Stakeholders in the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) has petitioned the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, over the high handedness and despotic activities of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole in the state parity affairs.
In a petition dated January 24, 2018; jointly signed by Destiny Oviasu, JP, Leader, Edo South; Abu Umoru, Leader, Edo North and Odianosen Monday, Leader, Edo Central, the Edo APC reported to Oyegun the arrest, detention and suffocation of the party by the immediate past governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, to the consternation of every well-meaning party loyalist.
They protested that Oshiomhole and his handpicked loyalists in the state executive have continued to violate the constitution of the APC with reckless impunity and without restraint. “The ex-governor has constituted himself into the ‘Provisional Ruling Council’ of our great party. This dictatorial attitude has placed party members on the edge and in a state of uneasiness,” they said.
They decried that acting against the acceptable democratic norms of APC, Oshiomhole stampeded the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, to install him illegally as leader of the caucus in the state. “This state of affair has resulted to the slippery situation that has created an air of uncertainty across the state. We reject the situation where
Oshiomhole handpick the leaders that should attend stakeholders meetings that regrettably holds at his home in Benin City or Iyamho, his country home,” they declared.
The group protested that most worrisome is the undemocratic habit that has pervaded the party elective process since the primary election for the 2016 governorship ticket in Edo State. “Sadly, the division created by that primary has widened more with the divisive attitude of Oshiomhole, a situation that has led to the illegal suspension, expulsion, replacement of duly elected party executives without recourse to the APC Constitution or seeks the ratification of NEC,” they said.
Other details of the petition read: “”Your Excellency, permit us to urgently bring to your notice, the unholy and unacceptable handpicking of APC candidates for the March 3, 2018 Local Government Council Election in the state.
“Several promising and loyal party members – some of whom parades sterling technical and academic qualities were stampeded out of the race with threats of suspension of anyone that demanded for open primaries and refused to accept Mr. Oshiomhole’s consensus candidates.
“The recent ‘closed primaries’ for the local government election, has created disaffection amongst party members and if steps are not taken to urgently call Oshiomhole to order, the outcome and tension created by his self-imposition as ‘Caucus Leader’ may cause
President Mohammed Buhari’s victory in Edo State.
“As dedicated leaders and members of our party, let us remind His Excellency and other NEC members that the prevailing aching and mute environment preceded the last presidential election in the state and this led to the defeat of APC by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State by a ratio of 52% to 48%.
“As it were then, many of our leaders and members worked for the victory of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. We fear to say that unless His Excellency and the NEC calls Oshiomhole to order, he may be knowingly working for the victory of the opposition ass demonstrated in the last presidential election.
“More importantly His Excellency, we wish to bring to the attention of Mr. President that part of the reason for the dissenting voices against his re-election by Edo people is because of the role he played in the commissioning of the phantom Central Hospital in Benin City, which has remained shut for over one year.
“Edo people are also angry that Mr. President has prevented the EFCC from investigating the corruption petition sent by Comrade Maxist Kola Edokpayi and Bishop (Dr.) Osadolor Ochei, since October 28, 2016.
“Arising from the above anti-democratic practices of Adams Oshiomhole and the negative impact on the unity of our party in the state, we demand the following action to be taken by the APC NEC immediately. Let us state unequivocally that our group, along with other progressive movements within the party in Edo State will deploy every legal means, including legal and mass protest to achieve sanctity, sanity and democratic practices in Edo State APC.
“For the avoidance of doubt, these are our demands:
1. Immediate commencement of investigation by EFCC on the corruption petition sent by Comrade Kola and Bishop Osadolor
2. Rejection/denouncement of Oshiomhole as the APC Caucus Leader in Edo State
3. Cancellation of the January 24, 2018 coerced and masterminded affirmative primaries, which was a product of imposition of candidates by Mr. Oshiomhole
4. Withdrawal/compilation of new names for the Federal Boards that were initially announced by the Presidency
5. Suspension of the planned Congresses in Edo State until a proper investigation is carried out on the allegation of mutilation of membership registers by agents loyal to Oshiomhole
6. Re-instatement of elected executive members from ward to state level that were illegally removed from their offices on trump up charges on the order of Oshiomhole
7. A valid promise by President Mohammed Buhari that Oshiomhole will not be considered for any position in his cabinet or in his campaign offices.
‘In conclusion, we employ His Excellency to advice PMB on the urgent need to investigate an allegation that Oshiomhole may have negotiated to work with opposing forces in the next Presidential election.”