APC Ondo guber primaries: Resign now, Tinubu tells Oyegun

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu has called for the sacking of the national chairman, John Oyegun, a fall out of the dispute over Ondo State’s governorship primary election.
In a statement yesterday Sen Tinubu reeled out a litany of sins against the national chairman for which he said he must go.

Tinubu and Oyegun reportedly parted ways soon after the Ondo State APC gubernatorial primary election held on September 3.

Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who reportedly got the support of Oyegun defeated Olusegun Abraham, said to be Tinubu’s candidate.
In the statement issued by his Media Office (TMO), titled: “Oyegun’s Ondo fraud: the violation of democracy in the APC” Tinubu said the party was being destroyed from within.
“To rescue the party, Oyegun mustgo. He has shown that he and democratic fair play cannot exist in the same party at the same time,” the statement said.
“For those who care about the party, who care about Nigeria and its chance for a better tomorrow, now is the time to stand against this brewing evil before it grows to encompass all we have built and all we hold dear.
“The APC, a party born of the quest for democratic good governance, is under critical threat by those who managed to be in the party.
“From the party’s inception, the principles of democratic fairness and justice were to guide APC internal deliberations. Party founders realized that only by intramural fair dealing could the party remain faithful to the progressive ideals that we presented to the Nigerian electorate as our governing creed.
“If the party could not justly govern itself, it would find it difficult to establish and maintain just government throughout the nation.  
“In essence, the party was the embodiment of a democratic promise made between its members as well as a democratic vow made to the public. Evidently, some errant members believe promises and vows are mere words to be easily spoken and more easily broken.
“Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good pledges in a most overt and brazen display. In doing so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead.
“It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira. The party was supposed to buttress APC members elected to government at all levels. Because of Oyegun’s conduct of our affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an albatross to those it was meant to help.
“Oyegun’s comportment regarding the Ondo State primacy will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order.
Tinubu said he initially accepted the outcome of the primaries as a democrat, and because the Jigawa Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar chaired the convention with decorum and impartiality.”
  He said, however, that the governor was unaware that a tampered list had been slipped into the process.
“Indeed within hours of the announcement, news began to filter in that gravely disturbed me. Credible allegations of fraud troubled the waters. The delegate list had been materially altered by someone in a strategic position to so do.
“The names of over 150 valid delegates were excised to make room for an equal number of impostors. This was not a clerical error. The alteration was wilfully executed that the primary would be directed toward a chosen end that bore nothing in common with the will of most state party members.
“A cunning few had tried to deceive the many into believing they were outnumbered. A conspiracy to steal the Ondo primary had been uncovered.
Fortunately, the grand deception afoot had been unable to cover its tracks fast enough. Truth began to cry for justice.
“Several candidates filed petitions contesting the result. The party established an investigative board to review the evidence. In a two to one decision, the panel found the delegate roster had suffered tampering. The panel recommended that a new primary should be held using the valid delegate list. This recommendation was tabled before the National Working Committee (NWC).
 “After many hours of deliberations spanning several days, a final vote was held by the NWC. Before hand, NWC members agreed that the decision of the majority would become the stance of the party. Such is the way of democracy.
“The NWC voted six against five to cancel the fraudulent results and hold an honest primary. For a moment, it seemed the party would restore its integrity by giving democracy a chance. However, those who sought to scam an entire state would not let the vote of 11 people spoil their enterprise.
“After the NWC vote, a noticeably agitated Chairman Oyegun proposed the NWC engage in prayer before concluding the meeting. Adhering to this chairman’s request, NWC members began to pray.
“Seeing that the others had taken his bait, Oyegun used the prayerful interlude to secretly excuse himself from the meeting. Contravening the NWC decision and in violation of all rules of fundamental decency, Oyegun decided to safeguard the fraud done in Ondo by perpetrating a greater fraud.
“Oyegun arrogated to himself the right to submit the name of Rotimi Akeredolu to INEC as the candidate of the party.
“Truth has finally come to light. There exists a regressive element in the party that cares nothing for the progressive ideas upon which this party was founded. They joined the APC because it was the best ride available at the time. Now they want to guide the party into the ditch. They want to turn the party into a soulless entity incapable of doing good, just like they are.  When such a person tastes power, they shed all good restraint. “They come to abuse the trust given them as if they are the owners of that trust and not its mere custodians. These people did little to build the party but now will do much to wreck it.
“Such a man is Oyegun and those who conspired with him to sabotage justice and democracy in Ondo. Our party was to stand for change. Oyegun and his fellows seem to be on a different wave length,” the statement said.
Oyegun was yet to respond to the call at press time, however, a source close to him said the national chairman had seen Tinubu’s message and was reviewing it.

Daily Trust

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