The All Progressives Congress says plans are underway to compensate members of the party in Rivers state following complaints from members of party.
National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje disclosed this in a statement when he received leaders and stakeholders of the party from Rivers state, led by Tonye Cole and Hon. Dakuku Peterside.
He said, “There is no doubt Rivers State is a very important state. It is a swing state for election in Nigeria. It is an oil rich state which is important not only to the state but to the nation. The population is there and it is important during the election. The enlightenment for people to come out for election which is important.
“In Port Harcourt, we had convention and I knew the crowd and it is still ringing in my head. We know how important your state is in politics. So, we assure you the founding members of APC in Rivers State, we know how much you suffered. We cannot allow your sufferings to wither away like that. We will do all our best to protect you. Compensation in politics is very important. So, we assure you, we are taking this up for consideration. We have your leadership. The gubernatorial candidate is here. The party chairman and other calibre of members are here.
“APC as we know, in Rivers State, very many of you left the party to form another party, to contest, but I think with this your determination to rebuild the party, we urge you to create an even environment, to keep your doors open, so that those who left the party no matter how big they are in another party, where they went for sabbatical leave, let them come back to their original base – to their original employers. You know you can go on sabbatical leave and after a year, you come back. Create an even environment so that they can come back to the party.
“Also, some people who have not been in the party but are in another. We will also like them to join the party. You will keep your doors open as well because what we need is to rebuild our party so that we become solid. The original members of APC as we told you in APC in Rivers State will always remain the backbone of the party. But you need to keep your house in order and solid. You need to open your house for others to come so that we build the state because it is better to be a servant in paradise than to be a king in hell.
“For this compensation, we will take it very seriously. If there is any general policy that has affected that, then we should take note for compensation in that respect.
