…Benins ‘ll support his ambition — Esogban of Benin Kingdom

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

IMMEDIATE past governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who declared his intention for the National Chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Thursday has appealed to all aggrieved members of the party, including the Abubakar Kawu Baraje led NPDP bloc, to be patient with the party, adding that the party would resolve all complaints.

Former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during his declaration for the position of National Chairman, All Progressives Congress at the Osun Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

Meantime, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri said one of the best things to happen to the APC was the decision of Oshiomhole to make himself available for the position of the National Chairmanship of the APC ahead of the June 2, 2018 national convention of the party. However, Oshiomhole who was reacting to the crisis rocking the party in some states and the ultimatum issued by the Baraje led new PDP bloc of the APC, noted that the grievances made so far by some of the party chieftains can be resolved amicably, urging them to believe in the ability of the party to resolve all complaints.

Oshiomhole however differed with the reasons given by the former governor of Osun state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola for dumping  APC, describing the former governor as one of those who created the existing problems in the country.

On the ultimatum made by the new PDP bloc in the APC, Oshiomhole said: “They have carefully articulated their feelings, a feeling that they are not properly integrated or they suspected that they were not properly treated.

I feel what they meant was that they were ready for conversation, they were ready for a robust engagement and constructive conversations around the issues that they have raised. “I believe those issues can be resolved because they spoke like genuine party members. But I don’t want you to join the Baraje group with Oyinlola. Oyinlola has come as a person and he has left as a person.   We all know that in Nigeria there are two categories of politicians: those who are guided by what they believe in and those who dance on the street in response to the drummers near the bush.

Chief Edebiri, who declared that the Benins are solidly behind Oshiomhole, asserted that “even in the midst of opposition Federal government then under the PDP, he solely built the APC in Edo state and chased the PDP away in Edo  and we believe he is still going to do that at the federal level.

“Chief Odigie Oyegun has done his best as the pioneer chairman of the APC that was able to defeat an incumbent President, he has written his name in gold. So, it is time to have a rest. I have no doubt in my mind that Oshiomhole will make a success of the venture having regards of his pedigree and what he has done in Edo state.

He did not only transformed the political fortune of APC here, he transformed the whole state, transformed Benin city from rural capital to a modern city that can cope with any one or any other city in Nigeria and elsewhere.

“Oshiomhole should be given the chance to lead APC, he has all it takes to do the job. For him to declare for the National chairmanship of the APC is the greatest thing to happen to APC. So I think Oyegun should also listen to the voice and movement of his President and act like a gentleman that he is,” he stated.