The Coalition of APC’s ex-presidential aspirants has kicked off a protest calling on President Muhammad Buhari to make haste and relieve Oshiomhole of the party chairmanship position before he finally destroys the party.
The coalition led by Alh. Mumakai Unagha which addressed a press conference in Warri Tuesday, indicated that it has become very obvious that Oshiomhole lacks the capability and the charisma to lead the party, adding that the evidence is clear with the manner he is tearing the party apart in his own state, Edo.
The coalition explained further that the protest has to kick off in the South South to tell the world clearly that Oshiomhole lacks the charisma to lead and has been rejected by his own people, adding that they observed it earlier, but were ignored when they raised the alarm.
Unagha said: “You may ask why the launch in the South-South? Oshiomhole is from the south-south and we want to demonstrate here that his home front has rejected him. Oshiomhole does not have the leadership charisma to lead the All Progressive Congress. We saw it coming and we raised alarm early enough, yet we were not listened to.
Recalling that, in spite of complaints from well-meaning members of the party to reduce the cost of nomination form, the national chairman blatantly refused, the coalition noted that the chairman has divided the party rather than uniting it.
“The chairman, rather than uniting the party, he created factions across almost the 36 states of the Federation. Today, we have been vindicated”, the coalition submitted.
It highlighted the lost ground which the party has suffered nationally, since Oshiomhole took over as chairman, pointing out that prior to the 2019 election APC was ahead of other parties in all ramifications.
Unagha said: “Before the 2019 general election, APC was maintaining a comfortable leads across the 36 States and the National Assembly, but today, the party has been taken 500 steps backwards.
“From Zamfara to Bauchi, Rivers, Delta, Oyo, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Plateau, Taraba etc, the story is the same.
“He deliberately created divisions in the states to weaken the strength of the party, a situation which suggested that he is being used by the opposition parties.”
The coalition expressed fear that with the present state of things in the chairman’s state, Edo, unless something drastic was urgently done, else the party would lose the governorship election next year.
“Similarly as we address this Press conference, Edo State, the state of the National Chairman is in turmoil and if care is not taken, the party may lose the forthcoming Governorship election”, he said.
The Coalition took a swipe in the national working committee of the party, accusing it of docility, adding that the “sit-don look” attitude of the NWC was not doing the party any good, just as they commended the deputy national chairman of the party for his courage to challenge the national chairman.
“We have given the National Chairman time to take the path of honour to bow out honourably. We also call on Mr. President for urgent and timely intervention to save the situation.
“As we have flag off this campaign, All Progressive Congress across the country should follow same as we shall stop at nothing until the national chairman bows out”, the Coalition concluded.