Uduegbunam ChukwujamaPrime Business Africa reports that a body of non-serving senators who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been formed. It was inaugurated on March 23, 2022 at the Sheraton Hotel here in Abuja.
The group, known as ‘APC Non-serving Senators’ Forum’, is led by Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman as Chairman and Senator Ayogu Eze as Secretary and has former Senate Presidents Ameh Ebute and Ken Nnamani as patrons.
The new pressure group within the ruling party is coming on the heels of the crisis trailing the party ahead of its National Convention at the Eagle Square on Saturday.
A communique made available to Prime Business Africa said the Forum had elected a group of executives to steer its affairs in the next four years
”According to the document, ‘‘following the inauguration of the FORUM, the following officers were elected to steer the affairs of the body for the next four years. The elected officers and their portfolios are as follows:
Patrons;
Senator Ameh Ebute,
Former Senate President
Senator Ken Nnamani,
Former Senate President
EXECUTIVES
- Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman as Chairman
- Senator Ayogu Eze, Secretary
- Senator John Danboyi, Publicity Secretary
- Senator Clever Ikisikpo, Welfare Officer
- Senator Fatima Raji Rasaki , Financial Secretary
- Senator Jalo Zarami, Treasurer
- Senator Basheer Garba Lado, Vice Chairman(NW)
- Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Vice Chairman(SW)
- Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Vice Chairman(SE)
- Senator Bassey Otu, Vice Chairman(SS)
- Senator Abubakar Tutare, Vice Chairman(NE)
- Senator Sodangi Abubakar, Vice Chairman(NC)
- Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Ex Officio
- Senator Ibrahim Ida, Ex Officio
- Senator Domingo Obende, Ex Officio
- Senator Margery Okadigbo, Ex Officio
- Senator Umoru Dahiru, Ex Officio
- Senator Ahmed Barata, Ex Officio
The communique said that the ‘Forum’ had, in the aftermath of the inauguration and in consideration of the status of the association as a pressure group within the APC, done a rigorous interrogation of a number of issues affecting the APC and the Nigerian polity and resolved that the APC remained the vehicle for ‘‘ salvaging Nigeria and positioning it as the most influential country in Africa.’’
It further ”congratulated the party, its officials and members for surmounting the existential challenges it faced recently in the run up to its national convention through a deft and mature brinksmanship, anchored by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari’’
The APC pressure group also urged the party to use the March 26, 2022 national convention to fine-tune strategies for hitch-free congresses and national convention for the election of the party’s flag bearers at all levels in the 2023 general elections.
Other resolution are:’Optimism that the APC will win the 2023 general elections provided that the incoming party officials, to be elected on March 26, 2022, pursue an altruistic and robust process that will produce the best candidates for all positions; Restates commitment as members of APC to offer our experience and expertise to assist the incoming party officials to attain the lofty ideals of the APC;
‘‘Noting that the rich resources of this group have not been maximally tapped by the party so far, it urges the party to stop the marginalisation of one of its most valuable constituency;
‘‘Urges the party and the government to rev up current efforts to ameliorate the economic wellbeing of Nigerians who are currently battling the global hardship occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic and upheavals in various parts of the world;
‘‘Commends President Muhammadu Buhari for steering and stabilizing the ship of the Nigerian state, especially for combating insecurity and virtually defeating Boko Haram in the North East and insurgents in other parts of the country.’’
vehicle for salvaging Nigeria and positioning it as the most influential country in Africa ? Hmm! Students are still at home. What about that?