Why I won’t contest against Oshiomole – Oyegun

 

Ahead of the National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) the incumbent National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has given reasons he would not seek re-election.

Speaking with newsmen last night at his Asokoro residence, Chief Oyegun said while he was yet to declare his interest, several stakeholders within the party at all levels began to rally support for him.

“I believe that these loyal men and women instinctively chose to support me, not because I am John Oyegun, but because they recognised what was in the best interest of the party at this point in time and quite fundamentally, they were demonstrating their love and commitment for the party, realising that perhaps, what was needed most at this time in our history as a political party, is experience and stability.

“I have taken this decision without prejudice to my commitment to the party in helping to solve some of the subsisting and emerging difficult issues and my ability to continue to provide necessary leadership.

“However, I believe that the party faces difficult days ahead, and all the critical stakeholders in its leadership would be required to bind together for a common purpose.”

While urging all members to continue to give similar level of support to whoever emerges as the next National Chairman APC, Oyegun said: “With the 2019 general elections looming on the horizon, some of us considered it to be in the best interest of the Party to go into the elections as a united fighting force, rather than one that was potentially weakened by internal conflicts arising from competitive congresses and convention.”

The outgoing national chairman said if the proposed tenure elongation was allowed to scale through, the party “would only have succeeded also in postponing the evil days as it were. In retrospect, I am inclined to agree with the viewpoint that even a young political party as ours need to be subjected to the crucible of these contestations, which in any case, is the hallmark of progressive politics.

“In the end, even as difficult as the situation may appear at the beginning, the experience we would draw from managing the contending interests, can only help to make our party stronger and more resilient.”

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