- Distance self from purported suspension
From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The leaders and Executive Committee Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Umagbae South Ward ( 6)of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State, have passed a vote of implicit confidence on Hon Samson Osagie, the former Minority Whip, representing Uhunmonde/Orhionmwon federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
This was contained in a statement signed by Clifford Igbineweka, chairman, Umagbae South Ward ( 6) and 39 others and made available to newsmen in Benin City.
Igbineweka said the purported suspension of Samson Osagie did not emanate from his ward and should be condemned outrightly.
“We the undersigned leaders and executive committee members of AlI Progressives Congress in Umagbae South Ward ( 6) of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, Edo State hereby pass a Vote of Implicit Confidence on RT Hon Samson Osagie, former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 General Elections and Assistant Director, Directorate of Contact and Mobilization, South-South Zone, APC Presidential Campaign Council and Monday Guobadia.
“That we condemn in the strongest terms the purported suspension of RT Hon Samson Osagie by the LGA Executive of the APC in Uhunmwode Local Government Area.
“That the complaints against RT Hon Samson Osagie neither emanated from his unit, nor ward, nor from the ward Executive of Umagbae South Ward (6) Local Government Area where Rt Hon Samson Osagie is a party leader and a registered voter,” Igbineweka said.
He said those peddling the rumours that Osagie was involved in anti-party activities only lied against his person because they said Osagie deployed his personal money to mobilize for the party in the just concluded elections in the state
“That, prior to the elections, no political meeting was called at any level that Hon Samson Osagie was invited that he never attended.
“That to the best of our knowledge, RT Hon Samson Osagie campaigned for the party and its candidates prior to the elections and worked assiduously for the party and its candidates in all the elections physically and using his hard-earned money to fund campaigns to different units in his ward (Ward 6) and supported some other wards physically and financially.
“That we have no complaints of anti-party activities against RT Hon Samson Osagie from any source.
“That the State Chairman and Executive of the party should disregard and discountenance
the purported laughable suspension as it is malicious and against the constitution of the party and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Igbineweka said.
He further said that the former Minority Whip is a foremost political leader in Uhunmwode Local Government Area and Edo South whose commitment to the party is not in doubt at all.