Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) on Thursday stormed the national secretariat of the ruling All Prigressives Congress (APC) as part of its investigations into the alleged misappropriation of the party’s fund by Chief John Oyegun led National Working Committee (NWC).
Amidst the controversy on Thursday, former Lagos state governor and the national leader of APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, wrote an eight-page strongly worded letter to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun accusing him of doing everything to frustrate the process of reconciliation.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, recently appointed Tinubu to reconcile all the aggrieved members of the party across the states of the federation.
Blueprint gathered that a group known as Buhari/APC Anti-Corruption Support Group, had sent a petition to the anti corruption agency last week accusing the national chairman of financial sleaze.
The anti corruption staff who stormed the party house around 12 noon yesterday in a black Jeep, made straight to the office of the national chairman.
It was gathered that APC anti-corruption group were seen during a protest last week at the EFCC headqurters carrying several placards with the inscriptions, “EFCC Must Probe Oyegun Now!” “Audit APC’s Account Now’’, and “Oyegun is Killing the Anti-Corruption Policy of Buhari, ” even as they asked the anti-graft agency to probe the accounts of the ruling party.
Leader of the group, Ishola Adeshina, was said to have alleged that the former Edo state governor have been running the accounts of the party without recourse to majority of national officers of the party.
In Tinubu’s letter dated February 21 and sighted by Blueprint, which was copied the President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, alleged that Chief Odigie-Oyegun has been taking unilateral decisions regarding the crisis in the party in Kogi, Kaduna and Adamawa states.
The letter addressed to Chief Oyegun titled, ‘Actions and Conduct Weakening the Party from Within’, said, “those who were entrusted with positions of high responsibility within the party seemed unable to handle the success given them. Little attention was tendered the principles upon which this party was formed and pursuant to which it was presented to the public as an alternative to the cynical politics of the PDP.”
Tinubu said Oyegun had mentioned the APC in Kogi, Kaduna, Adamawa and Kano states as chapters deserving critical attention due to the peculiar nature of their crisis, and accused the national chairman of rushing to Kogi last weekend to “unilateral inaugurate a new slate of state officials, parallel to the officials already heading the state chapter of the party.
“It is my understanding that your dissolution of the duly-constituted state executives and the hurried naming of the above-mentioned caretaker group was not approved by the NWC. You had let this situation fester for months on end. Only when I was apointed to help resolve internal disputes and when you realized I might focus early on Kogi, did you stir from your indifference and inaction,” Tinubu said in the letter
Continued: “Drawing from your behaviour in Kogi, Kaduna and with regard to the state chapter assessment requested I am led to the inference that you have no intention of actually supporting my assignment.”
NWC sets-up investigative panel over Kaduna crisis
But in a veiled reaction to some of the concerns raised by Tinubu in his letter, the APC NWC has however, set up an investigative panel to embark on a fact-finding mission to Kaduna State with a view to identifying the remote and immediate causes of the disagreement.
Chief Oyegun led NWC also insisted that the Haddy Ametuo-led executives in Kogi state chapter of the party remain intact.
“After its executive session which held yesterday, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided as follows: That the unfolding situation in Kaduna State is deeply regrettable and request all parties in the disagreement to maintain utmost decorum and give opportunity for true reconciliation.
“Consequently, the NWC has set up a three-man committee led by the Deputy National Chairman (South), Engr. Segun Oni to embark on a fact-finding mission to Kaduna State with a view to identifying the remote and immediate causes of the disagreement and the circumstance that led to the demolition of the house of Senator Hunkuyi. The committee is to report back to the NWC within a week. Other members of the Committee are the National Auditor, Chief George Moghalu and National Woman Leader, Hajia Rahmatu Alliyu.
“In respect of Kogi State, the NWC reaffirms that that Alhaji Haddy Ametuo remains the Chairman of the APC in the state until the appropriate organ of the party decides otherwise in accordance with the party’s constitution.
“The meeting of the NWC with lasted for about seven hours was led by the National Chairman of the Party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and was attended by majority of the NWC members”, the party said in a statement by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi.
Adamawa Assembly Passes Vote of Confidence on Oyegun, NWC
Meanwhile, on the day the letter was delivered to Chief Odigie-Oyegun, members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, led by their Speaker were at the national secretariat of the APC to pass a vote of confidence on the national chairman and the NWC.
Majority Leader of the House on his part said; “I will just build on what the Speaker has said. We have to commend your style of leadership. When the President was inaugurated, he said that we were going to face some challenges, turbulences and encumbrances in the government and the party is not excluded. For the past three years, we have seen how you have handled the party right from national to states, local governments and wards. With all these turbulences and encumbrances, we are still the great party that we are.
“We are ready to make this party great. Our visit is a show of support for the national executive. We are with you. We are synergizing with the state executing. We are happy with their leadership because they are copying your leadership style. We are very comfortable with the national executives. Despite whatever is happening, there is no impunity in the APC. This good leadership of yours is what has made me to come to the APC.
Responding, Odigie-Oyegun said; “In the last few months, I have had the fortune of having nothing but good news from Adamwa. Your colleagues in the NASS have also visited and showed solidarity.
“Today you are hear and what have you said? Loyalty to your governor, loyalty to your party in Adamwa, loyalty to the national party and loyalty to Mr President and I don’t think anybody can wish for more”.
Speaking on the strides of the governor, Oyegun said; “That so much change can happen in so short a time is something that must be appreciated. I am proud to say that if we are to showcase our governors and our achievements, there will be few that will beat Adamawa state.”
Several calls and a text message sent to the National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, to find out the reasons for the EFCC operatives’ visit to the party house were neither answered nor replied as at the time of filing this report.
