Scheming for 2023 not responsible for APC crisis – DG PGF

*BMO asks APC govs to call Lukman to order

Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman has allayed fears that leadership crisis in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is being fuelled by scheming by political gladiators aspiring for positions ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Instead, he blamed the crisis on actions and inactions of some leadership figures that have placed self interests above that of the party.

He knocked certain personalities who have personalised a critical party organ such as the National Working Committee (NWC) and uses it to suppress the functionality of other party organs, particularly, the National Executive Committee (NEC) to the detriment of the party.

In a personal statement issued Sunday in Abuja, Lukman accused the APC national leadership of being power drunk and blamed it for its inability to convene important party meetings such as that of NEC.

Advancing reasons why the APC leadership crisis should not be linked with 2023 politics, Lukman said that “as Nigerians, we have the constitutional right to freely express ourselves and by extension, also have expectations that should guide who gets elected.

“Does that explain the leadership crisis in APC and to what extent does that confirm or otherwise, the allegations that those who are against Comrade Oshiomhole are doing it for 2023?

“Inability to manage disagreements and resolve conflicts bordering on leadership disputes is at the centre of the crisis in APC. Unfortunately, these are not the issues being debated.

What is being debated is about the personalities in the conflict and who is supporting who. It is not about the details of the disagreements.

“We may succeed to come to agreement about who should occupy the positions, but will that prevent a situation whereby organs of the party will not meet such that vacancies will emerge and proper processes of refilling the vacancies will not be followed?

“Partly, to blackmail those criticising Comrade Oshiomhole, all those alleged to have been opposed to him are being accused of nursing or supporting ambitions for 2023.

False as it is, to avoid falling into the pit being dug to produce intolerant leaders, party leaders and members should not be defensive about their positions.

“They should be able to ask, since Comrade Oshiomhole is a threat to the ambition of those opposed to him, it means that there is someone he supports.

Who is that person and what does that person represent? Is Comrade Oshiomhole’s leadership attributes representative of the orientation of the person Comrade Oshiomhole is supporting?

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“We must not allow the debate to be reduced to a simple strategy to conquer and subjugate opponents. The danger here is not that Comrade Oshiomhole may succeed in defeating his opponents, but that if it is part of the strategy to promote a particular person to emerge as President Buhari’s successor in 2023.

“Based on Comrade Oshiomhole’s style of leadership, it then means that there is a very high possibility that President Buhari’s successor will be closer if not worse than President Obasanjo’s model of leadership. Is that the type of President we want?”

Meanwhile, Lukman’s views have pitched him against the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO), which resents his outburst describing them as unhealthy for the party.

The BMO says Lukman by his recent statements seems oblivious of his position as the director general of one of the powerful organs of APC, the governors’ forum.

The body therefore, advised APC governors to call the director-general to order because of Lukman’s subtle attacks on President Buhari over his reluctance to intervene in the internal disagreement among members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

BMO said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke respectively, that the governors risk been seen as the instigators of Lukman if they fail to take action.

However, Lukman had severally made it clear that whatever advice he gives the party are his personal opinion and not that of the governors’ forum.

The director general insisted that he is not holding brief for anybody, debunked insinuations that he is doing the bidding of certain forces