The leadership of a faction
of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), known as nPDP, has announced
withdrawal from dialogue with the APC-led federal government.
In a statement on Monday,
the nPDP chairman, Abubakar Baraje, announced the decision after regurgitating
the plight of members of his faction.
He accused the Nigerian
presidency of double-standard and lack of good faith in the dialogue it entered
with the aggrieved members of the ruling party under the nPDP.
He cited the police
invitation of Senate President Bukola Saraki for questioning in a case of armed
robbery and murder among indicators of the government's alleged
half-heartedness.
The nPDP were members of
the Peoples Democratic Party who joined the APC in the build up to the 2015
elections.
Read the full statement
below:
PRESS STATEMENT FROM FORMER
nPDP
The public may recall that
there have been ongoing talks between members of the former Npdp, the APC and
the Presidency in recent days.
Nigerians may further
recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of
Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to
meet with the Vice President, His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo today.
However, while we are truly
and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and
cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it is appears
that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been
negotiating in bad faith.
We were alarmed that
immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency
misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of
the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.
Similarly, the leadership
of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local
governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints,
effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.
The persecution of our
members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.
We recognize the powers of
the Police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with
the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the
National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate
the institution of the legislature.
It appears that there is a
fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life
in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of
the former nPDP to continue with the talks. Given the unfolding events in the
last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar
Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive
Governor of Kwara State , both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice
President on Monday 28 May, 2018 ,have suddenly been accused of sponsoring
armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency.
Similarly, on Saturday,
June 2nd, 2018, the Department of State of Services (DSS) also suddenly
withdrew more than half of all the security details attached to the presiding
officers of the National Assembly under questionable circumstances.
The nPDP leadership has
decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh
mandate if good faith returns to the discussions.
Thank you.
Alhaji Abubakar Kawu
Baraje, CON
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