APC’s ‘Bitterest’ Critics Are Within Its Party – Abati

Mr Rueben Abati, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has claimed the ‘‘bitterest’’ of critics of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are members of its party.

Abati, in a piece of writing on Tuesday, equally claimed that the APC as a party which came into existence by virtue of coalition is currently malfunctioning and gasping for breath.

The ex-presidential aide said those who had formed the coalition with the hope of gaining control have been let down.

“In less than three years, some of the bitterest criticisms of the party have come not from the opposition but from within the party itself: Timi Frank perpetually complaining about party processes, Shehu Sani and other Senators from Kaduna State at loggerheads with their State Governor, personality conflicts in virtually every state, most notably in Adamawa, Imo, Kano, Rivers and Lagos state, Governor Ortom of Benue openly accusing the Federal Government of negligence, Governor El-Rufai, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Shehu Sani at various times sounding notes of warning, Senator Dino Melaye assuming the role of an in-house critic, and members of the ACN and the nPDP alleging that they have been used and dumped. The APC wing of the National Assembly is divided among its ranks, and has posed more threat to the Executive arm of government than the opposition.”

“The extent of this implosion became more evident during the party’s recent state congresses. Parallel congresses were held in more than 10 states, there were reports of boycotts, violence and general confusion. Given the tone and nature of the conflict, it seems obvious that the APC is a victim of its own lack of three things – internal democracy, originality and sincerity of purpose,” wrote Abati.

Recall that one of APC’s estranged chieftains, Mr Timi Frank, had recently penned a letter of apology to former President Jonathan “for all the tantrums and mistreatment orchestrated” by himself and the party against him “while he held sway at the helm of affairs of our great country.”

Mr Frank claimed that under President Muhammadu Buhari, “the rule of law has been replaced with the rule of force”.