The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has said the party has developed serious cracks which if not properly managed can lead to crisis and subsequent loss of its hard-earned popularity.
On the worry expressed by the national leadership of the party over difficulties in getting a suitable individual for the spokesman position since the former National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, left to serve as minister, Frank said such fears were unfounded.
Speaking with journalists yesterday at his residence in Abuja on the brewing crisis in the party, especially with regard to the tussle for influence in his home state (Bayelsa) chapter of APC, Frank said there are lingering intra-party disagreements even though the leadership was pretending otherwise.
According to him, the national leadership appears not to be doing much to harmonise the aggrieved persons interests so that the party can move forward.
“If anybody should tell you that there is no division even at the national level, they’re telling lies, I can tell you there are issues, there are very critical issues. The issue of the senate president is still lingering, nobody is saying anything at the national level but I tell you, any Nigerian that knows will tell you very clearly that with the body language of our party as at today, if we are not careful, we are going to lose our popularity,” he said.
The deputy spokesman warned that the party and everyone who has sacrificed to lift it up will become the loser if nothing is done to arrest the widening division within the ranks of members.
“It will be a big disgrace that we have hands that are not competent at the centre to harmonise the aggrieved persons and make us move forward.
“So there is crisis in the party. If anybody says there is no crisis, it is a lie. We have many divisions right now within the party, so I won’t be scared to speak. That is my personal opinion and I have spoken again and I will continue to speak out.
“I have nothing to worry about, in a matter of short time, this will come to play out. I spoke of problem in my state, Bayelsa, but people ignored me. I am speaking again, it would happen soon at the national level that these things we are sweeping or hiding have started already,” he said.
The embattled former Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that as far as he was concerned, he remains the acting spokesman for APC and would continue to function in that capacity pending when a convention is held to elect a substantive officer.
“Let me take you back to the issue of acting or not acting, I’m still insisting and making it clear that I’m the acting publicity secretary of APC. I’m saying it without fear or favour. I’m the acting spokesperson of the party.
“Those persons in the party who do not want me to speak, Nigerians will start asking them questions anytime soon, but I’m on top of my game and I can tell you its not something I have to beg or lobby anybody or beg any chairman who calls himself national chairman.
“I don’t have any national chairman to beg, I don’t have anybody to lobby to get this position, its automatic except the party wants to portray itself as undemocratic or a party does not follow due process. If this party is a party that follows due process, I don’t need to beg, and that is why I continue to insist I will not beg or lobby anybody.
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