A former Senator, Olabiyi Durojaiye, has blamed “powerful forces” for the ongoing crisis in the All Progressives Congress, APC.

A statement he issued yesterday noted that the goodwill being enjoyed nationally and internationally by the party was not going well with some persons.

‘‘I think the way out is to recognise that there are some powerful elements who do not want the programme of change designed by the APC to succeed,” he said.

“So, we should look at the bigger picture and the tremendous goodwill the APC and the government are enjoying nationally and internationally.

“We should not allow the temptations fanned by the opponents of progress and change to lure us into a crisis that may shift our attention from our laudable goal.’’

Durojaiye in his reaction to recent events at the National Assembly said he believed that party directives should always be respected but in exceptional cases.

Continuing, he said, ‘‘In the circumstances in which we are, it may be wiser to apply the Latin phrase ‘festina lente’– (make haste slowly) so that opponents may not ridicule us for inability to handle our brilliant success. For any ‘strong hammer remedy’ or firm insistence on our right may be counter-productive on the long run.’’

Advising the party to thread softly so as not to be distracted, Durojaiye said, “for example, the party leaders and elders may decide to caution the Senate President but allow him to retain his position while we insist on all true lovers of progress for Nigeria to persuade the Deputy Senate President to voluntarily resign his position while retaining his seat as an ordinary member of the Senate? His former boss – Senator David Mark has shown some leadership in this direction by not angling for any position.’’

Durohaiye also described as “absurd and unjustifiable” the sharing of top positions in the Senate among the Peoples Democratic Party and the APC, even when the former did not allow power sharing with the opposition when it was in power for 16 years.