Following the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the former chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has said the quest for 2023 presidency and temper, ruined the ousted chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

How would you describe the latest development in your party, the APC?

One word, fantastic! Overdue!

Fantastic in what sense?

You know the APC had become a spectacle to the entire nation, a joke. But in one fell swoop, the minute the president decided to act, I think everything is now back on course. The whole argument has set us back quite a bit because we wasted precious time and until we have our convention now, we really have only an interim body. So, energising the party is still something that will come in future. But thank God at least, we have sorted that. We had a cancer and a major operation has been performed and the patient, meaning the APC, is recovering very well.

The APC NEC dissolved the NWC. Specifically, what is your view?

That is what I expected. In fact, that was what I also advised. If you remember, a few days before that, I issued a statement that advised what specifically happened. That was the only way because the NWC was already fractured. Everybody was claiming to be chairman and what was very annoying was that one of the factions was using the name of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of blessed memory. And they knew the man’s condition and they were pushing him forward to say Ajimobi’s faction and the other faction, whereas the poor man was in the hospital, fighting for his life. I thought that was really, really base, very mean.

Is this move like a vindication that you were pushed out of office?

Let us get this clear: I was not pushed out of office. I have read about these things so many times and I just said why bother about it. But since you are here physically, I completed four years. Point number one! Point number two: I did not ask for a second term. But the party in its wisdom thought that it was unhealthy for any party to hold party leadership elections and also primaries in the same year, just a few months from each other. They say this election process always breed some degree of discord. And then, there was a national election a few months later. The party thought I should continue until after the national elections. So, that was why they went into all that thing about extension. They never said second term, but extension. So, it is good to make that very clear. I served four complete years. That was a proper convention where my successor was elected and I handed over formally to my successor. I was not pushed out of office.

Is this development like the law of karma catching up?

No. I don’t look at things that way. I think it is just different personalities and one didn’t go well with the people. That is all.

Did you ever see the president stepping in this way as he has done?

Naturally! There are two leaders we have. The president is the leader of an APC government. The national chairman is the leader of an APC governing party. So, there is only one. The only man whose status is highest in the whole hierarchy is Mr President. And the constitution recognises Mr President as the leader of the party. So, there was no other. When the national chairman becomes part of the dispute, the only way, the only person who can intervene, who is beyond him, is the president.

But the pro-Oshiomhole group said there were some infractions and that they are heading to court. What is your take on this?

I don’t really like talking about a bad past because if you want to talk of all the nearly criminal things that they did, first using poor Ajimobi’s name. Ajimobi, of course, couldn’t be there physically. So, they appointed a stand-in person for Ajimobi. And where is all of that in the constitution of the party when there are other people such as the Deputy Secretary who was mandated by court or even the Deputy National Chairman, North, who was also there to lead the party? So, let’s forget all that. If they want, they can go to court. That will be for lawyers and the judicial system to sort out.

Do you agree with the thinking of many out there that the struggle to control the party by some leaders ahead of 2023 led it to this point?

Yes, partially, that is so. Partially that and partially, the temperament and nature of both the former chairman and even the NWC.

In the whole circumstance, what do you advise Oshiomhole to do?

Go and ask him. I don’t advise him to do anything.

You are an elder statesman; you are his elder brother…

Well, all I will say if he was my brother, let wisdom and a cool head finally prevail.

What kind of leadership should the party have now to be in good standing for the 2023 elections?

We have a little bit of time now to put out the searchlight for the person with the necessary charisma, necessary level-headedness, and necessary ability to arbitrate between differing interests within a party. We will hunt for somebody like that and by the time we have our convention, I am sure we will be ready for a beautiful slate of leaders.

How would you want the gubernatorial contest in Edo resolved now?

It has been resolved. APC has a candidate, PDP has a candidate. End of story!

Would this crisis be resolved in favour of a southern or northern presidency in 2023?

Given the way we were proceeding, it is the turn of the south to produce a candidate. Given the way the country has been, it would naturally have been the turn of the southeast to produce a candidate. But the southeast haven’t been strong supporters of the APC. So, as far as I am concerned, we are in such dire straits today economically, plus COVID-19 and a world that is upside down, that we should head-hunt for the best possible candidate within the APC wherever we can find him. The country needs the best possible head wherever he comes from. We should think more of the country and its survival than any other interest.


https://www.sunnewsonline.com/how-2023-presidency-bad-temper-ruined-oshiomhole-oyegun/

Chop chop chop people saying what they think they know and what they imagined

APC is dead and gone!

Tinubu e-rats were busy parading their thief as the national leader of the party when the constitution specifically recognized the president as such.

Even in PDP, the highest elected politician is made the national. Ekweremadu stepped down for Saraki within 24 hours he decamped.

Tinubu is only APC Leader, South while Buhari is both the national leader and Northern leader.

Amechi is the SS Leader, Rochas is SE leader.

Tinubu e-rats, be guided

okay

Lol

One would be forgiven to think that Oshiomole dropped dead or just contracted a deadly disease!

Oyegun that is not ruined is talking!

What ruined your own tenure as chairman of APC, dear John Oyegun?

Oshiomole is a classical case depicting the saying that "absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Would this crisis be resolved in favour of a southern or northern presidency in 2023?

Given the way we were proceeding, it is the turn of the south to produce a candidate. Given the way the country has been, it would naturally have been the turn of the southeast to produce a candidate. But the southeast haven’t been strong supporters of the APC. So, as far as I am concerned, we are in such dire straits today economically, plus COVID-19 and a world that is upside down, that we should head-hunt for the best possible candidate within the APC wherever we can find him. The country needs the best possible head wherever he comes from. We should think more of the country and its survival than any other interest.

In other words, jettison ZONING

Hmmm

iven the way the country has been, it would naturally have been the turn of the southeast to produce a candidate. But the southeast haven’t been strong supporters of the APC.

Over to PDP
but Amaechi is our candidate in APC

Kriss216:
APC is dead and gone!

you guys should let this man be for heaven's sake!...what befell him could befall anyone too who happens to be power hungry and such a staunch hypocrite.....I just feel pity for him sha....

Meanwhile me right behind the statement I made right above!....that obioma work go fit'am Sha...

Kyase:

Over to PDP
but Amaechi is our candidate in APC

It will be a good choice.

Fariq:


It will be a good choice.

I'm telling you, but lets wait for 2022

Kyase:

I'm telling you, but lets wait for 2022

He is an achiever and thinks very well. He Knows what to do. He just has the brain.

The fulanis have proven yet again that the gentle stides of a tiger ain't signs of cowardice. They have allowed the west, and by extension, the rest of the south scheme themselves out of 2023 relevance. By this, the north will return again come 2023 through 2031. Instead of the west/south to fight the north tactically, they chose to fight themselves. What tomfoolery.

Noted

Its a clear case of

"He who the gods want to kill"

What some people call d POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE of d NORTH is what i rather call d UNITY of d NORTH. As long as d WEST keeps on sabotaging on d Unity of d SOUTH, d NORTH will always rule till Eternity.

Fariq:


He is an achiever and thinks very well. He Knows what to do. He just has the brain.

The Truth, APC should just give him the ticket

fergie001:


In other words, jettison ZONING

That is fair.

If the APC won't zone their presidential ticket to the SE, then zoning is dead. The SW can't do the slot of the SE. Any region can go for it. Don't be fooled by all this southern turn crap. It is the SE turn, failing which zoning is dead.

But also bear in mind that in 1999, the SW was not strong at all in PDP, yet OBJ was chosen, in spite of the fact that SW had no major presence in PDP. In fact at the moment, an Igbo state is APC, so basically there is more Igbo presence in APC, than there was Yoruba presence in PDP, yet OBJ was still chosen.

If the APC powers that be, choose to give the flimsy reason that the SE doesn't have a strong presence in APC as an excuse to deny the SE a chance, then zoning is well and truly dead.

We will also not forget the part that Tinubu played in killing zoning in APC. All this while, he could have insisted on the presidency going to the SE, just the same way a huge chunk of non-Yoruba PDP chieftains supported the notion of a SW president in 1999.
Tinubu's greed may well cost the south the presidency, but we will wait and see. Thank God a sizeable chunk of Igbos are insisting on Biafra. Igbos have options. Something will definitely give

I Told Him To Stop Greediness He Decline, Now What Ashame To Fight War With Wind. The W3

Kyase:
The Truth, APC should just give him the ticket

APC should give him d ticket,though I don't like him but would rather vote him than that bullon van crrok in bourdillion

iokpebholo:
APC should give him d ticket,though I don't like him but would rather vote him than that bullon van crrok in bourdillion

Don't have problem with Tinubu sha, e no chop my money make lagos people hold, but I love Amaechi, and my 2023 vote will go for any candidate with ibotic name, be it orji or kalu even if na that kerosene governor or I no vote

John Oyegun is having fun with oshomole travail

fergie001:


In other words, jettison ZONING

Can u believe this old man? So all the SE in APC are not strong enough to be candidates, if is from a Yoruba, u will see them calling Afonja, flooding the thread with name calling

nonsense

OFFICIAL336:
Tinubu e-rats were busy parading their thief as the national leader of the party when the constitution specifically recognized the president as such.

Even in PDP, the highest elected politician is made the national. Ekweremadu stepped down for Saraki within 24 hours he decamped.

Tinubu is only APC Leader, South while Buhari is both the national leader and Northern leader.

Amechi is the SS Leader, Rochas is SE leader.

Tinubu e-rats, be guided

ameachi is not relevant in south south.

oshomole still remain the leader of south south.

every thing you said is nonsense

Ok

Kyase:

Over to PDP
but Amaechi is our candidate in APC

ameachi is the last person to get the ticket.

buhari will jettison zoning and handover to osibanjo,

osibanjo presidency is the only way, APC will remain as a party.

ameachi to be the candidate will further divide the party

Jesusloveyou:
ameachi is the last person to get the ticket.

buhari will jettison zoning and handover to osibanjo,

that is the only way, APC will remain as a party.

To me personally Amaechi is the man.