Oshiomhole, says he has accepted the decision of the party’s National
Executive Committee (NEC) that dissolved the National Working Committee
(NWC) in good faith.
Oshiomhole made the declaration at a news conference in Abuja on
Saturday.
He said that he would not question either the legality or otherwise of
the NEC’s decision because the President was behind his emergence as the
party’s National Chairman.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) recalls that President Buhari and the
NEC had on Thursday dissolved the NWC and constituted
caretaker/extra-ordinary convention planning committee headed by Gov.
Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, to reset the party.
Oshiomhole said: “I thought that it is important that I formally react
to the recent events as it affects our party.
“We are all aware that on Thursday, a special NEC meeting was called and
was attended by Mr. President, governors, APC leadership of the two
chambers of the National Assembly, and some other leaders of our party.
“At the end of the meeting, the National Working Committee was
dissolved, and accordingly, I cease to be the chairman of the All
Progressives Congress’’.
According to him, the APC under his chairmanship has done its best and
the results are there.
“Of course, we have now been dissolved and I have accepted that
dissolution in good fate.
“I’m not going into the question of legality or illegality.
“The bottom line is that the President, who invited me to lead the party
and who mobilized all the support for my emergence as chairman, also
presided over the meeting where the NWC has now been dissolved.’’
Oshiomhole recalled that President graciously invited him to run for the
office of chairmanship of the party in 2018.
He added that the President had directed him to reform the party.
“You know that reforms are challenging and it will entail taking
difficult decisions.
“Mine has been a life of trouble and I accepted this,’’ he said.
The former chairman listed his achievements as an overwhelming victory
achieved in 2019 general elections as the party recorded better results
in Presidential election in 2019 and then 2015 poll.
He said that the party won governorship elections in the two opposition
states; Kwara and Gombe.
“I believe I did my best because 2019 elections have come and gone.
“Thanks to Nigerian people, our president had more votes in 2019 than we
had in 2015.
“We have more members in the Senate and House of Representatives.
“Unlike in 2015, we were not able to manage our victory in the two
chambers such that we had an APC President in the Senate and PDP Deputy
Senate President.
“This time we were working hard with my colleagues in the NWC and in
consultation with leaders of our party across the board, we have the
kind of unity expected in the governing party in the two chambers of the
National Assembly.
“I’m happy that the leadership of the National Assembly is working
harmoniously with Mt President,’’ Oshiomhole said.