Storm brew in APC over ambassadorial nomination

• Governors, members at logger head with President Buhari

Governors and members of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), have expressed deep displeasure over the ambassadorial nominations made by President Muhammadu Buhari from the region.

The president is being accused of treating party faithfuls like outcasts when it come to appointments.

Apart from Senator Olorunnibe Mamora, who was the Deputy Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, all other nominees whose names were forwarded by their respective State Governors were said not to have met the criteria set by the President himself.

National Daily gathered that the President had set three criterias to be met before getting the ambassadorial appointment.

These are nominees must be people who have sacrificed for the APC; those who contested under the party platform and lost in the 2015 elections; people who lost in party primaries, but didn’t leave the party and people who worked for the party; as well as leading members of the governing party.

The four APC governors in the South-West failed to have their nominees on the list as most Governors nationwide; even when their nominees met the requirements listed by the president.

All of them submitted lists of nominees as required by the Presidency, but their candidates were rejected by the president.

For instance, in Ogun, Governor Ibikunle Amosun could not secure a slot on the ambassadorial list as Vice-President Osinbajo was given the State’s slot.

The vice president nominated his friend and classmate at Igbobi College, Lagos, Ade Asekun.

In Oyo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi failed to have his nominee on the ambassadorial list. Maj.-Gen. Ashimiyu A. Olaniyi (rtd) was picked instead of his nominee. Unlike Amosun who was able to nominate the minister from his state, Ajimobi lost out both in ministerial and ambassadorial appointments.

It was the same situation in Osun State, as Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s nominee, Senator Mudasiru Hussein, did not make the list. Instead, Adegboyega A. Ogunwusi, an elder brother to Ooni of Ife, was nominated.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s bid to have Prof. Julius Ihonvbere as Edo State nominee could not fly as the president opted for Uyagwe Igbe.

In Ekiti, APC members are angry over the choice of Ayodele Ayodeji. The nominee retired last year after 35 years in the Foreign Service. He is the immediate past Ambassador to Greece. APC members in the state are angry that the likes of former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo and Senator Olu Adetunbi were rejected in preference for Ayodeji. Is it that people like Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Prof. Modupe Adelabu and Senator Olu Adetunbi are not qualified enough to represent the state? members querried.

In Lagos, the president nominated a 77 years old retired Supreme Court Justice Oguntade because he gave a minority judgement in favour of President Buhari when he challenged the result of the 2007 presidential election. Mrs Modupe Irele was no where to be found during the party struggling time ahead of the party faithfuls likes Alhaji Mutiu Are and others.

“We worked for APC and it is very unfortunate that someone that is unknown to us is the ambassadorial nominee. So, what is the benefit of working for the party? This is very unfortunate. Am sure the party members in general are really disappointed. It is very unfortunate that a party that we laboured to build is treating its leaders like this.

“Messers Abba Kyari, Mamman Daura and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, as well as the other members of President Buhari kitchen cabinet are responsible for the negative turn of events in APC.” A member Kunle Oduah stated.