By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, has said that priority will be placed on upholding the best interest of the party, while trying to resolve the crisis facing the party in Kwara State.
Briefing journalists at the APC national Secretariat in Abuja shortly after a reconciliation meeting with the concerned members of APC in Kwara State, the Niger Governor said the matter has been returned to the North Central zone of the party for intervention.
While dismissing the crisis in Kwara APC as a minor issue which would be resolved next week, Bello said it was triggered mainly by lack of communication between the parties involved in the crisis.
Recall that the national leadership of the APC, through a committee set up to review the crisis in the state, had removed the State chairman, Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, from office on the allegation that the governor said he would not be able to work with him.
Consequently, this created faction in the APC in Kwara State, with a part led by Akogun Iyola Oyedepo, which is loyal to the dethroned chairman, saying they will frustrate the ambition of Governor Abdulraman Abdulrazaq to clinch a second term ticket.
However, arising from a peace meeting yesterday, the Niger Governor, who is the chairman of APC committee on Reconciliation, said “We looked at the issue surrounding APC in kwara state and we had brief submission from some of the stakeholders and it was resolved that the matter should be taken back to the zone for the zone to look at the issues surrounding the problems.
“It will report back to the National caretaker committee, so I hope that by next week we should be able to resolve the matter at the zonal level and once that is done, we can put our recommendation to the National caretaker committee for further action. So it was a very brief meeting that lasted maybe 30 minutes, but I think we achieved a lot.
“But I can also say that the causes of this conflict is mostly due to communication gap which I hope we were able to resolve, but whatever decision we will take, we will make sure that there is no bias and whatever decision will take, we will make sure that it is in the interest of our great party, the APC. We have no intention to favour any person, but to look critically at the situation and to advise the National caretaker committee on the necessary steps to take.”
He said the zonal level of the party will try its best to work out a way that will be acceptable to both parties, adding “but then again, whatever decision we take, we will look at the party first, sometimes you have to take some steps to protect the party on some issues as a result of a conflict and sometimes it is difficult to have a resolution that is acceptable to all.
“But once you do it in the spirit of fairness, without any bias and you are sure you took the right decision, there is nothing to worry about. Our primary interest is to ensure the survival and strength of the party in Kwara State, without having to look at anyone or anyone’s face. I hope that we are able to find a solution that is acceptable to all and we on our part at the zonal level, we will try our best to accommodate everyone, so whatever it is you will see that there will be some fairness and justice.”
