From Tony Osauzo, Benin
A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and the party’s National Vice Chairman, South South, Chief Victor Giadom, have declared that the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tunubu, will defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, in next year presidential election.
The duo spoke in Benin, at the South South zonal stakeholders’ meeting of APC, where the zonal chairman publicly apologised to the ex- Edo State Governor, (Oshiomhole) on the roles he played that led to his removal as the National Chairman of the party.
“Just four years ago, we had a combined ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi in PDP, but in unity, the presidential candidate of APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, defeated them. Now that Atiku and Obi are divided, do you really need a political scientist to tell you that what a united ticket could not achieve, that divided, they will achieve it?
“Atiku and Obi will be massively humiliated on election day in a civilised manner, without violence or cheating, with emphasis placed on one man, one vote, as Asiwaju Tinubu will emerge victorious. Asiwaju Tinubu, upon victory, by God’s grace, will do a lot to move Nigeria forward.
“We must work hard to deliver Asiwaju Tinubu in February 2023. Many APC members in Edo State worked so hard and we defeated PDP in 2015 and again in 2019, with a wider margin. This time round, we will so defeat Atiku, that he will not contest for president again. Hard work does not kill, it pays. Let members of APC continue to work hard”, Oshiomhole said.
He however stated that members of the party in Edo state felt betrayed that 14 elected members of the state House of Assembly were not allowed by Governor Godwin Obaseki to sit, along with ten other lawmakers.
“We, in Edo state, feel betrayed that our people voted for 24 members of Edo House of Assembly four years ago, and we are the governing party in Abuja at the federal level, but 14 of our members are not sitting. Laws are being made in Edo state, if there are laws, by a minority of ten, out of 24. It is not just humiliation for the 14 persons who have not been inaugurated, it is a dent on the image of our party.
“The two chambers of the National Assembly sent a team to Edo state to verify the facts and they were satisfied that the non-swearing in of the lawmakers-elect was unlawful. Yet, as a governing party, this has remained the case. It is shameful.
“With a new national leadership of APC, chaired by a former senator and ex-governor, efforts should be made for the needful to be done. As a former senator, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu knows the rules of the parliament. In Edo state now, we do not have a parliament”, the former National Chairman added.
Oshiomhole, while commending Giadom on the initiative of the stakeholders’ meeting, said “As individuals, we are not a party. It is when we meet that we can speak as members of a political party. Having people from across the six states of the South-South zone shows that we are speaking with one voice.
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“We need to work much harder for APC to retain power at the federal level, state level, the two arms of the National Assembly and the Houses of Assembly in the 36 states of Nigeria.
“We do have challenges, even though Edo state Chairman of APC, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), earlier stated that the party in the state does not have challenges. Part of the challenges is that we had taken over the governance of Edo state, we worked hard and we defeated PDP in 2007, 2012 and 2016, but the person who won decided to return to PDP. Our spirit cannot be returned to PDP, because we are not PDP. There is no PDP in our DNA.
“At times, when things happen, they may be meant to test our faith in God. When everything is going on smoothly, you will want to claim credit for being smart, brilliant, rugged, dogged or digital, but when things go wrong, God helps you to reflect and rethink, thereby recognising that only God alone knows the end from the beginning”.
He pointed out that it would not be possible for human beings to belong to an association and interact over a period of time, without offending one another. He therefore, urged APC members to have forgiving spirit and work hard to deliver Asiwaju Tinubu in February 2023.
Besides, Oshiomhole pleaded with some APC members in the state, who still have cases in court, to withdraw them, and spend the money to mobilise their units, wards and local governments to win the elections in unity.
On his part, Chief Giadom said “On September 28, 2022, campaigns will start. So, we need to put out house in order, towards the victory of the candidates of APC. We are repositioning our party towards winning the 2023 general elections. We are reclaiming Edo state from PDP in 2024, in order to ensure good governance in Edo state.
“The chances of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2023 are very bright. Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar will not pose any threat to APC and its presidential candidate.
“Comrade Oshiomhole is a leader with forgiving spirit. I wish to apologise to you sir, for what happened in the past. I had a sumptuous breakfast with him this (yesterday) morning, in his house in Benin City. We earlier exchanged visits in our houses in Abuja. Comrade Oshiomhole told me that it was not about how to quarrel, but how to reconcile.
“We must forgive ourselves. You cannot avoid disagreements in politics. Let us support all APC’s candidates to emerge victorious at the polls in 2023. In every electoral contest, there will be only one winner.”
The zonal chairman added that Asiwaju Tinubu winning the presidential election next year would prepare the ground for APC’s governorship candidate to win in Edo state in 2024, urging members of the party to be united to win all the elections.
Earlier, the state chairman of APC, Col. David Imuse(retd), said “APC, Edo State is at peace with itself. We are fully prepared to meet the challenges of 2023 general elections. With what we have put in place, by the grace of God, victory will be ours. Members of APC in Edo state have agreed to work for the good of the party.
“Asiwaju Tinubu is a transformational leader and a detribalised Nigerian, who knows how to identify and nurture talents, and position them. With his pedigree, he will take Nigeria to greater heights. Members of APC and their friends in Edo state have resolved to vote massively for Asiwaju Tinubu”.
The meeting was attended by the governorship candidate of APC in Edo, during the 2020 election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and many leaders of the party from the South South zone.