Nigeria watching us, Oyegun tells convention committee

•Fayemi heads panel as presidential aspirants get nominees

The All Progressives Congressives (APC) yesterday inaugurated a  Presidential Convention Committee with the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, as Chairman. Dr Alex Ideh is

Secretary of the committee which has former national chairman of the defunct New PDP, Kawu Baraje and Senator Babafemi Ojudu as members.

This is even as National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, said the nation is watching how the party comes up with a hitch-free exercise.

Fayemi was being touted as running mate to the presidential candidate of the defunct CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari long before the governorship election which he lost to the PDP candidate and incumbent governor, Ayodele Fayose.

The presidential convention to elect the candidate for the 2015 general elections is scheduled for next month.

In a novel move to convince its presidential aspirants of its  transparency, the APC National Working Committee also ensured that each of  its presidential aspirant has a nominee in the Committee.

Odigie-Oyegun urged the committee to ensure a transparent, rancour-free exercise, noting that the party must demonstrate that it could practise internal democracy in words and deeds.

Oyegun said: “I want to thank those of you willing to serve. You have 21-22 days, which means that the challenge before you is enormous meaning, you all leave this ceremony to start work. With the state of our party and the propagation of the need for change, we need people who believe in change and practice of change to organise this primary.

“The entire nation is holding its breath for APC primary. The entire nation is asking the question, “who is your candidate and how do you produce your candidate? They are anxious to see us conduct the convention,” he said.

Odigie-Oyegun, who expressed confidence in the choice of Fayemi to conduct a fair and transparent election, further justified the opportunity given to each of the presidential aspirants to have a nominee on the committee.

“We wanted to go for a retired judge, but it occurred  to us that we have somebody who is as white as snow as chairman. The innovation is, we have asked aspirants to nominate members, to assure them of our transparency and we want them to be part of the process,” he said.

In his remarks, Dr Fayemi assured the national leadership that his committee will not disappoint the party faithful in its onerous assignment. He noted that the main opposition party must inspire Nigerians on its avowed commitment to due process and internal democracy.

Fayemi said: “This assignment isn’t about how, but also about who. But the ‘how’, which is the process is more important than the ‘who,’ the ultimate candidate. We must remove the doubt about our commitment to internal democracy.”