Why Oshiomhole Renounced APC Chairmanship

By GWG Staff

When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole last Monday, on the eve of the National Executive Committee, NEC of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC vowed not to return to his seat as national chairman even if the courts affirmed it, some would have been taken aback.

Just three years ago, Comrade had mounted a successful campaign for the position. Enormous resources and goodwill at his disposal were committed to take the seat that a predecessor as governor, Chief John Odige-Oyegun was being humiliated out of.

Oshiomhole at that time whispered albeit loudly that it was the president that wanted him that office. As events later unfolded, it turned out that the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wanted him more there.

As national chairman, Oshiomhole apparently harkened more to Tinubu than any other stakeholder perhaps apart from Buhari.

The APC primaries in Lagos was a case in point. The Osun elections was another point.

In carrying out the functions of his office, it seemed as if he carried out Asiwaju’s interests in particular interest.

Asiwaju was also dotting on the former Edo governor as he mobilized his nationwide political tentacles to provide support for Oshiomhole. When a court injunction was needed to stave off the attackers earlier in 2020, the injunction was gotten from Kano State where a pro-Tinubu party chieftain in the person of Abdullahi Ganduje serves as governor.

However, given 2023 permutations, it was not difficult for Tinubu’s enemies to also figure Oshiomhole as their own enemy.

As a way of getting at Tinubu, those opposed to his emergence as the 2023 presidential candidate of the party started a series of moves to undermine Oshiomhole’s leadership of the party.

Efforts were made in November 2019 to remove him from office but at the last minute the presidency reportedly quashed it.

Another more serious attempt was also made in March with most of the actors coming out to play the script in the open.

Again, at the last minute, the presidency again intervened and that despite insinuations that the action was triggered from the presidency with the late Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari reportedly in charge.

When Kyari died many were able to read meanings into a video that showed Oshiomhole exercising in the gym. The meaning that was given to that video was that all restraint against him had been removed and that he was ready to deal with his antagonists.

But it turned out to be a far dream. Two or so months after that video, the president’s personal hand in the move against Oshiomhole was seen when the president hosted a meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC in the Presidential Villa where Oshiomhole’s stewardship of the APC was formally brought to an end.

Even then, his enemies did not relent.

Given his visible hand in the September 2020 Edo Governorship election his enemies reportedly also worked to ensure the defeat of his adopted candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in the election.

Many were shocked when all but two of the party’s governors including the caretaker committee chairman, Alhaji Mala Buni stayed away from what was planned as the final campaign rally.

With the defeat, the former party chairman lost bragging rights in Edo.

So when some of those who identified with his cause in the party, notably the former national vice-chairman, South-South Hilliard Eta instituted a court action to dismiss the Buni led caretaker committee, many saw it that he was playing Oshiomhole’s card.

Though it cannot be confirmed whether as insinuated in some quarters that security agents were used to intimidate the former Edo State governor, but whether they were used or not, the internal sabotage against his leadership was enough reason to say he would not take up the chairmanship even if freely given to him!

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