By ‘Dotun Akintomide
Adams Oshiomhole now has a clear chance to emerge as the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s national Convention following the withdrawal of one of the aspirants, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor.
In a statement, Osunbor, a former governor of Edo State, who joined the race after the withdrawal of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said he decided to withdraw from the race out of respect for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall the President had since thrown his weight behind Oshiomhole’s candidature.
Osunbor also added that his decision was based on the interest of having a rancour-free national convention and in the overall interest of the party.
Osunbor’s statement reads, “It is common knowledge that I am vying for the position of national chairman of the All Progressives Congress at the forthcoming national convention for reasons I stated in my press release last week.
“However, after extensive discussions and consultations across the various levels in the party and amongst my family, friends and associates, I hereby issue the following statement:
“Out of respect for Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari and other frontline leaders of the party as well as the need to avoid unduly prolonging the voting exercise during the national convention; in the interest of a rancour-free national convention and to ease the work of the National Convention Committee and in the overall interest of our party the All Progressives Congress; I have decided to withdraw from the race and also endorse Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. Accordingly, I hereby withdraw my candidature.
“I thank all those who have expressed support for my candidature but who may feel disappointed by this development. I crave the understanding of everyone”.
In a related development, Prince Tony Momoh, former Minister of Information and a national leader of the party, said he resisted pressure from some stakeholders to contest against Oshiomhole in the race.
Momoh, a former national chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), said he told those asking him to run to support and work for the emergence of Oshiomhole instead.
“Oshiomhole is a very bold person, he is also a mobiliser. His background is labour, negotiation and reconciliation. He has done it in labour, the trade union in Kaduna, later he came into politics where he served eight years as governor. He is a political leader we respect in APC and Edo State. He is a great manager.
“Some said he is a dictator and so on but the fact is, he is a negotiator and a very dependable personality. Oshiomhole has the clout, the charisma and the drive to lead our party. He is an orator. We always joke that what he lacks in height, he makes up for with his oratory prowess. He is my man,” he said.
Meanwhile, The New Diplomat learnt that another chairmanship aspirant, Clement Ebri may soon announce his withdrawal before the APC Convention.
