The Chairman of the All Progressive Congress Presidential Screening Committee, Chief John Oyegun has on Friday, revealed the reasons the Screening Committee pruned the number of Presidential aspirants from 28 to 13.
Oyegun in a statement he signed on Friday, noted that the party would have gone a little shorter than 13 but decided to allow the party to decide who their preferred candidate will be.
He said, “First, we had 23 member aspirants that we interacted with. And my first comment is that we were very occupant. Those were 23 that presented themselves. We had a lot of others, prominent Nigerians both within and outside the country that had applied but for whatever reason, could not proceed with their applications.
“The second point I want to make is that we were surprised at the active participation of the youthful members of the party. Some of them surprised us with what they have accomplished in life, their understanding of the situation in this country and why they want to have the privilege of governing this country. What was important was that they so believed in the country and the party that they were able to pay the sum that some of us considered princely handsome to participate in the process. And I think the party ought to path itself in the back for them.”
Oyegun reeled out criteria on which candidates were screened, and stated that “Aside from the basic background, experience and understanding of the Nigerian situation, the ideas as to how issues, difficulties and problems can be addressed were key factors that were considered.”
He said, our report is simple and short. I don’t want to beat the bush. There were two aspects to it.
“The basic constitutional qualifications for you to aspire to be a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That was simple.
“And on that basis, every single aspirant that presented himself qualified. Because it was basic and simple. But we are a governing party. And we are keen on continuing the process and replacing the proper time with our president with yet another member of the party.
“So, the ability to lead, background, experience and understanding of the Nigerian situation, your ideas as to how issues, difficulties and problems can be addressed and how the country can be moved forward became a critical consideration. It is on that basis who are you, what have you achieved, your understanding of the nation and what things you can contribute to moving the nation forward. It was on this basis that we made our final shortlist. I don’t list the names. “
Explaining why the number of aspirants was pruned to 13, Oyegun noted that, it could have been shorter but it left for the party to decide who their preferred candidate will be and especially to showcase “the calibre of people within the party”
He said, “We have a shortlist which brought the number down to 13. We could have cut it a little shorter. But we wanted a pedigree with a longer element to surface. For them to be seen whether to be noticed, who knows? We hand them over to the party. And it is for the party to decide who their preferred candidate will be.
“It is also an opportunity to showcase the kind of people that exist within the party with their usefulness and kind of experience.”
Oyegun noted that the party has allowed young people whom he described as “having achieved a lot for themselves with depth knowledge of the situation in the country.
According to Oyegun, APC will “Let the world know that this is a party that cares for the young and a party when we say the young can aspire, we mean it. And this has been showcased in the report that we have written.”
On where the party should zone its presidential ticket, Oyegun cautions the leadership of the party, saying the party’s leadership should rethink its decision as it has its implications but stressed that 98 per cent of the party members accept the party’s supremacy.
He said, “I will conclude by saying that we only drew a word of caution. That there is this cleavage that I gradually becoming the Centre stage in the national discourse. As between the north and the south and the presidency. And we just want to advise strongly that the party should please think of it in making its decision, address it and let it influence their thoughts because it has its own implicit.
“Against every aspirants, the issue of consensus and it is pleasant surprise that 98 to 99% agreed that the party is supreme. And that whatever the party finally decides with proper consultation, they will likely to accept. We had only one exception who said yes, he will accept consensus so long as it is build on him. So, I think it is a point that needs to be made and emphasize. So, that gives you a lot of leeway in the days and hours ahead to trim down even more drastically. But, finally we think you should not be afraid for a contested primary if anybody insist on the contest.”
