Tobias Sylvester
Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, While addressing the allegation that he and some other governors of the All Progressives Congress are planning on sabotaging the party, accused Adam Oshiomhole of exhibiting incompetence in the handling of the party’s recently concluded primaries across the country.
During a protest in the party’s Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was listed among those planning to remove Oshiomole as the Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He denied the allegation and described his accusers as opportunist.
While denying any involvement in an attempt to remove the former Edo State governor, Mr. Akeredolu accused Mr. Oshiomhole of exhibiting incompetence in the handling of the party’s recently concluded primaries across the country, saying that APC primaries have exposed the incompetence of Mr. Oshiomhole. He described the recent primaries conducted by the ruling party as a ‘political charade’ and a revelation of “a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity.”
Akeredolu justified his opposition to Oshiomhole’s choice as APC chairman, adding that those who feel aggrieved reserve the right to demand justice, including calling for Oshiomhole’s removal. However, he stated that he was committed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.
His statement reads:
“The governor had expressed preference for someone else during the contest for the office of the Chairman of the party.
“He did not hide his opposition to Mr Oshiomole’s aspiration for the simple reason that the leadership of a party, especially the one just emerging from a merger, should distance itself from egregious and inherently destructive narcissism;
“Recent events seem to justify this position as prescient. Only sycophants will fail to see the obvious. Mr President would not have expressed worries over the crises in the Party if everything had gone on smoothly.
“The handlers of the mob strive in vain to set the President against certain government functionaries considered antagonistic to their pernicious scheme for dominance.
“Their devious plot to outsmart those perceived as opposing their expansionist tendency compelled them to take desperate measures. Anyone endowed with an attitude of sobriety should have seen the need for calm.
“Rather than retrace their steps and display genuine contrition, their desperation pushes them to embrace measures capable of not only hurting the Party, but, regrettably, the President, whom they pretend to love so much.
“Those who collected varying and humongous amounts as fees from aspirants during the last grandiose charade called primaries and submitted names dictated to them by a cabal, notorious for capturing political power for unbridled pillage, should be bold to explain their real motives to the people. They should be honest enough to deal with the issues,”.
