The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged the Mai Mala Buni caretaker committee of APC to ensure the promotion of transparency and openness in the management of the party’s affairs.
Sen. Kalu, who is the Senator representing Abia North alongside members of the National Assembly Southeast caucus elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress on Monday passed a vote of confidence on the interim leadership of party led by the Yobe governor.
The former Abia governor arrived at the national headquarters of the ruling party by 12:30 pm alongside other members of the caucus and proceeded to the office of the national secretary of the committee, Honourable James Akpan Udoedehe where he had a brief meeting before heading to the official residence of the Yobe Governor.
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While extolling the leadership quality of Buni, he said ”we need more openness in the party, in order to promote transparency within the party because once the party has transparency in operating in all their activities, things would be easier
“It is easier to win election with popular candidates. It is difficult to win elections when people are imposed. We should avoid imposition of candidates. You are a very experienced party administrator and Governor of the state and you are also very experienced in handling party matters. The caucus of the Southeast APC wants to congratulate you, to enjoin other party members, and to reassure you that we are going to work with you.
Speaking further, Kalu reassured the Chairman of the Southeast APC’s commitment to improving its performance in subsequent elections in the zone.
He said ”I want to specially congratulate and to tell you that we are solidly behind you and we shall support you in your quest to do everything transparently. It is important to have transparency in our party congresses, this will make the party have a bigfooting in the area. We assure you that we from the Southeast shall do better in the next election than we did in the past election.
“We believe that with your honest leadership, the party will go to further heights. How I wish you are not the Governor of a state, we shall not be looking for another National Chairman because we have trust in you and I know you very well and even your capabilities.
Also speaking during the meeting was the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives Hon. Nkeiru Onyejeohca who on her own part advocated for the encouragement and inclusion of women in the party’s activities and elective positions.
She said ”We are going to embark on constitutional review and I want you yo use your office to ensure that you carry everyone along because there is no way we can continue living the way we are living.
“Women are helpmates to the men and in politics, if we don’t have enough women coming up on board, that means we are not doing what God says. From my experience, women don’t have the strength that the men have, so if we continue to leave the constitution the way it is there would be discrimination so we appeal that you give the women more slots.
Spokesman of the House of Representatives Hon. Benjamin Kalu lauded the Chairman’s efforts in the formation of the special tripartite committee which consists of the members of the party drawn from all the arms of Government.
Benjamin emphasized that the committee would serve as a mechanism to resolve issues internally.
He said ”we the APC members of the house are in absolute peace which is very important to what you want to achieve. The leadership of Femi Gbajabiamila is great and we are all carried along. Let us also commend you for spearheading the formation of the tripartite committee which consists of all the arms of Government.
“With this tripartite committee we can resolve issues internally before any matter that can dent the image of the goes out to the public I very much commend the role you have played. I also commend your reconciliation efforts. I also love the fact that you talked about reconciliation in Imo state, though senator Orji Kalu has been championing it. For the party to expand and grow in the Southeast we need reconciliation in Imo state.
So please extend your reconciliation efforts to the Southeast this will help us win more states.
Responding the Chairman Mr. Buni, thanked Senator Kalu for the visit. He restated the committee’s willingness to work with the South-East caucus. He extolled Kalu’s efforts and contributions to the party’s growth and urged him to continue his good work for the party. He also called on women to take up the responsibility of contesting in elections rather than waiting to be given such positions in his words
”I disagree because most times our sisters will come from the position of weakness. In APC there was a time we decided to give free nomination forms to women we did that but there was a very superior argument that came up; which said that the women should come from the position of strength because you can pay for the forms just the way a man can also pay.
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“When we are talking about democracy, democracy is about contest. You have to contest, there are more women that I know that perform more than men. Even in the National Assembly, you can attest to that.
There are capable hands, even in my state there have never been a time that we didn’t have a woman at the house of Representatives and they are performing and most times even better than men.
“You can see as none of them ever came from the position of weakness, they contest, win elections, and even have more followers than men, women are naturally compassionate.
“Sometimes what they go out to do for the vulnerable out there men don’t even care to do that. So when we are talking about gender issues we have to be more pragmatic we have to come from the position of looking for ways to encourage women to participate in politics.
But when it comes to appointment I agree with you. Appointment is something that either the President, Governor or a local government chairman can do, but it is not about election but when it comes to election I know you won your election I have been following you up and I see you travelling all over canvassing for votes, you didn’t sit in the comfort of your bedroom claiming you are a woman.”
“Unfortunately that is how some women think it should be to be given leadership slots on the basis of just because they are women but its not the way it should be. We have to encourage them to participate and to give them a level playing ground and as a party that is what we are expected to do.
”I also align with your quest to push for the inclusion of more women in party committees and certain processes.” He said
Other lawmakers who spoke were Chinedu Ogah of Ebonyi central and Princess Miriam Onuoha of Okigwe senatorial zone
