Confab: APC’s fears are misplaced — Ogbemudia

TWO-TIME governor of the old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, has faulted the decision by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to participate in the on-going National Conference, saying the conference, set up by President Goodluck Jonathan, will find solution to many of the nation’s problems.

While backing the idea that the decision of the conference should be subjected to a referendum, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader urged Nigerians to continue to support the programmes of the  Jonathan administration which, according to him, will take the nation to the promised land.

The elder statesman spoke in Benin, yesterday, after a meeting with members of his group, geared at returning Jonathan for second term. However, Sunday Vanguard observed that members of the group are only keen about re-electing Jonathan but are also not bothered about the fate of the PDP in Edo State.

Some of them said they were disenchanted with the style of the leadership of the party in the state, which they said was not directed at strategizing in winning elections in the state.

Ogbemudia, who spoke to newsmen after the meeting, said, “I think that APC fears are misplaced, they should send somebody to the confab and with their own mandate and, if they are defeated, they will know they were defeated, if they win, then they have won and their matter will be before a referendum, but not sending somebody there is not being helpful to Nigerians who, after 100 years, are looking for a new mandate to continue the relationship”.

He went on: “My view is that the decision of the conference should go for referendum.  After the people have approved, the National Assembly will merely turn it into law. We had one during Obasanjo’s time. I don’t know what happened to it; if we are not careful, this may go the same way”.