A former presidential aide, Okoi Obono-Obla, has given the newly elected national chairman of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof Nemtawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the arduous task of rebranding and re-jigging the party.
In a statement in Calabar, Obono-Obla emphasised the need for the party to be revamped so as to return to the vision and philosophy of the founders as well as embrace internal democracy.
To that extent, he noted that the constitution of the party requires urgent reform and revision of the membership of principal organs of the party.
“The APC is urgently in need of innovation, rebranding, rejigging, and fundamental reform to return to the vision and philosophy of its founding fathers.
“You must revamp the party to become inclusive and embrace internal democracy, constitutionalism, and the rule of law, giving those who wish to use it as a vehicle for elective positions in the next general election a level playing field.
“The constitution of the APC also requires urgent reform to revise the membership of principal organs of the party, such as the National Convention, National Advisory Council, National Executive Committee, State Executive, and Local Government Executive Committee.”
According to him, Yilwatda’s appointment has come at a defining moment for the APC and democracy.
He urged him to allow his tenure to usher in a new era of credibility, inclusiveness, and democratic excellence within the party.
“I greatly hope you will bring your wealth of experience earned from your multidimensional career in academia, engineering, development, politics, and governance into your role as the manager of the vast conglomerate of people in the APC.
“May your legacy reflect a party that lives up to the ideals it was founded upon and that leads by example both within Nigeria and beyond.”