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Tag: Edo APC

  • Edo APC holds reschedule primaries Saturday

    Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress is in the race to beat the October 7 deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct of party primaries.

    It has fixed Saturday for a repeat of the State and National Assembly primaries that was earlier held on Thursday.

    The primaries was cancelled following complaints by some aspirants that the primaries were skewed in favour of some anointed candidates now known as ‘Establishment Candidates’.

    Chairmman of the APC National Working Committee panel for the Edo primaries, Hajia Farida Suleiman, announced this on Friday night after a meeting with all aspirants.

    Farida said the primaries would now hold on Saturday from 10am.

    State Chairman of the Edo APC, Barr. Anslem Ojezua said a five-man committee has been set up in each local government for the conduct of the primaries.

    Ojezua stated that the committee would in turn appoint Returning Officers in every Ward in line with the party’s guidelines.

    He said the party would make use of option A4 to conduct the elections.

    His words, “Fundamental issues were raised as to the legality of the process arising from the absence of the National Working Committee to supervise the process.

    “That can raise a lot of legal issue. In Edo, we lost a seat in the assembly to such things. What we have done is to solve our political problem in a political manner rather than waiting for judicial interpretation.

    “We will try to ensure that everything is done peacefully.”

  • Edo APC: 608,000 members to vote in direct primaries

    About 600,000 members of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State are expected to participate in the party’s primaries to elect candidates for the Senate in the three Senatorial districts in the state.

    In the presidential primaries held last Friday, 505,827 members of the Edo APC participated in the primaries.

    The leadership of the party has opted to use direct primaries in Edo after consensus arrangement failed.

    Aspirants contesting for the APC ticket in Edo South are Hon Patrick Obahiagbon and Erhabor Emokpae.

    Read Also: Eight aspirants withdraw from Kwara governorship primary

    In Edo Central, the contest is between Hon Patrick Ikhariale and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. John Inegbedion while Deputy Whip of the Senate, Senator Francis Alimekhena is to be returned unopposed after other aspirants stepped down.

    Secretary to the Igueben local government, Mr. John Inegbedion, said the party is ready for the primaries in the locality.

  • ‘No imposition of candidates by Edo APC’

    Senate Deputy Chief Whip and the lawmaker representing Edo North, Senator Francis Alimikhena, has dismissed reports of imposition of candidates by the Edo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The senator, who is seeking the party’s ticket to return to the upper chamber, said in a statement by his media aide, Benjamin Atu that the leadership of the party in the state did not deny anyone who wanted to contest any position the opportunity to do so.

    Reacting to an advertorial in Friday edition of The Nation, signed by Anamero Sunday Dekeri, who claimed to be an aspirant for Edo North senatorial seat on APC’s platform, he said it was within the right of Dekeri to contest the election and go through the primaries.

    Senator Alimikhena said only the primaries could determine the party’s candidate, adding that trying to portray the party as anti-democratic was immoral.

    He said it was within the right of Dekeri to contest any position he so wished.

    Alimikhena said as a loyal party man, he was not scared of primaries, as he could defeat Dekeri and any other aspirant, noting that there was no pressure from anywhere.

    He said he was neither afraid of primary election nor the general election, as he remained a grassroots politician, who related well with his constituents.

    “Therefore, I cannot be afraid of any politician or political contest.”

    The aspirant questioned Dekeri’s membership of the party and his contribution to the growth of APC in his local government and the state.

    He said: “When you want to contest an election on the platform of a party, you have to join the party formally.”

    Asking him to take advantage of the ongoing membership registration to formally register and join APC, Senator Alimikhena said Dekeri did not understand the workings of the National Assembly by alleging that he caused the crisis between the party and caused crisis at the National Assembly.

    He told Dekeri that he never betrayed the party or caused crisis in the National Assembly, “as I have always remained a party man, one of the most loyal party members in the National Assembly, a bridge builder within and outside the party, as well as at the National Assembly.

  • 2019: Edo APC battling with defection

    Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has been hit by a gale of defections. Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR examines the challenge of reconciliation in the chapter.

    There is an uneasy calm in the ruling All Progressives Congress in Edo State. The party leadership has been rattled by the gale of defections that has hit the party in the last two weeks. Many party leaders who have grudges with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s style of governance and lack of political patronage are gradually leaving the APC. There are fears that the defection may cause implosion in Edo APC.

    Besides, aggrieved APC chieftains and some political appointees, especially commissioners, are also not happy with Obaseki. To many of them, they are just overseeing ministries while Special Advisers are given more privileges and recognition.

    During last year’s celebration of Obaseki’s one year anniversary, APC members openly demanded for stomach infrastructure. In fact, many of them walked away when Obaseki mounted the podium to speak.

    Obaseki had made a bold statement when he came to power that he would separate politics from governance. He told APC leaders that the Government House was not a bank and a place to discuss or settle party matters. He also barred politicians from entering Government House without invitation. One of the reasons the former Deputy Woman of the APC, Mrs. Tina Agbarha, gave for defecting to the PDP was that she cannot see the Governor.

    Those that have defected included Chief Osamede Adun, popularly known as Bob Izua, a former member of the House of Representatives, Harrison Omagbon and his wife, Lucy and immediate past Chairman of Ovia Northeast Local Government Area.

    The defectors who are members of the Edo Kwankwasiyan Movement did not wait for the reconciliation proposed by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Omagbon however, said  Oshiomhole tried to reconcile aggrieved members, but that things became worst as hard as Oshiomhole tried.

    The former council boss said some persons were bent on destroying the APC, which was why she returned to her former party.

    She said: “I don’t have anything against the person of Adams Oshiomhole. It has happened. He has so many issues to concern himself with. He has tried to do his best in reconciling every one in Edo. The more he tries, but the moment he leaves, the worst it becomes.

    “Self respect matters a lot in politics. We got to the APC but we discovered that what we were subjected to was unimaginable.

    “We were marginalised and did not know what was happening in the scheme of things. We did not know what was happening in various wards and local government. I didn’t have answers to my people on what was happening.”

    In June, a chieftain of the APC in Uhunmwode and former Political Adviser to Oshiomhole, Mr. Charles Idahosa, made the first move by announcing his suspension of further participation in APC activities. Idahosa in a statement he said, he was not dumping the APC, but take a break “in order to carry out a deeper surgical analysis from a detached point of view”.

    Idahosa noted that the facts that informed the actions of the Edo APC in recent times were strange to him and that he had struggled to come to terms with those facts and the consequential actions of the party.

    He said: “Given the present state of affairs, I have decided to suspend active political partisan participation in the state. I believe the period will afford me the opportunity to seek an enlightened perspective of the issues, consult widely for clarifications where need be and take more informed position on the politics of Edo state.

    “For every decision, there are consequences and possibilities. Yet, when a dog begins to bark at its owner, the dog owner should strut around in caution. That is the sobering epiphany of the present time.”

    Idahosa later rescinded his decision after intervention by Oshiomhole. In a chat with reporters in Bénin City, the state capital, last week Idahosa, who begged aggrieved APC members not to defect, said the APC needed to work towards winning next year’s election now that Oshiomhole is the national chairman of the party.

    Idahosa said it was a shame that people are defecting from the APC when President Mohammadu Buhari is performing, adding that the solution to political problems is not defection, but reconciliation for future victory.

    He said: “Nobody should start threatening that we want to leave because we have a lot of work to do, considering the fact that the President of this country, Muhammadu Buhari, is doing very well.

    “Whether kings are dying or queens are mourning, Buhari is coming back as president of this country come 2019. Our son, Adams Oshiomhole, is the national chairman. What shame will it be, if he succeeds in doing all the job in 36 states of the federation and Edo State is in disarray?

    “You cannot leave this party for anybody because it is not their property when we voted. Did you see anybody’s name in the ballot paper? There is no Independent candidature here. All these things we are seeing is temporary and not enough to destroy the party.

    Idahosa added: “I have heard all kinds of rumours that Charles Idahosa wants to leave the party. Who am I going to leave the party for when I am a founding member of this party? That we disagree does not necessary decamping and all the rest of them. This party is not owned by anybody. Nobody is bigger than the party, the party is owned by the members and the leadership.

    “Those in government, those running the party from the secretariat are not the owners of this party and I want our people to know that the party belong to us. Those of us who started this party way back in 2004 as AD, AC, ACN, we knew what we went through to get here so we are not going to fold our arms and allow the behaviour of a few individuals to bring down the party and rubbish all the successes we have achieved over the years.”

    The lawmaker representing Ikpoba-Okha/Egor in the House of Representatives, Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima who also appealed to the aggrieved leaders not to defect, said the time of harvest is already near.

    Agbonnayima said the Edo APC has been infiltrated by some members of PDP who are causing trouble.

    His words: “There are also some genuine APC members who are aggrieved. It is a matter of time.

    “We have to let our members know that they have to be patience. The governor is working and a lot of opportunities will come. They should not leave now that harvest time is here. They have worked and sweated for the party and the food has matured.

    “There are many job opportunities available; a lot of contracts to be awarded. The Governor has said they should wait. Oshiomhole as the National Chairman will create opportunity for Edo people.

    “There are a lot of opportunities, especially the space filled by PDP members. APC is in government, but PDP is the one ruling. That is why they are derailing the will of progress of Mr. President. They are still doing the PDP agenda. That agenda is to pocket the money to the detriment of all Nigerians. I am appealing to them to be patient.”

    The grouse of the aggrieved APC leaders, according to sources, include alleged abandonment by Obaseki, hijacking of the party structures in their locality, non-constitution board members in ministries and MDAs, non-payment for jobs done for previous administrations and giving jobs to people who do not pay taxes in the state.

    Last month, a former revenue agent to the government, Mr. Tony Kabaka, led hundreds of APC youths to speak out against Obaseki and warned him not to allow the APC loose future elections in the state because of his style of governance and policies.

    Kabaka said that no neglected party members would want to work for the APC.

    He added: “Everything that the Oba of Bénin told Obaseki to do by creating jobs through good agricultural policies and neighborhood watch.

    “Oshiomhole will only threaten to jail you but, under Obaseki, many APC leaders have been sent to prison before questions are asked.

    “What happened in Ekiti should be an example to Obaseki. All the jobs in the state have no local contents. They are given to foreigners. If Odubu were governor, we would not have received these insults.”

    A chieftain of the APC, who pleaded anonymity, described the gang up against Obaseki as a terrible situation. He said it is difficult to access the governor or demand for payment for the jobs they have done.

    According to him, “Our politics is leadership driven. These leaders Obaseki is ignoring have followers. They depend on politics to survive. How do they go to their communities to ask people to vote for the APC. A lot of them are regretting not voting in Odubu or Ogiemwonyi.”

    Obaseki’s supporters however, said those aggrieved are change. They said the old order of Adams Oshiomhole era cannot work in present day realities.

    A top government official, who asked not to be named, said Obaseki is unperturbed by the rantings of the aggrieved APC members. He explained that Oshiomhole adopted a style now being used to measure  Obaseki because of the need to dismantle the opposition.

    The official noted that, if Oshiomhole had not succeeded in dismantling the opposition, Obaseki would not have been enjoying the present political environment.

    State Secretary of the APC secretary, Lawrence Okah, said the party machinery would sort the issues out, but warned that it would not be business as usual.

    He said: “To correct things is not easy. Some people are not used to change. We will sort it out. We are working on reconciliation and harmonisation.

    “It is difficult for people to embrace change. When there is a change in the system, people will find it a problem to enbrace that. We cannot continue with the way things were done in the past because it cannot take us anywhere. A situation where somebody will sit down somewhere and be expecting largesse without working. Enabling environment has been created and is still being created.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Jimoh Ijegbai, said a situation where somebody thinks himself a grand commander of some youths and therefore will get free money is gone and gone forever.

    “Look at the industrial park and the estate we are building, people are going to work there. Last year, we decided to use technology to drive collection of revenue. We have crossed the N200m mark monthly from N30m. These are monies some persons think  it was their right to collect.”

    “They collect and don’t remit to government. You don’t expect that you will not face challenges. The main thing is for people to key into the change agenda and leverage on whatever they are going to do. If you look at the party situation, those who belong to political parties are small fragment of the entire society. The people are appreciative of what Obaseki is doing.”

    Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said what Governor Obaseki is doing is for the benefit of Edo man and that Edo people are happy that law and order has been entrenched.

    According to him, “Obaseki administration is for the ordinary Edo people who do not know the way to Government House. Obaskei is here for the common man. Obaseki will not negotiate the well being of the common Edo people.

    “The people who went to prison were prosecuted according to the Laws of the land. If you run foul of the law, it does not matter who you are, the laws must catch up with you. All those who ran foul of the law must be brought to book no matter whether you are in APC or PDP. The primary aim of Obaseki is to entrench law and order. There must be law and order for the society to grow

    “In good political climes, empowerment is not harassing people to collect money. If you have a trade or a skill, there is opportunity for you in this government. We employed people in innovation hub, civil service, public works department. Youths are being empowered. The question is do you have any value to offer? Days are gone when money was being thrown around for no value offered. The Governor has helped by establishing relationships with people that will create jobs. Empowerment does not mean going into government to give out government treasury.”

    End

     

  • Edo APC: governor’s failure signal to Wike

    THE Edo State All Progressive Congress (APC) has said the failure of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose in last Saturday’s governorship election was a signal to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and other People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors in the Southsouth region.

    It said it would take the lead in next year’s general elections for all the Southsouth states to come under the APC.

    Its State Secretary, Mr. Lawrence Okah, who spoke in a chat with reporters, urged Nigerians to stop believing what he termed rumors and lies the PDP posted on the social media during the conduct of Ekiti State governorship polls.

    Okah stated that the victory of the APC was a signal that the party is ready to win other states in the Southsouth region.

    According to him, “The APC is the party to beat in any election. We went to Ekiti to defect an incumbent. With Ekiti victory, we have taken over the Southwest. Our next journey is the Southsouth.

    “All those things you hear from the social media will not stop the APC to ensuring that the right thing is done.

    “Only a mental person could do what Fayose has done to announce election results. Any sane person knows that only INEC has the powers to announce election result. The FG should send Fayose to a psychiatrist.”

    Chief of Staff to Governor Godwin Obaseki Mr. Taiwo Akerele said the people of Ekiti State have demonstrated that they were deceived by Fayose’s stomach infrastructure.

    “You recall that four years ago, this same man was cheated by the ruling PDP out of power and he didn’t complain. He accepted and he moved on but today, the people of Ekiti State have realised that they were cheated and deceived by stomach infrastructure and they have come back and re-elected the man because they have confidence in him.”

  • The evolution of Edo APC and Obasekism

    In consonance with the declaration of progressive continuity from his successor, Governor Obaseki   is nurturing a new culture of service and principle of governance in Edo State.  The direction being paved by the Governor was honestly articulated in his pre and post election pronouncements- it was clear that the new administration was going to adopt a substantial shift in the economic and fiscal management-style of the state.

    The trajectory of Obaseki ‘s contemplation were insurmountably logical. As the inheritor of a uniquely formidable political structure, Obaseki forthrightly concluded that Edo people should equally become legatees of a powerful economic sector.   Ex-Governor Oshionmhole had undoubtedly eviscerated the flaky remnants of PDP opposition in the state and evolved an enviable APC brand. In his conception of progressive continuity Obaseki sought to cultivate the fertile political lands of Edo APC into a dominant South –South economic power house.  Without loss of time, the citizenry of Edo State are beginning to see the results of the combined science of technocracy and the art of political management. Indeed, Edo people across all the senatorial zones, local governments and wards are today confidently locating themselves in the new inclusive economic map of opportunities for which the Governor is tirelessly working.

    From the micro to larger economic initiatives and projects, Obaseki is justifiably ambitious in projecting the state for leadership in the first half of the 21st Century. However, is the magnificent horizon of Governor Obaseki in the same planet with those of the ‘’entrenched leaders’’ of Edo State who are stagnated in the quagmire of yester years politics? Is Obaseki’s definition of manifesting the dividends of democracy in alignment with the viewpoint of some party chieftains especially those of the Edo South Senatorial extraction? Whereas the strategic focus of the Governor is in the orbit of locating Edo State in the arena of global economic competition, a segment of the so-called leaders still conceive of the state as a predominantly ’’ civil service  enclave’’; a region that is cursed to be a perpetual and helpless client of Federal Government  fiscal allocations. While Governor Obaseki draws the contours of the rapid digital economy, a cabal of disgruntled supposed political big wigs  are still stuck with imageries of ‘’Agbegilodos’’ (  junkyard –grade ,snail-speed moving  timber-carrying trucks) stumbling on the rugged terrains of the old Benin-City. Should any group of altruistic leaders not be more enthusiastic and celebrating the recent initiation of information, communication technology (ICT) hub where about 30 internationally certified companies are expected to begin operation in Benin? For the APC chieftains who genuinely care about the future of youths in their constituencies, is the ICT endeavor not the kind of project that they should proudly rally around? – an initiative that opens a whole new world of opportunities to our endowed  tech-savvy youths  whose dreams of becoming successes in the field will now be fulfilled  with the  hub.  Unfortunately, the party leaders who are so addicted to the game of insatiable self gratification and ‘executive pan-handling’ cannot see the rainbow rising for the marginalized youths in their constituencies with such endeavors. Hence a handful of assumed APC chieftains are threatening to recoil from party activities and perhaps decamp.

    In the progressive reform agenda of the Governor, it is more urgent to rehabilitate roads, to boost commerce, to reposition the state in agriculture and agro-industry and expand job opportunities. Obaseki is devoting energy to rejuvenating the dignity of Edo’s humanity by initiating programs to discourage migration of our young women and men from embarking on precarious journeys to Europe. It is Obaseki’s conviction that the sacred obligation of governance is to advance the social and economic interest of the whole society and not to indulge a club of party leaders with decadent patronages. Undoubtedly, this is a strange new order especially for those party leaders who have become irredeemably accustomed to the cocktails of endless pampering from the Government House.  Particularly in the PDP era, the Government House had acquired the sully image of a  daily convention center for idle self-ascribed   political leaders shamelessly  lining up to share  what they considered a state booty . Often times, the large presence of the gang and parade of such political opportunists mostly become a distraction to the serious business of governance. Of course under the 1999 to 2008 Sodom and Gomorrah years of PDP, such scandalous and odorous conduct was characteristically acceptable. The only ‘’ serious’’ business of government under the PDP regime was how to ‘’ share the money’’ except that the money in reference was the common patrimony of Edo people.

    For some Edo South APC leaders to expect the continuity of PDP immoral proclivity would tantamount to a gross betrayal of the overwhelming September 28th 2016 election; the massive vote of confidence on that date signaled the historic covenant between Obaseki and the electorate .The transparent delivery on his campaign promises will constitute the gravamen on which the jury of Edo electorate and posterity will judge the Governor and the APC.

    No political group or nation can make progress if it fails to embrace reformative ideas to ensure its evolvement and create momentum for the collective march of history. The quintessence of progressive continuity is the scientific and sociological awareness that change is constant. The worthy leaders of Edo APC must be acculturated to the new civics of service in the state under Obaseki . As an astute observer of politics in Edo State, I’m very aware of the reverence that the Governor accorded genuine political leaders in his pre-election days and still does so till date. Significant party officials indicate that the Governor does not by any means restrict access to political leaders who want to discuss the collective welfare of their people- those  leaders who want to make contributions on how the administration can facilitate Edo State economic transformation  into higher orbits of the 21st Century are said to be endearing to Obaseki . Regrettably, most of those who stride around the political arena today adorned with the toga of leadership are nothing but avaricious self-centered masquerades. Such characters will somersault, gyrate, genuflect and even threaten to quit the party in the quest for greener pecuniary pastures.

    Edo APC leaders who are determined to emblazon the legitimacy of their titular political appellations with concrete story of fulfilled promises will remain unshakable-such leaders will proudly associate with the unquestionable performance of the Governor and will show fidelity to the philosophy of true change. But there would be the serial political party crossing self acclaimed leaders, the permanent political nomads and ‘ bounty hunters’ ; there would be others seeking to fictionalize excuses to abandon the road of principle and progress that Governor  Obaseki represents. This is the season of crucial test for the manifestation of genuine leadership –only those with the steadiness of character and honesty of purpose will remain to actualize the progressive market-reforms and people-oriented agenda of Edo APC. Ultimately the principle of service to Edo people and the goal of rapid economic transformation as embedded in the comprehensive vision of Obasekism will flourish and triumph.

    • Adams sent this piece from Benin City

     

     

     

  • Edo APC caucus endorses Oshiomhole for post of National Chairman

    …to hold congress at ward, LG, state levels

     

    The Edo State caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unanimously endorsed former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to contest as national chairman of the party in the forthcoming national convention.

    Chairman, Edo APC, Barr. Anselm Ojezua, disclosed the position of the state’s caucus after a meeting of party chieftains at the Government House, in Benin City, at the weekend.

    Ojezua said, “The state chapter of the party has unanimously resolved to support former governor Oshiomhole to vie for the position of National Chairman at the National Convention billed to hold on May 14, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.”

    He said the party caucus has resolved to proceed with the congress at the wards, local government and state levels.

    Addressing journalists, Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena,  said Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is the right man to take over the leadership of the party at the national level, when the tenure of the present chairman, John Odigie Oyegun, ends in June.

    Member representing Etsako Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Johnson Oghuma, said the state caucus of the party agreed that all votes from Edo State should be in support of Comrade Oshiomhole, noting, “The position of the state caucus is not negotiable. Oshiomhole has the experience to take the party to the next level, especially as the 2019 presidential election draws close.”

    Member representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, said Oshiomhole has the charisma to comfortably lead the party at the national level, noting, “The state caucus has collectively done the needful by requesting Comrade Oshiomhole to assist in re-organising and preparing the party for the 2019 presidential election.”

    Read Also: Adams Oshiomhole: An avatar for APC’s resurgence

  • LG polls: Obaseki assures of peaceful polls

    LG polls: Obaseki assures of peaceful polls

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed plans of the Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to commence campaigns for the forthcoming Local Government polls.

    Obaseki disclosed this in a chat with journalists after meeting with the party’s state working committee and the candidates in the forthcoming local council polls.

    According to the governor, “Our meeting was to ensure that the forthcoming polls are conducted peacefully. We cannot jeopardise the relative peace enjoyed in the state.”

    He added that the APC’s candidates in the polls are popular among their people and are acceptable to the party, noting, “We strongly believe that the candidates will be elected by the people, as the party strategises to win all elective positions at the polls.

    On his part, Chairman, Edo State Chapter, APC, Barr. Anslem Ojezua, said, “As the party prepares for the local government polls, Governor Godwin Obaseki is making effort to change the narrative with local government administration in the state. This is because of the reputation of the local government administrators used to be the least trusted by the people.”

    According to Ojezua, “The leadership of the APC in the state is confident that its candidates will be returned at the March 3 polls because of the performance of the governor in the past one year in office.”

    He added that the meeting between the governor and the party’s candidates in the polls was to align their vision at the councils with the governor’s roadmap for the state.

    “At the meeting, the governor expressed his concern about local governments being a critical level of government and made his intention known to candidates, especially to ensure that the candidates are on the same page with his vision to transform the state,” Ojezua said.

     

  • Atiku loyalists set to leave Edo APC

    Atiku loyalists set to leave Edo APC

    Some loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are planning to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    One of the loyalists, who pleaded for anonymity, said talks were already on with the state leadership of the PDP.

    The source said many of them are still silent on their defection plans because Atiku is yet to make a formal declaration to the PDP.

    State spokesman Chris Nehikhare said many members across the state have declared their intention to join the PDP. He added that the defection would begin after Atiku officially joins the PDP.

    His words: “I can confirm that talks are on and many of the APC members are ready to join the PDP.”

    But State Secretary of the APC, Lawrence Okah, said no member of the party will follow Atiku to the PDP. According to him, it was the APC harvesting PDP members and not the other way round.

    “It is the PDP that is talking; nobody in APC has said he wants to leave the party because of Atiku,” he added.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘There’s need for discipline in Edo APC’

    ‘There’s need for discipline in Edo APC’

    Chief Osaro Idah is the Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. In this interview with Osagie Otabor, he explains his decision to ratify the suspension of some party leaders for anti-party activities. Excerpts:
    What is your position on the APC crisis in Edo State?
    There is noo crisis whatsoever. The party is more organised and peaceful today. We are in a good mood, having won at the tribunal. We are more focused on how to move the state forward.
    Some party members are saying that Governor Obaseki must interfere in the crisis and the suspension of members….
    Those people are political jobbers. They do not know what they are saying. The party is autonomous and not tied to the government. If the founding fathers want the party to be under the government, they would have spelt it so in the party constitution. The constitution made it clear you can not hold double offices. That excludes the government from the party administration. The president is far removed from the party. In the case of the defunct UPN, its constitution made Chief Awolowo, who was the Presidential aspirant, the National Chairman of the party. It made late Prof. Ambrose Alli the leader of the party in the State. The NPN did not allow that in their constitution. The APC clearly states that anybody holding government offices can not be party officials. Anyone holding party office cannot hold government position. Those are people who are indiscipline party members making such insinuations that the governor should be the leader of the party and directs affairs of the party. What we have in the party constitution is the caucus, there is nothing like leader in the APC constitution. It is unserious minded for people to say that.
    You were accused of unilaterally ratifying the suspension of members….
    Whoever said that should have his head re-examined. The constitution is very clear. If the party at the Ward level made allegations, you are bound to respond to the allegations. The extant case is that of Hon Samson Osagie and other members. They were suspended by their local government executives and their Ward members. The local government was duly informed. They constituted an investigative panel but these fellows refused to appear. There was no written response to the accusation. We still kept cool thinking that they will subscribe to law and order. The party informed the local government executive. The local government executives set up a committee to look into the allegations but these members felt they were too superior to appear before the committees. We were merely informed. We directed the local government to give another invitation and instead of obeying to explain themselves, they wanted to deal with the State executives directly. And we don’t have that power. It got to a point, the man that is alleging now was not invited to the State Caucus meeting but he came. At the meeting, the party chairman reminded him that he was on suspension yet he did not go back to appear before the committee. When the Governor in his magnanimity asked the party from various levels to nominate people to be appointed, the party got the guidelines and sent same through the party hierarchy to the local government level. Osagie did not go through the party but he drew his own list of nominees and sent to the Governor directly. That is when we realized that the impunity was getting out of hand. It was at that stage we affirmed their suspension. He should go back to the party at the Ward level to go and restitui-te. Nobody is pursuing him.
    People from other local government, also protested the process of selecting the nominees…
    Have they appointed anybody? Did they see those appointed. Have they made any announcement. There are a huge population of liars in this political game. People just wake up and fabricate stories. If people at the local government level felt cheated, they should complain to the state. As we speak, no one person has been appointed. How did they know who to be appointed. Governor Obaseki constitute a panel headed by Professor Dennis Agbonlahor tô look at complains after receiving some protest letters against list presented. It is dirty individuals playing politics that makes it dirty.
    There are still complaints that certain individuals are hijacking the party due to the governor’s stand on not interfering in partisan politics…
    The party is not under the governor in any way. Are you saying the party at the National level is under President Buhari? The party runs itself. The governor is a member of the party. He subscribe to the party. The party produces the governor. It already existed before the governor. Are you saying that the governor should give directives on how the party is run. I am not a government appointee. I went to Congress and was elected. If the governor find me fit and proper to be appointed, I will resign my position. He who pays dictates the tune. The governor is a civilized man. He has no time for these gimmicks. These are people who yesterday screamed party supremacy. Now, they have been caught in their web of intrigues, they are now saying the governor should be in charge of the party. Why should we now erode the supremacy of the party?
    Hon. Osagie said the APC risk plunging into crisis over actions of some leaders.
    Maybe he has his own APC that will plunge into crisis not the one I belong to. The one I belong to does not tolerate indiscipline.
    Is there any move to recall the suspended members?
    We are not saying anybody should leave the party. It is not my business to suspend anybody. Mine is to affirm. Let those affected go to their constituencies and appear before the constituted authorities at that level. It is not the state or National APC that will absolved them of blame. They should go to their Ward executives and explain to them. By the time, they take a decision and you felt that the local executive is biased, we will look into any abnormalities. It is not a situation when the local executives will call them, they will say they are too small. In this party, we are all equals. They cannot use the social media to blackmail the APC. It is not for me to impose them on their people.
    Some have alleged that they were victims of the fallout of the party primaries. What is your view?
    That is a layman excuse. Did Barr. Ogie not attempt to contest the election. Did he not have supporters? Is he not the SSG today? General Charles Airhiavbere contested and he is a key player in the State. Odubu now attend state functions of the party. Other leaders of the party that supported Odubu are attending meetings. Are they the only once that supported Odubu? We have since moved beyond the primaries.