Akande spoke like a sincere leader should, APC Action Group

The Action Group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen in stout defense of the former Interim Chairman of the ruling party, Chief Bisi Akande, saying his recent utterances on the crisis bedeviling the party at the national assembly were those of a sincere leader.

The group, through a statement by its spokesperson, Segun Dipe, said the ramrod qualities of Chief Akande qualify him to see when things are skewed towards failure and was right to have called the people involved to order.

"Here is the man who steered the ship of our party through the turbulent waters from conception to birth. He did so with sincerity of purpose and great sacrifice that even President Muhammadu Buhari, a man of few words, not given to praise-singing, confessed that he respected Akande's patriotism while acknowledging how he led the interim party 'with dexterity and integrity.' Party Chairman Chief Odigie Oyegun also admitted that he saw in Chief Akande trustworthiness and sincerity. Is it such a person that would now wish the smooth-sailing ship of the party should capsize?"

APC-AG recalled how Chief Akande had journeyed with Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu through thick and thin from the dark and lonely days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the Action Congress (AC) and then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before arriving at the APC, saying such a person knows what true loyalty and discipline are and should be taken serious when preaching them.
Chief Akande had been criticised for his recent utterances with which he cautioned some party members, whom he accused of trading the party's birthright and dining with the enemy with a bid to get choice positions.

Specifically, he mentioned some northern elites and the nPDP members within the APC as those rocking the party boat with indiscipline and disloyalty.

But the APC Action Group said the former interim chairman was on point and had only reiterated what was already in the public domain. Perhaps it is making more meaning to them now that it is coming from a person of Chief Akande's flawless character.

"When some reckless youths engage in reckless and mindless cutting of a mighty tree, it takes a discerning elder like Chief Akande to see where it would eventually fall and warn of its dire consequences. That exactly is what he is doing and his voice should rather be heeded than criticised."

"Here is a man whose conscience no money can buy. A man of merit whose records are untainted. Isn't it better and a privilege to have such a person speak out at this early stage of the crisis rather than allowing it to fester and then cash in on it the way some leaders are waiting to do?"

"Our position in APC Action Group is that all sensible party faithful should heed Baba Akande's call at this point and queue behind him."

Signed: Segun Dipe
Spokesperson, APC Action Group