Adams Oshiomhole, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday, laughed off the suggestion that he is angling to return to officer after he was thrown out in June this year by the party hierarchy.
Oshiohmole was sacked from his position after a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), in a meeting on June 25, 2020, attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC), and appointed Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State, in his place to head a National Caretaker Committee.
Even as the six-month tenure of the committee, which mandate included the convoking of a national convention to elect new national executives is still live, the party has gone into a restive mode once again, with the call for the exit of the ad-hoc arrangement.
To boot, a court case has been taken out against the committee, with the main prayer being to declare the new leadership illegal on account of the APC constitution, which forbids an executive member from holding an elective position.
However, there have been insinuations that Oshiomhole, who practically went under since his failure to install Osagia Ize-Iyamu as the Governor of Edo State, was plotting a return to his position from where he is presently holed up.
It was against this backdrop that the former APC boss, who before the position, served for eight years as Edo Governor from many years as President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), rose to dismiss the insinuation.
He said in a statement in Abuja, that chapter of his life as the APC boss, was closed, adding that he had moved on with other enterprises without bearing grudges against anyone, including those he accused of plotting his ouster through the back door.
He said: “In reporting the legal action taken by a member of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), some attributions have been made to the effect that the plaintiff is an “ally of Oshiomhole” or an “associate of Oshiomhole.” This is despite the fact that the court documents are clear on who the plaintiff really is.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the 21-member National Working Committee (NWC) under my leadership largely worked cohesively and harmoniously.
“The only exceptions were the three members used by forces desperate to take control of the party. They contrived a crisis and abused the judicial process to undermine the constitution and integrity of the party. The majority of 18 members worked as a team and not as allies or loyalists of anybody.
“When the National Executive Committee (NEC) in its wisdom dissolved the NWC, I immediately announced publicly that I accepted the decision, regardless of its legality or otherwise, as it affected my position as national chairman. I was the only one at the press conference where I made the announcement.
“The reason, of course, was that some of my colleagues in the dissolved NWC obviously didn’t share my position not to contest the dissolution in court.
“Since I could only accept responsibility for my own decision, I instructed my lawyers to withdraw the suits challenging my purported suspension from office by the proxies of those bent on removing me as chairman.
“It is, therefore, the height of mischief to insinuate, as it is being done in some quarters, that I would publicly accept the decision and later surreptitiously seek to contest it in court. That chapter of my political life is closed.
“Even if another NEC decision or a court order reverses the dissolution, I will, with utmost humility, decline to return as APC National Chairman.
“I am proud of the accomplishments of the NWC under my leadership and I am grateful to the principled 18 members who worked as a team committed to the cause of the party.”
“Above all, I bear no grudge against any one for the manner of my removal. Instead, I am grateful and loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari who in the first place encouraged me to contest the chairmanship of the party.
“I am particularly appreciative of the presidential support and encouragement which enabled me to assert the authority of the party without fear or favour. Indeed, I would not have lasted as long as I did as national chairman but for the President’s support.
“I will therefore continue to support his administration to succeed in serving the common good of the people of Nigeria.”
