The Chairman of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, Anselm Ojezua, has said that the
National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is not the leader of
the party in the state.
He said that the state governor,
Godwin Obaseki, is the leader of the Edo APC.
The party chairman said this on
Saturday when he spoke with reporters after a meeting with party leaders in Edo
North at Jattu-Uzaire, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.
He said Oshiomhole remained
suspended from the party, adding that there was no division in the state
chapter of the party.
Ojezua said: “There’s nothing to
be afraid of as no man is God and God is firmly standing with Edo people.
“Secondly, you will hear them say
the APC in Edo State is divided. Is there anybody of substance in Edo North who
is not here today?
“That division is in the
imagination of some people, not in the APC. The APC in Edo is intact and will
soon announce a committee for mobilisation of new members from across the 18
LGAs.
“We must remain focused and avoid
distractions from enemies of our great party. Whatever is happening in Edo
today is not new.
“This is the third time. The
first was between (late) Chief (Tony) Anenih, who claimed to be the leader of
the party and (former Governor) Lucky Igbinedion, who the constitution
empowered to be the leader.
“For the record, the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not even that of the APC, recognises two
leaders – the President of the country and the governor of the state.
“So, Anenih said he was the
leader, we said no, that it was Lucky Igbinedion because he was the governor.
“In the end, they won by
manipulation but the people of Edo State went to court and Oshiomhole was
declared governor.
“The second phase was when
Oshiomhole became governor and some people said they are the leaders of the
party in the state, that Oshiomhole isn’t a politician but a trade union
leader.
“As usual, we insisted that Oshiomhole
as the governor remained the leader.
“This same (Pastor Osagie)
Ize-Iyamu he is bringing now said he would decide who would lead the party in
Edo State.
“When we resisted, he got annoyed
and threatened to quit the party. He specifically said once he left, the APC in
Edo State would die.
“But years after he left, has the
APC died? No. Instead, we are stronger, formidable and united.”
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