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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The chairman of BUA Group, AbdulSamad Rabiu, has rejected his nomination to serve as a member of the finance committee set up by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rabiu declined the offer in a statement issued by his company, on Friday.
The statement noted that the billionaire industrialist prefers to be apolitical.
Rabiu, a close ally of President Bola Tinubu, was nominated by the party to serve as a member of a finance committee constituted on Friday.
He was nominated into the 34-member committee alongside some businessmen and top party members.
But the statement by BUA Group said the ruling party did not consult Rabiu before including his name in the list.
“It is important to note that our Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu and BUA Group have consistently adopted an apolitical stance over the years. This approach is integral to the nature of our business and aligns with Mr. Rabiu’s focus on fostering economic growth through BUA Group’s initiatives and philanthropic efforts through ASR Africa.
“With respect to this, we wish to inform the publishers, our partners, stakeholders, and the general public that Mr. Rabiu has decided to graciously decline the nomination/appointment. This decision is made in light of the fact that he was not previously consulted regarding his inclusion in the list and his inability to commit time due to his demanding schedule,” it said.
According to the list, the finance committee will be chaired by Uguru Ofoke while Bashir Gumel will serve as the secretary.
Other notable members include the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; oil magnate, A.A. Rano, as well as businessmen, Mohammed Indimi, Kunle Soname and Tein Jack Rich.
Other committees were also constituted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party after its meeting at the national secretariat in Abuja.
The former interim chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, is to head a conflict and reconciliation committee of the party, with former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, as deputy chairman and Nkem Okeke as the secretary of the committee.
The APC National Secretary, Dr Ajibola Basiru, heads a nine-member committee on establishment.
The Inter-Governmental Committee with 26 members is chaired by Emma Eneukwu, the APC Deputy National Chairman (South).
According to a statement signed by the National Secretary of the party, Ajibola Basiru, all the committees will be inaugurated on December 6, at the national secretariat of the party.
See the list of commitees below: