“I have reflected on the events of the past few days and the outcome of Thursday’s NEC meeting and as a party man, I declare my support for the actions taken by Mr. President,” Issa-Onilu reportedly said.
It now begins to dawn on followers of the Lagos politician, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as they come to reality that it is impossible to stand with him while disobeying the National Executive Council (NEC) convened by now former Acting National Chairman of the APC, held Thursday in State House, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
This is as key members of the Oshiomhole are beginning to dump the Tinubu camp for the mainstream of the APC which is indisputably the Buhari camp.
Latest of this development came as former National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, hailed the newly appointed Caretaker Committee appointed by the NEC.
Issa-Onilu, who is part of the pro-Adams Oshiomole National Working Committee (NWC), on Friday, declared support for the move, although he had been part of the opposition to the NEC that brought it to place, saying it was illegal and unconstitutional. Onilu disclosed that he has aligned himself with President Buhari.
In a statement titled ‘Support Governor Buni-led Caretaker Committee’, made available to press, the former APC spokesman reportedly said: “President Buhari along with the NEC of our great party, the APC on Thursday dissolved the party’s NWC. I was not just a proud member of that organ, I was also the Spokesman of the party. It was a privilege to have the opportunity to serve under the governing party of a government led by President Buhari.”
He said, “However, by this statement, I am speaking in my personal capacity and not for anyone or group. I have reflected on the events of the past few days and the outcome of Thursday’s NEC meeting and as a party man, I declare my support for the actions taken by Mr. President.”
“Like the President said, the party was ominously hanging on a cliff and as expected, something had to give way because the APC could not have continued along that obvious path of destruction.”
“I, therefore, call on every member to rally round the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee led by Mai Mala Buni, an experienced party administrator and other eminent members of that committee who, of course, are our compatriots, as they embark on the process of rebuilding our party to the height we all desire.”
“Ours must be a party that is strong and truly progressive; one that can provide our government the support it requires to deliver more dividends of democracy. We all have the obligation to subordinate our individual interests to the collective interests of our government and country. The task of preserving President Muhammadu Buhari’s unprecedented legacies is not negotiable,” Issa-Onilu said.
A respondent however showing his disapproval of the Issa-Onilu’s latest decision said he should not be taken serious after all the falsehood he allegedly spread against Buhari, Giadom and others.
“Of all the falsehood this guy peddled on behalf of his group, he’s switching because he has lost? He’s a betrayer that cannot be trusted. This is no time to bring such a person into the new NWC! Why didn’t he take this action 5, 4 or even the day before the NEC meeting? When he saw that the President had aligned with Giadom as the AG. Nat. Chairman, why didn’t he leave his gang and come over to the President’s side? Or did he ever think that his discredited side would “win”?”
Court affirms Ize-Iyamu’s APC membership
A Benin High Court has affirmed that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the September 19 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, is a registered member of the party.
Deputy chairman of the party in Edo, Kenneth Asekomhe, and three others, Benjamin Oghumu, Matthew Ogbebor and Unweni Nosa, had filed the suit challenging the decision of the APC granting a waiver to Ize-Iyamu, to make him eligible to contest the APC primary election.
The defendants in the suit are APC, Adams Oshiomhole, and Ize-Iyamu.
The plaintiff had prayed the court to restrain APC from recognising Ize-Iyamu as an aspirant of the party in its governorship primary election.
In his ruling, Justice Emmanuel Ahamioje, said Ize-Iyamu did not require a waiver to contest.
According to him, the membership of a party is an internal affair of the political party and that rendered it non-justiciable before the court.
