Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has attributed the lingering crisis in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to enemies of the state and the party, lamenting that they are now running him down after benefiting from his labour.
Oshiomhole spoke yesterday at the Government House in Benin, when he received the members of the fact-finding committee set up by the national secretariat of the party to assess the internal wrangling rocking Edo APC ahead of the September 10 governorship election in the state.
For several months running, APC in Edo state has been battling with internal crisis, ranging from the reported fallout between Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, allegedly over the latter’s decision to contest the governorship election.
The recent impeachment of erstwhile Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Edoror, by 17 lawmakers, has also been linked to the crisis in the party in the state.
This informed the decision of the national leadership of the party to inaugurate the five-member reconciliation committee, led by a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to look into the immediate and remote challenges affecting its Edo State chapter.
Other members of the committee, inaugurated on May 10, include Senator Osita Izunazo, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Hajiya Fatimah Mohammed and Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi.
But while receiving the delegation, Oshiomhole explained that the state had been put in a bad light by individuals who claimed to be members of the APC but remained committed to the opposition party.
His words, “The more dangerous enemies are those whom people purport to have joined the APC but their soul is in the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party). By the choice of their language and style and tactics, it is clear that they wish to be in the APC while working in futility hoping that they can discredit the APC so that their own party that they have grounded, dismantled and rest can hopefully be revived.
“So maybe in seeking to settle us, you will also need to settle Abuja. Otherwise, we might just be shedding a crocodile tears. The headlines that you refer to are credited to people who purport to be in this party. When you see their language in the print and electronic media, you wonder if this is a Hiroshima war.
“They are now the ones, having benefited from my labour and accomplishment, using the most uncouth and violent language to describe my person. The official attitude seems to be, ‘reconcile everybody. That is fine.”
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