APC: South-south caucus backs Oshiomhole

Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

The South-South caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned that it would resist any attempt by forces within the party that are working to remove the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as National Chairman of the party. The caucus, which made the statement during a meeting called by the Vice National Chairman (South-South) of the party, Hillard Eta, in Abuja, also passed a vote of confidence on Oshiomhole, even as it appointed the Deputy Senate President as the leader of the party in the South-South region.

It further resolved to inaugurate committees that will work to find lasting solutions to the crises within the party’s chapters in Edo, Rivers and Cross River states. One of the leaders of the party at the meeting, Chief Don Etiebet, who vowed that the people of the zone would not tolerate attempt to remove the National Chairman, wondered “what has he done if not for the fact that he is bringing discipline into the party. Oshiomhole has brought stability, success so far in the APC and why will anyone want him out if not for their personal gains or looking for a stooge they can control. I want to commend our President, Muhammadu Buhari for the support he has been giving to our son Oshiomhole and the South-South.

“The position of the National Chairman is zoned to the South-South and no outsider will come and dictate for us who will be our chairman. With the dogged effort of Oshiomhole we are able to win Bayelsa State which has not happened before. That is why we believe that there is nobody today that can do better than what Oshiomhole is doing and that is why we are urging outsiders to stay off and leave Oshiomhole alone. We cannot go back to the days where the party lost its winning mentality and it was controlled by a cabal of governors. Oshiomhole has brought party supremacy and discipline and that is the only way APC can survive” he said.

Read Also: Shuaibu to Oshiohmole: resign, you lack capacity to lead APC

Also speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Omo-Agege, commended Oshiomhole for the party’s victory in Bayelsa State, noting “it was not a tea party to remove the candidate of a sitting governor”. “It was a difficult contest but we all came together to make history and we won Bayelsa State. I want to also speak on the recent moves by some persons to remove the National Chairman, let me state that the position of the National Chairman is a very key position zoned to the South-South. It is our position and I have always maintained that it is we who will decide that we don’t want our chairman and not outsiders.”

Among those at the meeting were Senator Ndoma Egba, Senator Ita Enang, Chief Umanah Umanah, Great Ogboru, Chairman Designate in the NDDC Board, Dr. Pius Odubu, Senator Francis Alimekhena and other National Assembly members from the zone. Minister of State Petroleum, Timipreye Sylva, Governor Elect Bayelsa State, David Lyon, Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, Senator Magnus Abbe, sent their apologies.