The Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, has absolved himself from efforts aimed at undermining the March 26 national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kalu, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja, also said he would never abandon the party’s embattled chairman.
Recall that a former Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Dr Salihu Lukman, had accused Kalu and some other leaders of the party of working to undermine the March 26 national convention of the party.
But Kalu denied the allegation, saying, “There has been no time I participated in any collaboration or collusion to ensure that attempts to organise the APC national convention are blocked.’’
Kalu recalled that on December 15, 2021, he appealed to the party and Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) members to consider postponing the national convention earlier slated for February.
“I was worried that the creation of factions which denied the party victory in so many states in the past elections may repeat itself.
“I, therefore, called for a peaceful resolution of the crisis before holding the convention. No peaceful and tactful leader would support a terrible scenario to reoccur.
“It is important to note that I have always stood for and supported the party and Gov. Mai Mala Buni only happened to be the chairman of the party.
“Aside from serving as the chairman of the party, Buni is my old family friend and I cannot deny him because he is facing challenges today. We have been friends for the past 25 years.”
A chieftain of the party, Alhaji Garba Muhammed, has also asked those planning the removal of Buni from office to perish the thought.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria that the party’s leadership remained intact contrary to reports in a section of the media.
Muhammed enjoined party members and the general public to disregard reports making the rounds that President Buhari had ordered Buni to resign his position.
“It is just name-dropping and should not be regarded. Gov. Buni remains the acting Chairman, APC CECPC until after the party’s National Convention slated for March 26 to elect new national executives for the party. I know the president; he is a democrat, a man of honesty, integrity and fairness and that is why we voted him into power. He will never do such a thing without following due process,’’ Muhammed said.
