The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated a National Reconciliation Committee, Chaired by the former interim National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande.
The general terms of reference for the Committee is to reconcile aggrieved party members but it’s timing suggested that it is aimed at quelling the crises that have engulfed the party in Edo and Ondo states where governoship elections are holding in September and October.
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mahmood Yakubu last week announced that, the Edo Governorship election will hold September 19 while Ondo Governoship poll would be October 10.
APC had constitued high-level ten-member National National Reconciliation Committee headed by President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan with Akande as Vice Chairman; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase; Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; Kashim Shettima; Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; Nasiru Koki; Khairat Gwadabe-Abdulrazak; Binta Garba as members and John Enoh (Secretary).
While the Lawan led Committee was yet to be inaugurated, it was reviewed on Monday with the following as members: Bisi Akande (Chairman), Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola and Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi,
Others are: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Kashim Shettima, Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, Nasiru Aliko Koki, Khairat Gwadabe-Abdulrazak, Binta Garba and John Enoh as member Secretary.
Though the issue of the upcoming governoship elections was not discussed, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole that other terms of reference would be discussed behind closed doors suggested that it has do with the Edo and Ondo imbrilio.
Also, the hurry with which APC inaugurated the Committee within 24 hours after the review of membership showed that the party is taking proactive steps, particularly to end the feud of the sitting Governors of the states, Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) with the National Chairman of party, Adams Oshiomhole.
As Governors whose first tenure is about to end, both Obaseki and Akeredolu may be seeking second term ticket of the APC and their disagreement with Oshiomhole who will supervise the conduct of the party’s primaries put their ambition in jeopardy.
The possible fear among APC ranks is that if not amicably resolved, the lingering crisis would make these Governors defect to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which Governors are already surreptitiously wooing the duo.
It is an open secret that there has been bad blood between Oshiomhole and his successor, Obaseki since after the inauguration of the 7th Edo State House of Assembly when 15 out of 24 members ‘loyal” to the former governor were not inaugurated while nine said to be loyal to the incumbent governor were inaugurated.
Thus, there have been verbal and physical battles between the Oshiomhole and Obaseki factions of the APC in Edo State leading to the destruction of properties and injuries.
The height of the crisis was demonstrated recently when Edo Government submitted a written petition to the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the State Security Service (DSS) demanding immediate arrest of the National Chairman for breaching the state law banning political rally.
“I am in Abuja to meet with the IG. I have a petition to the IG and to the Director of DSS to the effect that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole be arrested by the Police and be arrested by the DSS for the breakdown of law and order that he has consistently perpetrated in Edo state. We banned rallies, the IG in a letter also suspended rallies” the Deputy Governor, Philip Shuaibu who spoke for Obaseki had said.
In Ondo State, Governor Akeredolu and Oshiomhole have been at loggerheads since 2018 when the Governor alleged that events that took place during the party’s primaries have exposed not “only the sheer incompetence” of the APC National Chairman, but more painfully, his “shocking liking of banditry and impunity”.
While the crisis ensured, APC National Working Committee of suspended Akeredolu for anti-party activities which, “greatly affected the fortunes of its candidates in the recently conducted presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.”
James Kwen, Abuja
