The All Progressives Congress (APC) legacy members and founding State Chairmen have told the leadership of the party that their loyalty and commitment to the party was waning without appointments and encouragement.
The party stakeholders under the aegis of G37 represents the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking on behalf of the group, former State Chairman of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Comrade Cletus Obum made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with leadership of the party.
He recalled that the history of the merger did not start with the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) and the new People Democratic Party (PDP).
Obum revealed that it was the former National Chairman of defunct Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), late Alex Ameh, that received the faction of Bola Tinubu’s Alliance for Democracy when the merger talks commenced.
Obum stated: “It began as far back as 2004. By September 2006, the merger process had produced the Action Congress (AC), taking the “A” from Advanced and the “C” from Congress. Later that year, on December 22 at the Blue Roof in Ikeja, the “N” was added, giving birth to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ahead of the 2007 general election.
“At that time, Atiku Abubakar, then Vice President, joined forces with the opposition. He went to court 14 times with the support of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the leader of the opposition.
“You know the hardship endured by the pioneers of the legacy parties that eventually formed the APC—ACN, CPC, the new PDP and others.”
Obum recalled that their members have always been deployed to states where elections are held, including off-cycle governorship elections, adding that they believe that tradition should continue.
He noted: “We are neither asking for special recognition nor undue patronage. However, it is unfortunate that among the 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives, very few are legacy members of the party.
“A stream must never forget its source. When pioneers are neglected, loyalty is weakened and younger politicians begin to believe that politics is merely transactional.”
Obum stressed that Tinubu taught them a different lesson after leaving office as Governor of Lagos State in 2007, saying he never demanded any position for himself, instead, he supported others.
He said he backed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2007 and later encouraged late Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition without insisting on
Obum noted that even after 2019, he did not demand ministerial appointments but continued promoting those who had worked with him.
He said while he believed that the same spirit should continue, those who built this party should not be left standing outside the corridors of power.
His words: “Through you, we hope this message reaches Mr. President and the National Chairman. This Secretariat cannot be complete if the people who built the party are left grumbling, struggling and forgotten.
“The men and women you see here are people of proven capacity. They have endured hardship and remained loyal to the party. But no one can continue indefinitely without encouragement. As the saying goes, an empty sack cannot stand upright.
“We therefore appeal to you to continue advocating for them. This is not about division. It is about recognising those who built the house so they are not left outside in the rain.
“Even if only a fraction of these members are given opportunities, it will go a long way in strengthening loyalty and commitment. If we truly believe in that ideology, we must demonstrate it by caring for our own members,” Obum said.
Responding, APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Ben Nwoye said they have not been forgotten, saying they should remain steadfast.
He also pleaded with them not to become discouraged to the point of stepping aside.