APC chairman, Oyegun speaks on disagreements over his tenure elongation

The National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on Monday said disagreements and debates that characterised activities of the party lately were hallmarks of progressive politics.

He stated this at the party´s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday in Abuja.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had declared that members of the Odigie-Oyegun led National Working Committee of the APC are not eligible to seek reelection in the forthcoming congresses and national convention of the party.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, quoted Odigie-Oyegun as saying ´´I must say that disagreements, debates and contentions are the hallmarks of progressive politics. Therefore, let no one tell you that our party was about to collapse only because we disagreed.

´´In the past days, I have read news reports and all manner of comments and opinions that have tried to frame the majority decision of NEC as an attempt to primarily secure tenure elongation for Odigie-Oyegun and the NWC.

´´This is quite unfortunate because nothing could be further from the truth.

´´If anything, what our experience in the last few days has confirmed is that we can disagree without being disagreeable, and that our party may be young, but we remain the bastion of progressive politics in Nigeria.´´

He commended Buhari for what he described as “his rare act of graciousness and humility’’.

He said that even after opposing the tenure extension as approved by the party´s NEC, Buhari allowed further consideration on the subject “which proved him to be a true democrat and a genuine party man’’.

According to the national chairman, where the President would have imposed his will, he exhibited true leadership by allowing himself to be open to alternative opinions, regardless of his personal interest.

He added that the party´s strength would continue to rest on its ability to forge consensus even from apparently irreconcilable issues.

Odigie-Oyegun charged members of the party to be ready to accept alternative viewpoints as the President had done, even when such viewpoints did not immediately reflect their preferences.