At an interaction with the press on Tuesday in Abuja, a former Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Sunny Moniedafe, declared his intention to present himself for service as National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) during the party’s convention which is expected to come up in a few months’ time.
“Good afternoon gentlemen of the press, I just walked in here to give you a word or two knowing how important you are to us as a nation”,Moniedafe said.
” I feel obliged to address you because you are the ones that dispense messages across the world. My name is Sunny Sylvester Moniedafe. I’m an Urhobo from Adamawa State. As you can see with this my turban now I will be made the Jagaban of Jimeta on the 11th of September. I’m coming to this party because I will bring something unique in the party.
Stressing the need to emphasise nationality over ethnicity, he said he was born 65 years ago from Adamawa. “My father was from Delta, I am in my 23rd year in Abuja so I tell people ( I am) Delta by origin, Adamawa by birth, Abuja by residence -23 years in Abuja I’ve been here- what are we talking about where are you from?
“They might bring it up, I assure you that I’m not worried I want to make a statement. I will buy the form and I will go there and I will contest; I will make my intention known to the whole world right there at the Eagle Square. If I get it fine, if I don’t get it I move on. I’m a Nigerian. We must change the narrative in this country, any small issue we have we recline into our our ethnic religious enclaves, it doesnt bode us well, we must change the narratives.
“So I’m here to offer myself to serve this country, this party to make Nigeria a better place, make Nigeria a peaceful place and I’m happy with what is happening all over the world now. In the past some people will say anything the president does, we report it to the United Nations, US, UK or what ever. We can see the kind of disjointed functions in those countries, they are in a mess. What does that tell us? If we get things right in Nigeria things will work – it is not rocket science and it will start from administering the party.
He said he would, if given the chance, run the party in a more business- like fashion where such principles as punctuality are brought to bear.
” With due respect we have to change our narratives. As party chairman I’m coming to work at a given time, 10 o’clock for example. Dont say you are coming and then 2 o’clock we’ve not seen you. You must come to work and administer the party like a business. This country needs to be saved.
According to Moniedafe, one of his strong points is his experience in running parties from local to national level.
Asked about his chances of becoming Chairman if the party zones its Presidential ticket to the South, since he is from the South- South, Moniedafe replied “I’m telling people proudly that I’m Urhobo from Adamawa State, a Southerner in Adamawa, which means I want that issue of zoning to be put aside and think about competence, acceptability, sellability.
“Nigerians are given titled positions in America, they win election as governors, mayors and council members across the world why are we going back to this where are you coming from in Nigeria.
“It might not work with me, I keep telling people a journey of a thousand miles, the popular saying is that it starts with a mile but I’ve redefined it, it starts with an idea. It has started. That movement – If I’m the national chairman we can tell the world that this man is from Nigeria not North or South.
On his position as to whether the Buni team should remain in office at the helm of affairs in the party or not, his reply was” I cannot talk against this current leadership” but also added “Yobe is totally APC state, I didn’t see anybody defeating Mai Mala Buni come 2023 so he has four years from then and two years from now.
He also refused to be drawn into the debate on the presidential aspirations of the party’s Leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, saying he cannot speak for either of them.