APC moves to avert Zamfara, Rivers scenario in Edo
by Emmanuel Oladesu and Gbade Ogunwale

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) governors are making plans to broker peace between the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, it was learnt on Monday.

Although the reconciliation is being initiated by concerned progressive governors, it is likely to be a multi-stage peace processes involving Southsouth APC leaders, some members of the National Executive Committee, National Working Committee, and respected party elders.

The camps of Oshiomhole and Obaseki have been locked in curious media wars that have become embarrassing to many party stalwarts.
The national chairman had complained that the governor was discrediting his legacies, abandoning some of his uncompleted projects and refusing to dispense necessary largesse due to party followers.

Another bone of contention was the proclamation that led to the inauguration of the House of Assembly. Oshiomhole has claimed that the Assembly was inaugurated in the night, thereby excluding a number of lawmakers-elect.

Two days ago, he also complained that a siege was laid on his home in Benin City, the state capital, by the state government, an allegation that was refuted by the governor.
Obaseki has maintained that the proclamation was final, adding that it has been validated by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Also, he explained that he took some administrative measures to foster prudence and enhance financial discipline and good governance.

The next governorship poll holds in Edo next year, and it is believed that the rift between the two party leaders is not unconnected with Obaseki’s second term ambition.
Few weeks ago, the joint peace mission by Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and billionaire industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who are mutual friends of both Oshiomhole and Obaseki, did not herald a ceasefire.

Although Obaseki also stormed the Iyamho home of Oshiomhole during the Sallah festival, it did not lead to genuine reconciliation.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the attack on Oshiomhole’s residence signified the disintegration of the APC.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said in a statement that the attack has confirmed tha the ruling party is “dysfunctional”.

A governor, who said APC governors and other party leaders are concerned about the frosty relationship, said “efforts are being made to bring them together and end the crisis.”
The source acknowledged that “we are going to do a though job of reconciling two people, a predecessor and successor, who are stubborn.”
He added:”But, we have to make haste and do it in the interest of our party. After the Bayelsa and Kogi elections, our party will be preparing for elections in Ondo and Edo. If there is no peace in the Edo chapter now that the preparation had not commenced, the crisis may escalate during the nomination or when the primary is about to take place.”

To the source, the mission to reconcile Oshiomhole and Obaseki is a “special one” because “Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is our national chairman and Mr. Goodwin Obaseki is his successor as governor of his home state.”
He said:”Ordinarily, when there is crisis like this, the national chairman will send reconciliation committee to settle the crisis at the state level. But, our chairman is a party in the dispute.

“The way I see it is this: I think there is misunderstanding over styles by the chairman, who is a core politician, and his younger brother, who is a technocrat. The crisis is not beyond solution. There is the urgent need by the APC family-governors, party elders-to intervene, not to apportion blames, but to ask the two leaders to make sacrifice for the party. We will decide collectively on the reconciliation. We need peace in our various state chapters.”

According to the source, APC chapters in Zamfara and Rivers have not recovered from their electoral disasters, which were heralded by division, ‘fight to finish’ and lack of reconciliation.
He said the intra-party crises that engulfed the chapters festered because of lack of reconciliation.

The source said:”Look at what happened in Zamfara and Rivers. Now, APC is not in government there. The chapters are now like liabilities. Other chapters cannot abandon them. Look at Ogun and Imo. Even, Ondo. There is an unfinished business of reconciliation there. The only joy is that we won Ogun. We have our governor in Ondo.

“So, we don’t want what happened in those states-Zamfara and Rivers- to repeat itself in Edo. We are concerned-governors and all our party leaders. We are not taking sides. We are not apportioning blames. We just want to settle whatever rift so that our party can wax stronger.”

Taking a swipe at the APC over the rift, Ologbodiyan said the fact that APC members openly took up arms against their leadership was a demonstration of their eternal rejection of the APC and the Buhari Presidency.
He added: “The indisputable fact among Nigerians is that the APC has become torn apart within its core. The manifest greed of its leaders, particularly, in the Presidential villa, in addition to endless infighting over positions and looted resources, has further exposed the party as a soulless mob”, the statement added.

“If anything, it has remained a special purpose vehicle for power grabbing, hijacked by oppressive and exploitative cabal, who have no iota of interest in the welfare of Nigerians.
“Indeed, the propensity of APC leaders at looting our common patrimony as well as the total neglect of the living conditions of the masses, whose mandate they had stolen, has become a huge source of anger and resentment in the hearts of Nigerians”, the party further stated.

It called on Oshiomhole to respond to the demands of his party members, who are chasing him around like a common tout and for which he was reported to have hidden in a hotel in Benin City.

He said: “Is it not absurd for a National Chairman of a political party that claims to have won an election just a few months back to require the services of truck load of policemen and personal thugs to escape from Benin to Abuja?