consensus arrangement that had brought cohesion in the party.
He said, "May I, therefore, appeal to all to put our great party ahead of personal considerations and to accept the outcome of the exercise in good faith. You are all important to our party’s progress and all must come together to ensure success in the forthcoming polls so as to enable us to continue the good work we have been doing for our fellow Nigerians.
"I want to assure everyone here that despite a few lingering issues with the congresses in some states, our great party will emerge stronger after this convention. The unresolved cases we have is the price we have to pay for success, as everyone wants to be associated with a winning team. I am imploring all those with grievances to keep faith with the party until we put things right."
President Buhari also commended Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar- led National Convention Committee (NCC) providing a level playing field and the delegates for their sacrifice.
"I have been following the preparations leading to this event and I must commend this Convention Committee under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Badaru Abubakar for providing a level playing field and instilling confidence in both aspirants and delegates with their thorough approach and adherence to transparency.
"I commend all the delegates from across the country for your sacrifice and patience, travelling all the way from your different destinations and waiting in inclement weather, as it has been raining all the day. Thank you for your commitment," he said.
Buhari, who congratulated those who worked and contributed to the 2015 success, also lauded the National Executives of the party whose tenure expired, especially those that did not re-election at convention for their efforts in securing victory for the party at the last elections and managing the success thereafter.
Earlier, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who bowed out as APC national chairman yesterday, expressed satisfaction happiness that the party was able to organize the convention in spite of insinuations that APC was on the verge of implosion.
He thanked President Buhari, state party chairmen and the delegates for the opportunity to serve and wished his successor best of luck.
Odigie-Oyegun said, "When I look to my left and right, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment. If you read the stories on the social media, you will think that the party was at the verge of implosion. That it had divisions within it that were fatal. But you look around and see one happy family.Mr President, I thank you specially for the opportunity to work closely with you, interact and the support you gave all this while. Today is not the day to make great policy statements but to express my deepest gratitude.
"I will start with the key founding fathers of this party: Asiwaju Bola Ahead Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Prince Tony Momoh. You were the key heads of the political parties that accepted the idea of unity for the progress of the nation and because of you all; and of course, the later additions, nPDP and a faction of APGA, it is because of you that we are here today.
"It is because of you, that I look left and right and see a strong and united party. I see a vibrant party, of passionate followers who are ready to follow our President because of his principle leadership in spite of the crude abuses, insinuations and fake stories that has been hauled in his direction of which he has not allowed to dissuade him in anyway or detract him from his determined course.
" I thank my colleagues of the NWC and all the state chairmen, some of whom have returned to the saddle and will provide the experience needed for continuity.
"My colleagues of the outgoing NWC, I thank you for the fantastic cooperation I have received all these four years. Yes, our arguments were sometimes almost getting muscular but at the end of the day, we provided the kind of leadership that has brought the party to this point today. A strong, United party. Yes, there are divergent views here and there but the essence is that the APC at the end of the day, is a strong party, a passionate party that believes in its ideals and the vision of Mr President to give this nation the best leadership.
"I thank the delegates who are here today, because it was the same group that elected me four years ago and today, they are here to perform the same function. I will end by saying that Shakespeare told us generations ago that the world is a stage and that all of us are actors on this stage. We make our entrances and in due time, we make our exit. Today, I make my exist from the honour you have bestowed on me to lead you for four years.
"Phase one of this party is over, phase two is about to begin and it is my hope that at the end of today, we would have elected a worthy son to carry on the battle, the leadership, the struggle of this party.I wish my successor the very best of luck , I wish him fair weather and for the rest, we leave to history."
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
