Oyegun takes Tinubu’s case to Buhari
ABUJA — The embattled National Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, is to consult President
Muhammadu Buhari over the attack launched against him
Odigie-Oyegun, the man at the centre of the controversy, on
his part, vowed, yesterday, not to lose his cool on the matter, saying he would
not respond to Tinubu, who he called a respected party leader until after the
crucial governorship election taking place in his home state, Edo, tomorrow.
Meanwhile, senior party figures, including legislators,
were, yesterday, divided over the faceoff. The party’s Deputy National
Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, however, picked up the attack by
Tinubu as a vindication for him over his past demands that Odigie-Oyegun resign
or be removed as national chairman of the party. Tinubu had in a communiqué
from his office on Sunday night, rebuked Odigie-Oyegun for allegedly sabotaging
the wheels of democracy in Ondo State, following the decision to forward Chief
Rotimi Akeredolu’s name as the party’s governorship candidate, despite claims
by the party’s Ondo Governorship Appeal Panel that the delegates’ list used for
the primaries was compromised.
OYEGUN, TINUBU BUHARI
yesterday, Odigie-Oyegun said: “Asiwaju is a well-respected leader of our
party, so I cannot be seen speaking evil against him. I have to consult
properly with other leaders of the party before we make any definite statement.
Again, you know we have a crucial election here in Edo, which is my priority
right now.”
Though the national chairman did not name President Buhari,
party sources in Abuja, however the President was on top of the list of those
to be consulted. He continued: “We don’t want to lose focus, and I know Asiwaju
also wants us to win because we all have worked hard for this. So, maybe after
the election, if there is need, I will speak, if no need, I will relax. “But
all I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are
not true. I have always believed in internal democracy, that the credibility of
primaries must be taken seriously. “I believe that if primaries of parties are
not credible, it may derail any democracy, so I don’t play with these things at
all. Everybody knows me, and I don’t joke with my credibility, and I have tried
to maintain it. “Like I said, Asiwaju is our leader, and we all hold him in
high esteem, so I will never join issues with him. “But may be after Edo
elections, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the
issues raised. So there is no problem at all. Edo is the focus for now, and as
you know, this is my state, so it is a very serious election for us. “I want to
be allowed to remain focussed, then after the election, we can speak,” he
stated. The issue is, however, raising mixed responses in the party
hierarchy. A member of the National
Working Committee, NWC, of the party, who sought to exonerate the national
chairman of the allegations raised against him, revealed that a brief on the
issues that led to Tinubu’s attack was being prepared for onward transmission
by the national chairman to the President once he returned from Benin after the
governorship election.
I’ve been vindicated —Timi Frank
Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade
Frank, however, saw the attack as a vindication for him over his past calls for
Odigie-Oyegun’s resignation or removal from office. Speaking with journalists
in Abuja, Frank said if no action was taken, he would after 14 days, mobilise
party members to protest against the chairman in Abuja. He said he was already
mobilising some members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party
to convene an emergency NEC meeting. “I was one of the first persons in this
party who took the bull by the horns to foresee what is happening today in our
party, and I came out early to say there were issues or crisis in this party.
“As at that time, I was alone, nobody saw where I was coming from. This crisis
started when the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly came up, and
I foresaw it at that time that because of the decision and position that my
party took at that time against their own party members like the Senate
President and the Speaker, there could be further issues. I came up to shout
but then again, nobody listened to me. Then, it was Saraki. “They appropriated
my job and said it is only Oyegun and the secretary that can speak for the
party. “Today, I have been vindicated. We all saw what happened in the
aftermath of Ondo primary elections…a founding father of the party, a national
leader of our party has concurred with my earlier call that Oyegun should
resign as national chairman. “That should let you know that I foresaw what they
did not see. Yes, he has tried by taking the party to where he thinks he has
taken it to and I congratulate him for that, but again, you cannot give what
you do not have.”
Oyegun not sincere in leading APC—Rep
Ayinla
Also speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, the member representing
Mushin 11 Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, said the
virtue of transparency needed to lead the party was now lacking in the
leadership. “Asiwaju Ahmed Tinunbu will not make a decision without verifying
what he is saying. This is a man that has struggled and suffered to build this
party, and he has tried all his best possible, with his health, his life, he
has put everything that needs to be put for the development of the party. “Let
the country know where you genuinely belong. We want a clean and clear person
as a chairman, who will steer the ship of the party. Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has
found out, he has checked, he has been informed, he has seen what transpired in
the Ondo APC governorship primaries. “I am in support of the call for the
resignation of the national chairman. If you are a leader of an organisation,
and people working under you are not working genuinely, sincerely, if you tell
them to resign, why not? If not for transparency, for honesty, for sincerity,
that is what he said, that is why I am supporting him,” Ayinla said. Also
commenting, Rep Razak Atunwa, APC Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency of Kwara
State said the faceoff remained an internal affair of the APC. “APC is one
family, there is always bound to be one disagreement or the other either
between leaders or the followers. What is important is that we get our house
together and come together as one family and whatever disagreement we have, we
resolve it,” he said.
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