The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, says a festering crisis, brewing in the ruling party has the potential of destroying it.Frank said this at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, where he claimed that there were internal disputes in the APC despite the attempts of its leaders to project an image of cohesion.
He explained that he had warned of a crisis in the Bayelsa State chapter of the APC before and after the governorship election in the state, adding that his warning was not taken seriously.
He said, “I spoke about my state in Bayelsa, people ignored me. I’m speaking again; it would happen soon at the national level that these things we are hiding have started already.
“If anybody should tell you there’s no division even at the national level, they’re telling lies. I can tell you there are issues; there are very critical issues.
“The issue of the Senate President is still lingering; nobody is saying anything at the national level, but I tell you, any Nigerian that knows will tell you very clearly that with the body language of our party as of today, if we are not careful, we are going to lose our popularity.
“It will be a very big disgrace that we have hands that are not competent at the centre to harmonise the aggrieved persons and make us to move forward.
“So, there is crisis in the party. We have too many divisions right now within the party. So, I won’t be scared to speak; that is my personal opinion and I’ve spoken again and I will continue to speak out.”
But the National Secretary of the party, Mai Mala Buni, in a statement late on Thursday dismissed Frank’s assertions, stated that the allegations were “bogus” and should be disregarded.
Buni added, “The bogus and misleading allegations are unnecessary distractions to the party’s resolve to fully support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to deliver on the motley promises made by our great party to the electorate.
“The APC national leadership remains united and solidly committed to the task of bringing cohesion to the party at all levels.
“Recently, the APC held its National Caucus and National Executive Committee meetings where positive and far-reaching decisions were collectively taken by the party’s leadership to drive the party forward.”
The statement further read, “The party will not deny anybody or interest the right to seek justice where he feels this has been denied him. However, we sincerely appeal that we all play by the rules in our engagements and be guided in our utterances.
“The public is advised not to misinterpret or confuse Mr. Timi Frank’s personal opinion to be the official position of the party or the true reflection of what is happening inside the party.
“For the umpteenth time, only the APC National Chairman and the National Secretary are authorised to officially speak for the party.”
PUNCH