All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday told party faithful and leaders that he did not belong to any faction or bloc within the ruling party.
His emergence as national chairman, he said, was a product of the collective unity of the party members.
Oshiomhole, who spoke when he received two different delegations of party members from Taraba State, said members of the party must work for its unity.
He added that unity can only be achieved in an atmosphere of justice and fairness.
The party’s national chairman assured those with grievances in the various states that his leadership would soon move into action to address such challenges.
Oshiomhole noted that he was presently studying his handover notes to know where there are challenges to address them.
He said party members and leaders at the various levels must be prepared to make sacrifice and unite for APC’s common good.
According to him, there was no way the party could make inroad with a divided House.
He told the delegations that he was still studying the handover notes given to him by the former chairman as well as awaiting the report of the convention committee on what they did to ensure peace during the exercise.
Oshiomhole said the fact that even those who had grievances behaved maturely and waiting for his emergence as chairman to address such grievances meant that he has a duty not to disappoint them, but ensure that justice and fairness prevail.
He said: “Luckily, I am not a product of a faction; I am not a product of a bloc. I am a product of unanimity within the rank and file and leaders of our party. Therefore, I have a duty to translate into action what they expect of me, which is that the unity that prevailed in my election should be transplanted to all the states so that we have unity in all the states. That, I will work for without fear or favour.
“My plea is that let us be guided by this pillar of justice and fairness. We must also recognise that in a free society and in the real world, nobody get what he wants, but what you are able to negotiate.
“That is why the tool in this business is the tool of persuasion, mediation and negotiation. Those we will bring to bear to assist us and every group that has challenges to help them fight on a common ground because our party will move in as one united and indivisible party.”
He added: “The convention committee chairman has informed me that he is working on his report which will contain a number of states where we have challenges, what he had to do before the convention, those he assured that their matter will be looked into after the convention.
“I appreciate that even those who had grievances had confidence that with me coming in, we will be able to resolve their grievances and People generally behaved even though they have their reservations.
“I am very grateful for the patience that people have shown and the maturity that has been demonstrated. When I have the report, the secretariat will inform you when your attention is required so that we find a win-win solution.”
He said the party leaders must work for the unity of the party and the country, saying “the unity of the party must flow from the unity from the ward, state and National levels”.
Oshiomhole added: “I listened to you referring to two parallel congresses at various levels in Taraba state and that is rather unfortunate. We must do everything possible to ensure that we maintain the unity of the party in every state, including Taraba State.
“I am happy by the comment made by one of you that you are all committed to ensuring that the tenure of the current governor will be brought to a close on May 29 next year by ensuring that we vote him out in February. I am committed to that project.”
The two delegations were led by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Alhassan, who said led what she called the mainstream APC in Taraba State and Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf, who led what they described as the Taraba APC Unity Group.
