…NWC to Empower Fact-Finding/Reconciliation Committee
By Baron Ike
Embattled national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole has moved to find a lasting solution to the crisis ravaging the Edo State Chapter of the Party.
Oshionmhole was suspended by the Edo State APC Chapter on Tuesday and on Wednesday, the Progressive Governors Forum gave him ultimatum to resolve the crises facing the Party or resign.
Conscious that his job is now on the line, Oshiomhole has decided to empower a fact-finding and reconciliation committee to deal with the myriad problems.
A dish of suspension is being served in the Edo State APC Chapter.
On Wednesday, Governor Godwin Obaseki, his deputy, Philip Shuaibu and the State chairman of the Party, Anslem Ojezua were suspended by a faction loyal to Oshiomhole. The faction that suspended Oshiomhole and the secretary general of the party was loyal to Obaseki, Shuaibu and Ojezua.
The APC confirmed in a statement signed by the national publicity secretary of the Party, Lanre Issa-Onilu that something ought to be done fast to save the situation.
Issa-Onilu said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has watched with grave concern the political development within the Party ranks in Edo State and is deeply disturbed by the recent turn of events. We note that this is happening in spite of the various steps the party has taken to find an amicable resolution.
“Recall that party leaders such as the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, and other eminent party leaders, had all tried at various times to ensure that the issues do not escalate.
“Sadly, these interventions have not yielded the desirable results.
“However, the immediate concern of the NWC is how to ensure that unity returns to the ranks of the party in Edo State. In achieving this, we have decided to constitute a high-power fact-finding and reconciliation committee of party leaders to meet with all disputing parties to ensure that all issues are addressed and resolved.
“Meanwhile, the meeting of the NWC, which held today, Wednesday, at the Party’s National Secretariat received a notification of the suspension of the Edo State APC Chairman, Anslem Ojezua by eleven [11] of the sixteen [16] members of the Edo State Working Committee (SWC). We have reviewed the process they followed and conclude that they have fulfilled the required conditions.
“We therefore uphold the suspension of the Edo State APC Chairman, Anslem Ojezua while we await the outcome of the fact-finding and reconciliation committee.
“Please note that the NWC’s objective and cause of action is strictly to address the root causes of the disputations and reconcile all parties to make our great party even stronger.”