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The Progressive Governors Forum has criticised the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for the party’s ‘diminishing fortunes’.
Its Director-General, Salihu Lukman, in a letter entitled, “APC: Appeal for Reconciliation”, dated August 6, 2019, and addressed to the former labour leader, said things had allegedly gotten worse in the ruling party.
He said: “As a loyal party member, I have difficulty reconciling the absence of meetings of superior organs given all the challenges the party is going through, warranting the suspension of three serving governors (two of them now senators) and two members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Lukman observed that there was hardly any difference between Oshiomole’s management of the party and the way Chief John Odigie-Oyegun managed it during his tenure.
“Instead, things have really got worse and painfully, it would appear, you are in denial of this reality. It would appear that the leadership problems facing the party are getting deeper and in the circumstance, the business of building the party will be sacrificed.
The forum attributed the loss of the governorship contests in Zamfara, Oyo, Imo, Bauchi and Adamawa state to the internal wrangling allegedly created by the APC chair, warning that similar scenarios might play out in Kogi, Ondo and Edo.
The governors went on: “It is a painful reality that we have found ourselves in a situation of near stalemate in many states under your leadership. Embarrassingly, our leaders, including your very self, appear to be stubbornly inconsiderate of other options of resolving these challenges.
“If the electoral losses of Oyo, Imo, Zamfara, Adamawa and Bauchi are not a wake-up call to the dangers that lie ahead, what would be? Is it that our leaders are indifferent to the possible return of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?”
The DG added: “In all my years of association with you, I never imagine that one day you will be so comfortable as to be indifferent to challenges that could threaten our national democratic development.”
He urged the former governor of Edo State to allow room for divergent views while proffering solutions to problems.
“Grandstanding with reference to technicalities is the trademark of Nigerian lawyers, with due apologies, which has produced the reality whereby the capacity of our legal and judicial system to deliver justice is weak,” the forum added.
Lukman queried Oshiomhole’s refusal to convene meetings of organs of the party, especially the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the national caucus, stating that Odigie-Oyegun was unseated for same offence.