Edo APC crisis: Ize-Iyamu, Odubu, other Guber Aspirants call on Obaseki to abide to party rules and laws
........... Endorse Lawan-led Reconciliation Committee
By Isaac Eranga
Benin City: Four governorship aspirants under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State have called on Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to abide by the laws governing the party.
The four aspirants, namely, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) and Mr. Pius Odubu, are in the camp loyal to the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, also endorses the reconciliation committee led by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan.
The Lawan-led committee was newly constituted by the national working committee of the party to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the Edo chapter of the party.
However, the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has rejected the composition of the committee, saying members of the committee were loyalists and supporters of the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Oshiomhole.
Obaseki, while rejecting the committee, said the outcome of the committee since most members were staunch supporters of his predecessor, was already known.
But briefing journalists on Thursday in Benin, Edo State capital, the aspirants faulted the position of Governor Obaseki on the committee.
They lamented the party has been “embroiled in needless crisis arising from the deliberate alienation of party leaders and members from the government the party worked hard to install.”
This is even as they commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the national working committee “for the various peace initiatives they have instituted but which have surprisingly been rejected by the governor of Edo State who has even gone ahead to institute court actions to stop these peace initiatives.”
Former Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Pius Odubu, who read a speech on behalf of other aspirants, said they have made efforts at restoring sanity to the polity, but that “it appears that as we inch closer to the elections, the apprehension in the land is on the increase.”
He said: “We the APC aspirants for Edo state 2020 gubernatorial election in consultation with other critical stakeholders state unequivocally that we wholeheartedly welcome the urgent intervention of the newly constituted Senator Ahmed Lawan’s reconciliation committee for the party.
“We are prepared with our memoranda for presentation to the committee and we urge every genuine stakeholder of the party to cooperate with the committee.
“We collectively desire a party that is stable, virile and viable for us to realise our individual and collective aspirations so as to provide effective, efficient and productive leadership for our dear state.
“We believe and quite rightly too, that the attempt to close the political space and shut the doors against potential contestants for the office of the governor of Edo state by the incumbent Governor, is antithetical to the established norms of democracy. We must all be allowed to subject ourselves to the democratic process without let or hindrance.”
The APC aspirants reiterated their unalloyed support for and confidence in the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and President Muhammadu Buhari, for their insistence on party supremacy.
They also gave assurance of full compliance with party directives, even as they reminded “our brother, Governor Obaseki that in democracy, everyone, no matter how highly placed, must be subject to party laws and rules.”
........... Endorse Lawan-led Reconciliation Committee
By Isaac Eranga
Benin City: Four governorship aspirants under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State have called on Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to abide by the laws governing the party.
The four aspirants, namely, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) and Mr. Pius Odubu, are in the camp loyal to the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, also endorses the reconciliation committee led by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan.
However, the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has rejected the composition of the committee, saying members of the committee were loyalists and supporters of the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Oshiomhole.
Obaseki, while rejecting the committee, said the outcome of the committee since most members were staunch supporters of his predecessor, was already known.
But briefing journalists on Thursday in Benin, Edo State capital, the aspirants faulted the position of Governor Obaseki on the committee.
They lamented the party has been “embroiled in needless crisis arising from the deliberate alienation of party leaders and members from the government the party worked hard to install.”
This is even as they commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the national working committee “for the various peace initiatives they have instituted but which have surprisingly been rejected by the governor of Edo State who has even gone ahead to institute court actions to stop these peace initiatives.”
Former Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Pius Odubu, who read a speech on behalf of other aspirants, said they have made efforts at restoring sanity to the polity, but that “it appears that as we inch closer to the elections, the apprehension in the land is on the increase.”
He said: “We the APC aspirants for Edo state 2020 gubernatorial election in consultation with other critical stakeholders state unequivocally that we wholeheartedly welcome the urgent intervention of the newly constituted Senator Ahmed Lawan’s reconciliation committee for the party.
“We are prepared with our memoranda for presentation to the committee and we urge every genuine stakeholder of the party to cooperate with the committee.
“We collectively desire a party that is stable, virile and viable for us to realise our individual and collective aspirations so as to provide effective, efficient and productive leadership for our dear state.
“We believe and quite rightly too, that the attempt to close the political space and shut the doors against potential contestants for the office of the governor of Edo state by the incumbent Governor, is antithetical to the established norms of democracy. We must all be allowed to subject ourselves to the democratic process without let or hindrance.”
The APC aspirants reiterated their unalloyed support for and confidence in the national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and President Muhammadu Buhari, for their insistence on party supremacy.
They also gave assurance of full compliance with party directives, even as they reminded “our brother, Governor Obaseki that in democracy, everyone, no matter how highly placed, must be subject to party laws and rules.”
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