• Party must settle first in Abuja –Oshiomhole

From Tony Osauzo, Benin

Chairman of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee on Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, yesterday, said reports emanating from the state chapter of the party in the last few weeks were not edifying.
The former governor said the party at the national level was alarmed at the steady erosion of the stability and cohesion earlier seen in Edo.
Oyinlola, who led committee members to pay courtesy call on Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said the last weeks appeared to be undoing what had taken so much energy, commitment and sacrifice to put in place in the last eight years.
“We are here because our party believes darkness must not fall on this state once again. When you came, you gave every man a reason to believe once again in participatory democracy as the best form of government,” he said.
Responding to his comments, Oshiomhole expressed reservation on why the APC national leadership has not asked him about the supposed problems in the party in the state.
He insisted that APC in Abuja must settle itself before seeking to settle crisis in Edo State.
He said the crisis in Edo APC was blown out of proportion by those he claimed were rehabilitated by the party and alleged that those beating the drums of war in the APC were defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who want to discredit the party in Edo.
Governor Oshiomhole, who publicly spoke on the party crisis for the first time, added that the party might be shedding crocodile tears about supposed problems in Edo.
He wondered why the official language should be ‘reconcile everybody’ when the most uncouth and vulgar language had been used to describe his person.
“The secretariat should check carefully because they always end up with statement that unless the Comrade wants to return the state to the PDP… This state cannot return to the PDP.
“We can distinguish between Fifth Columnists and genuine APC members.
“Those fomenting trouble in APC now could not deliver their wards. I delivered my unit, ward, local government and senatorial district.
“I hope that you are able to tell everybody that. Assure Abuja that there is no cause for alarm. I will finish stronger than I started.
“Be assured of my commitment to the party, be assured of my commitment to democratic values and I will fight this election as if I were a candidate regardless of who wins,” Oshiomhole said.