The suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Timi Frank, has said that the party has no choice but to restructure Nigeria in line with the commitment it made to voters as contained in the APC manifesto.
He urged the party to resist the temptation of playing with the sensibilities of Nigerians over the issue because the electorate voted for the APC based on this and several other promises made before the 2015 elections.
Frank said this in Abuja on Friday while reacting to the party’s decision to set up the Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led 10-member Restructuring Definition Committee.
He faulted the choice of the Kaduna State governor to chair the committee, arguing that el-Rufai’s opposition to the issue could jeopardise any meaningful dialogue towards achieving set goals on the issue.
Frank said, “Governor el-Rufai has not hidden his opposition to the issue of restructuring since Nigerians began to remind us of our promise, which is boldly written in our party’s manifesto, hence the need to remove him because he does not believe in it.
“The Kaduna State governor has also called some of our (APC) leaders names because of this issue; I find it difficult to believe he will abandon his hard -line posture on this matter.”
The APC chieftain recalled that the governor had, while speaking on a Channels Television breakfast show, described proponents of Nigeria’s restructuring “political opportunists and irresponsible.”
He observed that it would amount to deceit for the party to disown promises it made mid-way into its first tenure.
According to him, the promise of restructuring is non-negotiable and should be fulfilled without further delay.
He appealed to party leaders at all levels to work towards ensuring that the party fulfils its promise because most Nigerians were of the view that restructuring would address the various ongoing agitations across the country.
Frank said, “I see no reason for setting up a committee for something that is not negotiable at this time.” (PUNCH)
