By Ezeocha Nzeh
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, and chieftain of the rulin All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Chris Adighije has argued that the manner in which the party leadership both at the centre and zones may have led to the collapse of the zoning and consensus arrangements ahead of the March 26 National Convention of the party
Agighije, who described what is happening in the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention as a revolution called on the stakeholders to tread with acusion insisting that the party needs Nigerians, just as Nigerians need it.
The Abia State APC tsaid the consensus arrangements have failed because people were not happy with the processes of zoning and micro zoning.
He however said that the candidates should be given an opportunity to test the ground of contest properly as APC will come out stronger after March 26..
He acknowledged that the zoning and micro zoning were not properly done as they were done by a few party members.
He cited the South East micro zoning as an example, where the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma and few other persons did the micro zoning, warning that there is a limit in which people can take injustice.
“However, l believe that on March 26 a new APC that is stronger would emerge. That is the way l see it because this country is APC and still needs APC.
“I believe that regardless of what is going on and l think Mr. President has also sensed it and he has come back from his medical trip earlier than planned because he is also disturbed and he is looking forward to a smooth convention.
“After the storm l know there will calm on March 26 and we will come out better. I believe there is hope. All l advise the people is that they should ensure free and fair Convention. If there is no consensus, then they should go to the field and canvass for what they can canvass and let there be a proper demonstration of the process so that whoever emerges would have emerge freely and fairly.
“There are six or seven aspirants of Chairmanship and if Mr. President is not able to pull it through and all of them want to test the ground they should make sure they have proper ground to test.”
On the zoning and micro zoning is alleged to be collapsing, he responded, “How can it work, he said, “For instance, what happened in the South East is still there for us to look at. People are not happy, the micro zoning was done by a few people and you know that there is a limit to which people can swallow whatever is put on them. So, what you see now is a revolution because it looks like consensus may not work. And l am saying that if consensus would not work, proper arrangements should be made to count votes that would be cast. That is the only way.”
