The Forum for State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) has distanced itself from the recent visit of a few of its members to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
They described the move as misleading and unrepresentative of the group.
They also called on the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to urgently address what they described as the continued neglect of the CPC bloc within the party.
In a statement jointly signed by Kasim Mabo (National Chairman); Sulaiman Oyaremi (National Secretary), the Forum clarified that out of its 37 members, 16 have pledged allegiance to the former Vice President, while 20 remained firmly committed to the APC and the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
The statement alleged that opposition leaders, including associates of the former VP had exerted pressure on the Forum, offering promises of financial inducement to lure members away from the governing party.
“We wish to categorically state that 20 members of the group remain committed to the All Progressives Congress. We wish to state clearly that for some time now our Forum has been put under intense pressure which includes financial gratification by opposition leaders which accounts for why nine of our members succumbed to their pressure a few months ago and seven others joined them only last week as it appears they could no longer resist the pressure. As we speak however 20 of us remain unwaivering as we have lost one of our members from Bornu State.
“This moment, however, calls for reflection, especially by the Presidency and the APC leadership to urgently address the continued neglect of the CPC bloc, particularly the Forum of State Chairmen who are feeling increasingly alienated. Without the fear of sounding immodest we remain the direct link to the grassroots structures that gave the CPC its national relevance and we were the Chairmen that worked with President Buhari of blessed memory to achieve the much touted 12.5 million votes,” the statement read.
Dismissing the visit, the Forum maintained that it was nothing more than an attempt to deceive the former Vice President.
They stressed that the gathering lacked genuine political substance and was carefully orchestrated to create a misleading impression of ‘widespread support’.
They equally emphasised that former CPC State Chairmen remained a vital grassroots structure that contributed significantly to the CPC’s national relevance before its merger into the APC.
Reaffirming its loyalty, the Forum pledged continued support for the leadership of the defunct CPC bloc, led by Sen. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
“We remain loyal, patient, but firm in our resolve to demand for better patronage just as we pray that the Almighty God shall continue to guide Mr President and indeed all our leaders,” the statement added.
