When Buhari moved to reunite APC

The lingering crisis in the governing All Progressives Congress(APC) which had called for the attention and intervention of President Muhammad Buhari  may  as well have made the chairmen of the party in states to meet with the President and those that were players in the crisis. The meeting with the President by the APC’s States Chairmen was clearly organised not only to reestablish their loyalty for President Buhari but also to dip their neck into how the crisis rocking the party ca n come to an end. It was believed that the APC’s State Chairmen could in their own right have effect on the resolution of the crisis in the party since those gladiators were products of the state chapter of the party.

This is not to say that they have gravitas to persuade the National Assembly members but they could have intensive role of persuading the National Assembly members most especially the House of Representative members to succumb to the decision of the party.
In his first move to address the inherent crisis crippling the party, President Buhari  after several public criticisms of  his silence on the crisis, met with the warring gladiators he listened to their positions, what they wanted and how they could want him to come in. Buhari who is careful in dealing with the crisis stylishly shifted  his stand on the crisis to the scheduled meeting of the National Executive Committee(NEC).
President Buhari who presided over the National Executive Committee(NEC) meeting informed the gathering of his stand on the crisis, stating that the party is supreme over individual interest and personal ambitions. He stressed that all warring groups should bury personal ambitions for the party decision so that the party could deliver on its mandate and promises to the people.
However, President Buhari had a close door meeting with the APC State Chairmen, urging them  to keep to prescribed legal processes for the resolution of political disputes and never resort to violence, criminality and other forms of unacceptable behavior in seeking redress for any perceived injustice. He also called on the state chairmen to work with the party’s elected officials to ensure the APC delivers on its promise of better living conditions for all Nigerians.
In re-commiting himself to his promises, he assured Nigerians that all cases of alleged intimidations and political harassment and kidnappings of Nigerians would be investigated and thoroughly dealt with, and the perpetrators brought to justice, irrespective of their status in the society.
Buhari explained “At every point, the law must be supreme and everyone must respect the law, if our democratic system is to survive. Injustice cannot survive for long. Justice will ultimately prevail. We will make sure that those saddled with the responsibility of ensuring justice and equity do not rest on their oars.
He stated further “The only way we can sustain our democracy is to ensure that the law remains supreme at all times. If the law is upheld, people will have confidence that they can vote for who they want to vote for, without intimidation or threats. People must have protection to exercise their rights freely or we could be headed for anarchy.
Alhaji Umaru Doguwa, who is chairman of the APC in Kano State, explained that contrary to insinuations by the opposition, President Buhari has actually hit the ground running, taking steps to bring back the lost glory of governance.
“Contrary to insinuations by the opposition, President Buhari has actually hit the ground running, taking steps to bring back the lost glory of governance”, said Doguwa
He said the chairmen were satisfied with the APC led Federal Government and that those accusing the government of motionlessness were doing so out of mischief.
We are satisfied with the APC Federal Government and those accusing the government of motionlessness were doing so out of mischief”, said Doguwa
Also at the meeting with the APC Chairmen in National Assembly complex, Speaker Yakubu Dogara argued “I want to discountenance this very ludicrous and laughable discussions that some of us in the House are conniving with some people, so that we can defect. Only a fool will believe that.
“We have toiled day and night. We control the government at the centre, and in our states.(Should we) then park and move to a house we deserted before? It is even unthinkable and unimaginable that someone will even make such assertions.”, said Dogara
He assured the APC Chairmen  that the party  will overcome the current crisis saying: “We have been through a lot. But, obviously, it is expected, as it is a new party. We are beginning to know ourselves. It is expected that from the beginning we will have some kind of friction. But those frictions cannot consume us. And like vehicles, from the frictions, we can gather the traction we need to move forward. And I guess that is one reason why we are here today.”
Dogara  said although he agreed that the party was supreme, absolute sovereignty and supremacy rest with the people. He said: “It is my deepest conviction as a student of democracy. I know that democracy is loosely defined as government of the people by the people and for the people. In actual fact, sovereignty in a democratic regime belongs to the people.

The government is for the people and the party too is for the people.”
He explained “absolute supremacy must be anchored on the sovereignty of our people because if we don’t pursue the interest of our people, you can guarantee the fact that sooner than later there may be no APC.”
It is becoming clear that the intervention of Buhari openly into the crisis that is bedeviling the party would play key role and influence in reducing the crisis if not put a stop to crisis but this can be realised if all the warring groups and individuals are ready to dance to the tune of the President and embrace unity among themselves. The truth behind the crisis is the inability of the groups to submit individual interest to general cum national interest which according to analysts may signal the end of the party.