Buni’s rescue game at Gombe APC zonal meeting

Buni’s rescue game at Gombe APC zonal meeting

The Sunday 15th June consultative meeting of the  North East Zonal consultative meeting of the All Progressives Congress(APC), which  recently held in Gombe, the Gombe state capital,  was chaired and convened by Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni.

 The meeting, which momentarily led to rise in temper, had in attendance the crème la de crème of the party from both the zonal and the national levels. However, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Sen. Ali Ndume and Hon. Mukhtar Betara  were unavoidably absent as they sent their apologies.

Governor Buni who was chief convener, the host, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and their Borno counterpart, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, were all in attendance along with almost all the national and state legislators, leaders and elders of the party, and hundreds of thousands of supporters from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states.

…Buni sets agenda

At the event, which started on a very peaceful and exciting note, Governor Buni welcomed the attendees and appreciated them  for their support and commitment to the party.

And setting the agenda for the meeting, Governor Buni commended  the national leadership of the party for creating a platform at the zonal level, which, he said,  provided  opportunity to take stock and analyse the achievements and challenges of the party in its midterm self-assessment programme.

“This indicates the party’s commitment to promoting good governance, service delivery, and building unity in the six geo-political zones for the party to consolidate its strength and leadership in Nigeria’s political space” he said.

The chairman eulogised politicians from the northeast bloc  for tracing their role since the First Republic. “From the first Republic till date, the North east sub-region has remained a strong political block in Nigeria’s political history. We are blessed with great politicians such as the Late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, Sir Kashim Ibrahim, Alh. Muhammadu Ribadu, Malam Sa’ad Zungur, Alhaji Jalo Waziri, and  Alh. Ibrahim Waziri, the advocate of Politics Without Bitterness, to mention but a few.

“Today, from the zone, we proudly have the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Kashim Shettima GCON, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and of course, your humble selves my dear compatriots, the Executive Governors, former Governors, distinguished Senators and members of the National and State Assemblies, Party leaders and elders, and other key stakeholders, youth and women, and our large supporters making the zone more stronger.

“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and Gentlemen, this is a cherished political legacy that we cannot afford to truncate nor let it vanish during our time. We must therefore, strive to continue supporting APC, Nigeria’s ruling party, and the national government under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as the APC-led administrations in Yobe, Gombe and Adamawa states to succeed and make our great party proud.”

“I want to seize this opportunity to congratulate us over APC’s Ten years of leadership as Nigeria’s ruling party, and Africa’s largest political party. However, it is important to note that this achievement is not an ordinary coincidence. It is a product of careful and strategic planning, focused leadership and giving members a sense of belonging.

“Therefore, it is important for us to continue promoting the values that unite us, address the few wranglings, give party supporters a sense of belonging, and improve on our reward system,” he said.

…Experience at work
Recalling his days in the party leadership, Buni said: “My experience as a two-term National Secretary of the party, has proven that such measures always protect the interest of the party and attract more membership from other political parties into the APC in multitudes.

“Similarly, as Chairman of the party a few years back, we employed some measures that attracted three sitting governors, numerous national and state legislators, politicians of high repute from across the country with hundreds of thousands of their supporters defecting into the party that increased the fortunes of the party. I want to sincerely commend the National Chairman and his team for the continuity in building the party’s fortunes with the recent defections into the party.

“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, l had once predicted that APC would continue to be Nigeria’s ruling party for a long time, inshaa Allah. l still remain optimistic and resolute that APC would continue to be Nigeria’s darling political party especially with the rich investment of your humble selves in the party.”  

While acknowledging as a fact that, like all successful human endeavours, APC is not totally free from disagreements and manageable squabbles, the governor said: “Your wealth of experience in party administration and governance, would always provide solutions to all challenges and threats. The North East zone would always remain a role model of emulation for other geo-political zones.”

…On Tinubu’s reforms, insecurity

Buni, who lauded the Bola Ahmed Tinubu  administration, also spoke on additional measures by the government  “to tackle insecurity in the North east. We would continue to support, cooperate and work with the federal government and the security agencies for a more sustainable peace and security in the North east zone.

“Our collective drive to strengthen security in the Zone especially at this time becomes more necessary as the rainy season sets in for our people to have access to their farmlands for food sufficiency and food security.”

“In the last two years, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration engaged daring policies and programmes to improve the lives of Nigerians. Such reforms come with attendant difficulties, challenges and rough rides but equally, the reforms come with life changing opportunities of a renewed hope for a better life. 

“This requires tactical planning and time. To achieve this, one term of office may not be adequate. It may require two or more terms to effectively and efficiently execute such programmes that would stand the test of time and serve the people better.

“Therefore, in the spirit  of natural justice, fair play and national interest, the forum should consider the architect of these policies and programmes, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, with the right of first offer and endorse him for the 2027 Presidential election to accomplish the reform policies and programmes for the benefit of Nigerians.”

“I want to also appreciate the Vice President, Kashim Shettima GCON, for doing the zone proud through his unalloyed support and loyalty, enhancing  team work for the success of the  government and party. The zone equally appreciates the President for appointing a prominent son of the  zone, Malam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser,” he added.

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…The mild disruption

With a loud applause that greeted Buni’s speech and accompanying remarks by Governor Zulum and others, the stage appeared set for deliberation.

However, the meeting got disrupted briefly following the remarks by the APC national vice chairman in the zone, Mustapha Salihu, who asked the zonal officials to endorse Tinubu as the sole candidate. This angered the Borno delegates who, to no avail,  insisted the party leader must declare a Tinubu/Kashim joint ticket for the 2027 presidential election.

…Buni’s cherished intervention

The flurry of anger filled the air with some top personalities including Ganduje, Zulum and a couple of other leaders wanting to take their leave.

However, the governor  brought his political sagacity, party administration  and organisational acumen to prevail on those angered by Mustapha’s remarks from storming out of the meeting until it’s concluded.
This move calmed frayed nerves and the meeting rolled on, ending with a communique drafted and submitted to the National Working Committee(NWC) as directed by the party’s national leadership.

And of course, the Presidency, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication, Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu would, in line with tradition, decide on who runs with him after the party’s convention and his acceptance of the endorsements.

…Buni’s reputation for damage control  

For Buni, the consultative meeting was not the first time he restored peace to the almost tattered APC, a party fast losing its reputation.  As Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, it would be recalled, Buni brought to bear his quality leadership and experience to resolve life-threatening difference in the party and  reconciled feuding stalwarts who hitherto refused to see eye-to-eye.

This approach, which boosted the party’s fortunes won three serving governors at that time namely; Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) now works minister, Dr. Ben Ayade of Cross River, and  Bello Matawalli of Zamfara state who is the current minister of state(defence) into its fold.

Also under his leadership, several serving and former national legislators, former members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, and other political heavy weights along with millions of their supporters defected from the major opposition party to the APC.
Analysts posit that it is on record that the successes achieved by the committee added value to the fortunes and eventual success of the party in the 2023 general elections. BLUEPRINT