Tobias Sylvester
Lagos State’s Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Wale Oluwo, has vowed to work with the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje, in the 2019 governorship election, after resigning from his post and membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter sent to Lagos State APC chairman on Wednesday, November 5, 2018, Oluwa alleged that a powerful group in the APC had been violating the principle of separation of powers
He also accused the leadership of the APC in the state as being undemocratic in the process that saw Babajide Sanwo-Olu emerge as the party’s governorship candidate over the current governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, adding that the governorship primary election has diminished the reputation of APC in the state.
“A few hours ago, I submitted to His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, a letter of resignation of my appointment as the Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources.
“Consequently, as a registered member of the All Progressives Congress, I have deemed it necessary to formally notify you of my intention to reconsider my membership status.
“My decision to resign is not unconnected with the events of the last few weeks, which have created a heavy moral burden for me. I have found it rather difficult to come to terms or rationalize the party’s conduct of the October 2018 primary elections, which were largely characterized by massive voter disenfranchisement, intimidation, violence, undue influence and non-compliance with all known principles of democracy.
“In the particular case of the gubernatorial primary, which was conducted using the ‘open ballot’ option in violation of the guidelines of the APC that specified the ‘open-secret ballot’ option, it is clear to me that the core principles of merit, competence, justice and fairness have been sacrificed by the APC on the altar of political expediency.
“The integrity-deficient nature of the primary has significantly diminished the hard-earned reputation of our State as a reference point for free and fair democratic practice. I have struggled for weeks to understand the rationale for the apparent desperation and brigandage brazenly displayed by the party apparatchik in the various elections.
“I had never thought such vicious attack could be unleashed on the progress that the state had made in its steady democratic journey.
“The indifference of the APC to the continued use of an arm of government by a powerful group within the party, to intimidate critical institutions of democracy in the State, undermines the doctrine of separation of powers, creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and impairs government’s ability to implement policies and programmes that will benefit the majority of the people.
“This is in conflict with my strongly held belief that group interest, no matter how powerful, must be subordinated to the interest of the majority.
“I am convinced that the present atmosphere of encirclement will not abate anytime soon. I therefore resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress, immediately.”
The battle to become the next Lagos governor in 2019 is primed to be a showdown between Sanwo-Olu and Agbaje.
