By Lanre Oloyede
Chieftain of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Arc. Tunde Imolehin, has emphasized the need for the party to prioritize loyalty and competence in appointments.
In a letter addressed to APC National Chairman, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, Imolehin, a concerned party member from Ondo State, stressed the importance of rewarding dedicated party members with appointments, citing the need for a working database of loyal and employable party members.
The Ipele-born party chieftain argued that this would ensure that competent party members are given priority in appointments, rather than opposition members.
The letter also highlighted the need for federal character and merit in appointments, but emphasized that loyal party members should not be sidelined.
Imolehin warned that neglecting party loyalty could demoralize members and send the wrong signals.
He also urged the party to be mindful of allocating positions across the country, giving priority to states that have consistently supported the party, like Ondo.
Parts of the letter read:
“Our party should have a working and very efficient DATA BASE containing a list of dedicated, loyal appointable and employable men and women who are armed with the vision and mission and electoral mandate of the party (in government). This data base should be reviewed from time to time to ensure and maintain currency.
Mr Chairman, we should reward our dedicated party men and women. A few days to his inauguration, I released a document titled: 10 things before Mr. President is sworn in. In the piece (item number 3), I wrote about reward philosophy. Every official, either in government or party, must uphold this philosophy in their various places of assignment.
Mr. Chairman, we have very competent party men and women who can fill positions to drive the vision of the party in government. For every position, it is only moral and commonsensical to give a dedicated and competent APC member the first offer of refusal. Merit is important. Federal character is key. But no dedicated, loyal long-suffering competent APC member must be sidelined for opposition members when the issue of public/ political appointments comes up under our government. Anything contrary will demoralise our members in making sacrifices in the future. It will send very wrong signals, Mr. Chairman.
” I am not saying that we should not head hunt qualified non- partisan Nigerians who are equally competent. We are not even running a government of national unity. So, whatever goes right or wrong is attributed to APC. As the governing party, we inherit and own both the liabilities and assets of government.
Also, we have to be careful in allocating positions within the country even among our qualified party faithful. What sense does it make to give priority to an opposition- controlled state over Ondo, despite the latter’s successive immense and outstanding contributions to our great party.”
Imolehin’s letter comes as the party is settling into its new role in government, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration seeking to implement its “Renewed Hope Agenda”.
The letter is seen as a call to action for the party to stay true to its values and reward its loyal members.
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