Chief Bisi Akande
The Chairman, APC Reconciliation Committee, Chief Adebisi Akande, has
called on all party members to resolve their internal conflicts through
dialogue, deliberation and transparent voting procedures
Akande, while speaking
with the newsmen on Saturday in Lagos noted that, politics is an art of
resolving conflicts and disputes in a manner that strengthens institutions as
well as relationships between people who share those common institutions.
“I have noticed with
growing concern the increasing number of court cases being filed pertaining to
disputes regarding the leadership of our party, the All Progressives Congress.
“Competition and
different views on leadership are inherent in political parties, thus, the fact
that all party members do not agree on all things is not abnormal.
“The APC is a
democratic body. This means we seek to resolve internal conflicts through
dialogue, deliberation and ultimately through open and transparent voting
procedures,” he said.
Chief Akande, added
that he did know the motivations behind the litigious conduct and it is not in
his nature to ascribe negative or harmful motives to anyone.
“Those seeking access
to the courts to decide what are basically political questions perhaps think
they are doing the right thing.
“If this is the case,
I must state that they are innocently in error.
“Their actions are
harmful to the party in compound ways.
“First, the subject
matter they bring before the court is not amenable to judicial pronouncement.
“The manner by which
court decisions are rendered– one side wins, the other loses– is not the best
way to resolve political disputes.
“Again, such disputes
are better treated by dialogue and the give-and-take that dialogue engenders.”
According to Akande,
courts do not proceed in such a manner and to resort to the courts casts the
party in a negative public light.
“The penchant by
members for litigation undermines party discipline, internal dispute resolution
mechanisms and institutions.
“I must remind party
members the party Constitution requires that all internal dispute resolution
measures be exhausted before a member carries a matter to court.
“I dare say this
provision has not been honoured, either in spirit or in letter by those
initiating these court cases seeking to oust party officials,” he said.
Akande said that along
with several other respected party members, he had been appointed as the
chairman of the party’s special reconciliation committee.
“This committee is the
product of discussions and deliberations of party organs such as the NWC and
NEC.
“No one has contended
that this committee was improperly established.
“The committee’s
mandate was to investigate and submit recommendations regarding the dispute in
Edo, involving the National Party Chairman, Adams Oshiomole and Gov. Godwin
Obaseki as well as inquire into disputes in other states that might weaken the
party.
“All party members are
aware of this decision. Thus, it runs contrary to the explicit decision of the
party.
“It is severely
premature for members to seek judicial intervention in areas that form the very
subject matter of the special committee’s mandate,” the chairman said.
Akande stressed that
to sought judicial intervention before the committee has had time to do and
finish its work, not only insults the committee, it offends the NWC, NEC and
the entire party.
He, however, called on
all party members to honour the rightful and correct decisions of the party
leadership.
“Members should allow
the committee to do its work and should stop seeking judicial intervention in
matters under the purview of the special committee until the committee has done
its work and the party leadership has acted upon its recommendations.
“For members to act
otherwise would be to discard the party Constitution and ignore the tenets of
deliberation and compromise upon which all successful political parties are
founded,” he said.
