National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole was Tuesday remorseful after months of crisis that bedevilled his leadership of the party.
Following the Court of Appeal judgement which, Monday, set aside the lower court’s ruling asking him to step aside as the party chair, the visibly humble Oshiomhole resumed office Tuesday, saying God permitted the crisis that recently rocked the party.
Oshiomhole, who presided over the first National Working Committee (NWC) meeting after a long time, said all the party leaders, including him, ought to have learnt from the recent crisis.
But conspicuously missing at the meeting were deputy national chairman (North), Senator Shuaibu Lawan and the recently announced National Secretary, Architect Waziri Bulama.
Our correspondent observed that the supposed Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, who had been in acting capacity as national secretary and leading the anti-Oshiomhole group, refused to vacate the seat for Bulama.
Addressing newsmen before the NWC entered a closed-door session, Oshiomhole said: “I think that God is never wrong, He has allowed what has happened to happen so that we all can learn, everybody to re-examine his conscience, strengthen those bonds of friendship, bonds of solidarity and work as a family. I’m honoured to be able to preside here as chairman of this party and I believe that every one of my colleagues in the NWC is honoured out of millions of our members.
“So, today we have come here to remind our members nationwide that this NWC is not divided. It is true we have had arguments; it is true some tempers may have been high; it is true some people may have been provoked to try to approach the court, but it is also true that deep in our hearts, no one of us wants to destroy our party.
“Let me also say that I am the first to admit that I am not the best chairman in the world and I will never be. But no one can fault the sincerity of my purpose. My style can only be my style. But, I recognise that I must reconcile my style to others so that we can meet in the middle of the road.
“It is the hallmark of democracy. The capacity to transform our divergent views and even you might say conflicting orientation sometimes but no conflicting interest, mission and ambition. So, I want to thank all my colleagues who are here and those who are not.
“I want to appreciate our president, with all the challenges he faced that he has time to listen to those who approached him with a view to ensuring that our party remains on course.
“I want to appreciate our governors elected on the platform of our party who regardless of whatever anybody feels, I have absolute respect for each and every one of them and I have personal relationships with each and every one of them. But, I also recognise that the fact of having personal relationships is not enough not to have personal differences and even suspicion.
“Our responsibility as a party now is to engage the government. What do we do differently to this reality so that the government elected on our platform delivers our promises to Nigeria people? These are the kinds of things we should spend more time doing, the Nigeria project not becoming chairman.
“If I am the chairman and cannot walk the streets of Nigeria with pride because my party has not done what is expected, I cannot be a happy chairman and I don’t think any of you will be a happy member.
“I ask us, in addition to putting what has happened behind us, to find time to have objective conversation on how we can generate ideas to support the government. I want to spend time on something that concerns Nigerian people. I didn’t come just to be a chairman. I wasn’t unemployed and none of you here was unemployed. What brought us here is the fact that we have party that we have formed not to create divisions.”
Among the anti-Oshiomhole’s NWC members in attendance were the Acting National Secretary, Chief Giadom, National Vice Chairman South-west, Bankole Oluwajana, National Vice Chairman, North-east, Mr. Mustapha Salihu, Deputy National Auditor, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, and National Vice Chairman, North-west, Mr. Inuwa Abdulkadir.
Also, the pro-Oshiomole NWC members in attendance included; Chief Abiola Ajumobi, National Deputy Chairman, South, National Vice Chairman, South-south, Prince Hillard Eta, National Legal Adviser, Mr. Babatunde Ogala, National Organising Secretary, Mr. Emma Ibiduro, National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, National Woman Leader, Mrs. Salamatu Hassan Beiwa, Acting National Auditor, Mr. Paul Chuwkuma, National Treasurer, Mr. Abu Adamu Fanda, National Welfare Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Masari, and Special (Physically Challenged) Leader, Mr. Misbau Didi.
Some state chairmen of the party were also seen in company of Oshiomhole to show solidarity with the embattled party leader.
