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All the times Timi Frank advised APC against looming crisis

Timi Frank had cautioned the APC against looming crisis within the party which is currently at its acme. But, he was ignored.

It is no longer news that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is deep in crisis with so many dispirited party members across the country.

Infighting, attacks and counter-attacks between APC members have become common sights.

Before the crisis within the APC got to its acme, Comrade Timi Frank, deputy publicity secretary of the party, had cautioned the ruling party, severally.

He was, however, ignored.

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Frank was supposed to assume the role of APC spokesman following Lai Mohammed’s appointment as Information Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2014.

Frank was denied this position. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was appointed as APC’s national publicity secretary.

lists some of the times Frank had forewarned the APC leadership against impending danger.

Oyegun is APC’s problem

Severally, Frank expressed displeasure over the leadership style of the APC national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun.

In fact, Frank had blamed Oyegun for the crisis currently rocking the APC.

In a statement on Thursday, January 26, 2017, Frank had accused Oyegun of running the APC like a dictator.

“Oyegun is vigorously working to ensure that he expels some prominent APC members who have spoken against his dictatorial leadership style,” Frank declared.

“Oyegun's leadership has breached APC constitution several times, even as regard to national convention which the party law states clearly that it must be held every two years,” he added.

ALSO READ: All aggrieved APC blocs Asiwaju must reconcile before 2019

APC must learn from PDP’s mistakes

In an interview with Punch on Wednesday, December 28, 2016, Frank counselled the APC against making the same mistakes that led to ‘fall’ of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2015 general elections.

“I think as a party, we should not undermine the strength of this much-talked-about mega party, whether it is a rumour or not. I think we should do everything possible to defeat the move through genuine reconciliation within us,” Frank implored.

“We must remember that this is how the PDP took the APC for granted during the formation stage, and the likes of Bamanga Tukur were busy saying ‘no vacancy in Villa’, ‘PDP will rule for 60 years’; but where are they today?

“So, our national chairman should learn to reconcile aggrieved members instead of offending them the more. It has shown today that even ruling party could lose election; so, we should stop talking arrogantly because we are in power,” he entreated.

Frank tells Buhari to sack corrupt officials

Following the suspensionof the DG NIA Ayo Oke and SGF Babachir Lawal, Frank advised President Buharito sack all corrupt persons in his cabinet.

Frank believed such step would help win public trust on the Buhari-led APC government.

"Mr President should take bolder steps like this to sack all the incompetent hands in his government,” Frank said.

“Some of these actions are long overdue; it is high time President Buhari sacked all the incompetent hands in this government,”  he advised.

Why APC is broke

Sequel to the cancellation of its earlier scheduled convention over paucity of funds, Frank accused Oyegun of both corruption and mismanagement.

"Nobody will trust Chief Oyegun because of his mismanagement of party fund in the past and that is why our governors cannot release money for the party,” Frank declared.

"Like before, I'm still warning that unless Chief Oyegun resign as APC national chairman, I don't think the party can progress with this present situation.

“All prominent members of the ruling party who are still keeping quiet to speak up or else, the mismanagement might lead the party to unexpected end," he warned.

APC will lose in 2019 if…

Speaking to and other journalists in Abuja, Frank expressed fears that the APC would lose power if Oyegun was not replaced.

“Today, practically I don’t even think we have a party,” Frank said.

“The party today is in disarray, there is confusion. I think we are even more disorganized than the opposition.

“I challenge anybody who will come out and say we are not disorganized; I have every proof to show that we are even more disorganized than the opposition,” he declared.

The APC chieftain noted that the APC had died under Oyegun, who he could not win elections in his ward.

He also blamed Atiku Abubakar's exit from the APC on the "ineptitude" of its national chairman.

Frank had appealed to President Buhari and his vice, Yemi Osinbajo, to save the ruling APC.

Recently, President Buhari appointed the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved party members.

Some political analysts have described Tinubu’s new role as “mission impossible” while urging Asiwaju to reach out to Frank -- who was suspended by APC disciplinary committee on Friday, November 4, 2016 -- in his reconciliation bid.

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