Politics

Ahead of Saturday’s national convention of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Association of Former Local Government Chairmen and Councillors of Nigeria (AFLOG), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make peace with aggrieved members of the party.

National chairman of the association, Hon. Adol Awam Chris, in a statement on Thursday, said the president’s meeting with aggrieved members would foster unity in the party.

“We also urged president Muhammadu Buhari to call all aggrieved members before the convention in fostering peace and unity among members,” the statement read.

Chris also said Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo and national chairmanship aspirant, is competent to lead the ruling party.

“Our decision to endorse Oshiomhole as national chairman of the party is as result of the need to handover the leadership of the ruling party into competent hand,” it read.

“It is in the public knowledge the activities of Comrade Oshiomole while he was the President Nigeria’s Labour Congress (NLC). During his tenure as labour he negotiated a 25 percent wage increase for public sector workers. While he was NLC President Oshiomhole kicked against neglect of local oil refineries which led to reliance on imported gasoline, followed by rises in the price of fuel.

“As a result of his activities The Punch newspaper declared him Man of the Year in 2000, in recognition of the immensity of his contributions to popular struggles. The Guardian and Newswatch Magazine also named him Man of the Year 2005.

“When he was governor of Edo state, he embarked on massive construction of roads, rehabilitation and building of schools, provision of potable water, health facilities and provision of employment to over 25,000 persons, among others. Oshiomhole assumed office when the internally generated revenue (IGR) was low, but within short period he was able to increase the state’s IGR from N300 million to over NI.6 billion.

“Therefore, we unanimously endorsed Comrade Adams Oshiomole as the National chairman of the ruling party in order to reposition the party, instill discipline and uphold party’s supremacy .

“We urged all the delegations and key players in the Saturday’s convention to avoid violence or any mischief in all the activities coming up especially in electing suitable candidates for the available positions of the party. A peaceful and properly conducted election will avoid grievances and bickering as the party needs no such perceptions to continue steering the ship of leaders in nigeria.”