May 10, 2018

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Fouad Oki, says the Broom United Movement (BUM), which he formed within the party, is not an antagonistic group.

Oki told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that the group was formed to promote internal democracy in the party.

He said that membership of the group extends beyond Lagos State to more than 16 states of the federation and it was put in place to ensure things are done in the right manner.

“I formed the Broom United Movement to ensure the right thing is done in the party; it is not an antagonistic group.

“In fact, we have over 200,000 members across more than 16 states of the federation and these are verified members.

“The objective is to promote democracy. Those having issues with us are people who don’t want the right thing to be done,” he said.

Oki, who is seeking cancellation of ward congress results in Lagos, denied that he had been suspended by the party as state Vice-Chairman (Lagos Central), but admitted that an attempt was made.

He said that when the move was made to suspend him, a national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu stopped it.

According to him, there is the need for urgent intervention to save the party from being messed up by some interests.

Oki said he was shocked that some people had attacked his personality for expressing his view on the congresses.

He described the press conference called by some chieftains on Monday attacking him for his call for results cancellation as disappointing.

“However, all that will not deter me from doing the right thing .I will continue to insist on the right thing until things change at the chapter,’’ Oki said.

On whether he would contest for state chairmanship of the party, Oki gave an evasive response.

He said he had never on his own sought offices but was always called to serve.

Oki, who described himself as an apostle of “Buharism”, said the president had acquitted himself remarkably well as leader.

He also commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for his strides in the state.

Oki said he was the Director-General of Ambode Campaign Organisation in 2015, and his time as the promoter of the governor then was one of the remarkable moments of his political life.