The former Chairman of the now defunct New Peoples Democratic Party bloc
within the ruling APC, Kawu Baraje, yesterday unveiled a list of
prominent aggrieved members of the APC, who attended a meeting of the
nPDP, where the group considered three options that they might take
soon.
Baraje, in a statement he signed in Abuja,
revealed that he met with prominent members of the nPDP after the
meeting he held with the leadership of the APC in Abuja last week.
He
said, “Nigerians may recall that members of the former New PDP Bloc
within the All Progressives Congress addressed a letter dated April 27,
2018 to the Chairman of the APC where we informed the party of our
grievances and expectations from both the party and government of
President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Following this development, the party
invited us and we honoured its invitation to a meeting. We met with the
leadership of the party last week during which we resolved to report the
outcome of our meeting to our members and stakeholders before arriving
at any decision or proceeding with the next phase of discussions or
actions with the APC and government.
“I am glad to inform you,
therefore, that we have briefed our members at a meeting convened in
Abuja on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, where we reviewed the state of the
nation and our party, APC, and constituted committees on various issues,
especially on how to rescue Nigeria from economic, social, political
and especially security challenges.”
Baraje listed the names of those
in the defunct nPDP and others top APC chieftains, especially members
of the National Assembly, who attended the Abuja meeting.
He
added, “The meeting was well attended by members of the nPDP, including
serving and former governors, senators, members of the House of
Representatives, and other aggrieved APC stakeholders.
“Those who
attended the meeting included President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola
Saraki; Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara; Governor
of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal; Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso; Prince
Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Admiral Murtala Nyako (retd.); Sen. Mohammad
Aliero, Senator Danjuma Goje, Sen. John Enoh, Senator Andy Uba, Sen.
Ibrahim Gobir, Sen. Rufai Ibrahim and Sen. Ibrahim Danbaba.
“Others are Sen. Suleman Nazif, Sen. Isa Misau, Sen. Muhammed Shitu,
Sen. Shehu Sani, Sen. Dino Melaye, Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, Sen. Shaaba
Lafiagi, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Sen. David Umaru, Sen. Barnabas Gemade;
Chairman, former nPDP, Alh. Abubakar K. Baraje; Mr. Aminu Shagari, Mr.
Kabiru Marafa, Mr. Isa Ashiru, Mr. Muh’d Soba, Mr. Mark Gbillah, Mr.
Sani Rano, Mr. Garba Durbunde, Mr. Aliyu Madaki, Mr. Zakari Mohammed,
Mr. Rufai Chachangi, Mr. Razak Atunwa, Mr. Emmanuel Udende, Mr. Hassan
Saleh, Mr. Nasiru Sule, Mr. Orker Jev, Mr. Aliyu Pategi, Mr. Isah
Halilu, Mr. Rabiu Kaugama, Mr. Abdussamad Dasuki, Mr. Ismaila Gadaka,
Mr. Lado Suleja, Mr. Dickson Tarkighir, Mr. Babatunde Kolawole, Dr. Bode
Ayorinde, Mr. Danjuma Shida, Mr. Danburam Nuhu, Mr. Sunday Adepoju, Mr.
Sani Zorro, Mr. Ahmed Bichi, Mr. Garba Mohammed and a host of others.”
Punch also learnt that eight serving members of the House of
Representatives from Oyo State had also joined the group, but their
names were not given.
A national assembly source said, “We met like our chairman said in the statement.
“After he briefed us about the discussions he held on our behalf
with the leadership of the APC, the floor was thrown open for
discussions and suggestions. We all agreed that we were not being fairly
treated within the APC.
“Opinions were however divided on how best to proceed. There were
those who felt we should pull out and join a party yet to be determined.
“There
was the second group which felt it was better to remain within and
fight it out through further discussions and negotiations.
“The third group consisted of those who felt we should pull out,
adopt a new platform and ensure we have a written agreement so as to
avoid a repeat of what we are seeing (experiencing) in the APC.
“At the end, it was agreed that we set up a committee to look at the most viable option…”
