Following the immediate dissolution of the current All Progressives Congress, APC, National Working Committee, NWC, the suspended National Chairman of the ruling party, Adams Oshiomhole, has been retired from politics, a source told dailyexcessive news, on Thursday.
The source said: “Adams Oshiomhole has been completely retired from Nigerian politics. How has the mighty fallen. Governor Godwin Obaseki is now the godfather of Edo politics. The dissolution of the APC NWC, and the express order from President Buhari, that all litigation pending in courts should be dropped, shows that there is no more hope for Oshiomhole.
“With Oshiomhole out of the way, the alleged 2023 Presidential ambition of Tinubu is dead. We are working towards retiring him (Tinubu) soon.”
This assertion came as President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, expressed worry over the shifting loyalty within the ruling party, and what he called the inconsistency in Leadership, which he said had opened the party to mockery.
He stated that it is clear that the party’s fortunes were currently in jeopardy.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President made his position known in his remarks at the emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Buhari noted that there is an urgent need for intervention, to arrest further drifts that may lead to the party’s total disintegration.
His words: “There are also other associated disputes as to the legitimacy or otherwise, of holders of certain National Offices of the party.
“The party is also contending with judicial claims and counter-claims, orders and counter-orders, and indeed judgements and counter-judgements that are predominantly at cross-purposes.
“Confronted with these issues, it is obvious that the fortunes of the party are currently in jeopardy; administration of our party is becoming impossible, and there is consequently an urgent need for intervention to immediately arrest further drifts and internal wrangling, which may lead to total disintegration.
“What we see clearly emerging is that we are beginning to self-destruct. This, my dear party members, is not just regrettable, but utterly gut-wrenching.”
President Buhari further advised members of the party to withdraw all pending litigation against one another, and settle for internal conciliation.
He warned that the gains of the party could be reversed, as conflicts overshadow the primary objective of service to the people, urging members to refocus on the larger picture, and place more emphasis on uniting the party.
The President said that the issues currently confronting the party, were such that should be worrisome to every party member.
He then proposed that: “The meeting may adopt the developed resolution as contained in the agenda, and pass resolutions including approving the immediate discontinuation of all pending litigation involving the party and its members; ratifying the primary election conducted in Edo State; dissolving the current National Working Committee; and appointing Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee for the party.”
The President also reiterated the need to discontinue all litigation involving members of the party, which were connected to issues of the party, stressing: “The directive had been issued before, unfortunately, some members failed to heed the directive.
“Thus, at this time, it must be made a Resolution of the party, which must be effectively enforced with dire consequences for members who choose to ignore the directive.”
The President said that in order to return to the “winning ways”, the APC must maintain cohesion by closing its ranks.
“We must be alive to the time and the task that is before us. As we all know, we are immediately confronted with the upcoming Gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States. Therefore, this is the time to get our acts together.”
The emergency NEC meeting adopted all the recommendations by the President, and appointed the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, as Caretaker National Chairman, while Senator John Akpanudoede was designated as the Caretaker National Secretary.