The first executive governor of Edo State, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun has emerged as the new national chairman of the All Progressives
Congress (APC).
He clinched the position last night at the party’s national
convention in Abuja after former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva
withdrew from the race at 11.27 pm.
Oyegun’s other rival for the post, Chief Tom Ikimi, was yet
to show up at the convention at press time, while Chief Sam Jaja, who was also
touted as showing interest in the race, did not purchase the nomination form.
Although Ikimi seemed to have bowed to the wish of the
leaders, there were speculations that he might defect to the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), which has been making overtures to him.
Other leaders set to emerge at the convention are
ex-Governor Segun Oni (Deputy National Chairman); Lai Mohammed (National Publicity
Secretary); Hon. Zakare Ede, National
Vice-Chairman for North-Central; Hajiya Ramatu, National Woman Leader; Jock
Alamba, Deputy Welfare Secretary; Hajiya
Hassan, North-Central Zonal Woman Leade; Hon. Nelson Alapa, ex-Officio from the
North-Central; Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Lawal Shuaib and
National Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Bala Gubi.
The race for the office of the national chairman stretched
the leaders of the party who met for two days before reaching a consensus on
Odigie-Oyegun.
A reliable source said: “The party leaders took time to
weigh the democratic credentials of all the four candidates before choosing
Oyegun, who was rated as consistent in his commitment to progressive cause.
“His moral integrity also buoyed his chance because in spite
of his portfolios as a Federal Permanent Secretary, he did not acquire even a
plot of land.
“His sacrifice as the Secretary of the defunct National
Democratic Coalition(NADECO) abroad also counted in his favour as a politician
who cannot be manipulated by any bigwig in the party.”
The source said Oyegun’s fairness would make him withstand
pressure during the forthcoming presidential primaries of the party with the
governors and leaders of APC accepting the strong recommendation of a national
leader of the party that Oyegun is the best for the job.”
Another source said: “We have got indications that Ikimi may
defect to PDP, although some of our leaders are trying to persuade him to have
a rethink.”
Pomp and pageantry heralded the convention opening at the
Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
For about six hours, delegates and party members overwhelmed
the Square and its precinct, singing and dancing.
The convention took off at about 8.50 pm with opening prayer
by Alhaji Gambo Magaji and Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu.
In his farewell address, the Interim National Chairman of
APC, Chief Bisi Akande, said the party was solid and strong enough to defeat
the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
He asked President Goodluck Jonathan to stop playing
semantics with his anti-corruption agenda.
He said: “President Goodluck Jonathan has been trying to
make distinction between stealing and corruption. We say to him, corruption is
corruption which has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society. This is no
time for semantics.”
On the security challenge in the North, Akande expressed
regrets that President Jonathan had refused to accept suggestions made by the
APC.
He added: “While we can say that the state of our party is
strong, we cannot say the same for our country. Nigeria that had contributed
troops to global peacekeeping is today overwhelmed by insurgency.
“The US, the UK and others are assisting us to rescue over
200 students. This is a clear failure of our country’s leadership.
“We have stretched our hands in a non-partisan approach to
end the insurgency. As I speak, the government has not acknowledged our
efforts. Instead, they blamed us for the crisis.
On the 2015 poll, he said inasmuch as the party will insist
on free and fair elections, APC members should be vigilant.
He added: “No free and fair election has been held under the
watch of the Peoples Democratic Party. In recent times, the PDP under the
government it controlled at the centre had moved to emasculate the court. They
did it in Anambra election; they are attempting to do it in Ekiti and Osun states.
“I urge you all to be vigilant as eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty. Ultimately, power belongs to the people and no one can take
it from them by force.”
He said “in the face of persecution, APC will reach the
Promised Land. We have been able to create alternative for Nigerians who are
already tired of the PDP.
“The state of our party is strong and our achievements have
surpassed our expectations.”
In his address, the Chairman of the First National
Convention Committee, Governor Aliyu Wammako, said: “Out of historical
exigency, we have realised and we have come to accept that Nigeria has never
been pulled down like this.
“All the crises pose threats to our economy; there is a
nightmare in the name of insurgency. Despite this, they want to take power at
all cost. The Federal Government is adopting divide and rule tactics. However
all hope is not lost because Nigerians are rising above ethnic divide.”
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Owelle
Rochas Okorocha, said APC is different from PDP because it is more democratic.
He asked Nigerians to vote for APC in 2015 to effect change
in the country.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi, asked APC members to protect their voting rights to be able to change
the government in 2015.
A former Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Modu Ali Sheriff
said the atmosphere at the Eagle’s Square showed that Nigerians have faith in
the opposition and they are ready for change.
A former National Chairman of the defunct ANPP, Dr.
Ogbonnaya Onu, said the opposition parties came together in order to rescue the
nation.
Those at the convention were ex-Head of State, Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari; ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; a National Leader of APC,
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; the outgoing Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi
Akande; a former National Chairman of ANPP, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu; ex-National
Chairman of CPC, Prince Tony Momoh.
Also at the convention were almost all the APC governors led
by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Rauf
Aregbesola; Rabiu Kwankwaso; Rochas Okorocha, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Kayode
Fayemi; Aliyu Wammako (who was the Chairman of the National Convention Planning
Committee); Ibikunle Amosun; Abdulfatai Ahmed; Tanko Al-Makura; Murtala Nyako
and Ibrahim Gaidam.
Others were ex-National Chairman of ACN, Chief Audu Ogbeh;
ex-Governors Bukola Saraki, George Akume, Abdullahi Adamu, Niyi Adebayo,
Sha’aba Lafiagi, Segun Oni and ex-Military Governor of Kaduna State, Jafar Isa.
Others were all members of the National Assembly and State
Houses of Assembly on the platform of APC; ex-Minister of State for Defence,
Chief Demola Seriki; Senator Isiaka Adeleke; the deputy governors of Osun, Oyo,
Ekiti and Imo states, among others
[The Nation]
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