Following the inauguration of the reconstituted National peace Committee of the All progressive Congress, it is widely anticipated that the Chief Bisi Akande led Committee will resolve all lingering issues considered to be fuelling the hostilities within the ranks of the ruling party. Regrettably, the nullification of the electoral victory of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress at the Bayelsa State Governorship Election by Supreme Court appears to have undermined this glimmer of hope. Apparently, the pronouncement of the Apex court presents a window of opportunity for a section within the party hierarchy, which has consistently advocates for the ouster of Adams Oshiomole as the National Chairman of the ruling party to resonate its call for the head of the former Edo State Governor.
In Similitude to messianic mission, the emergence of Adams Oshiomole as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress is occasioned by the degree of impunity which stems out from the inability of his predecessor to enforce and sustain discipline within the party hierarchy. Indeed, the conspicuous absence of harmonized political ideology has made the ruling party to metamorphose into a fertile ground where indiscipline and impunity breeds.
Beyond possessing the audacity to restore discipline into the fold of the Ruling party, it is equally the anticipation of party faithful that the former Edo State Governor has the magical wand to redirect the All Progressive Congress to the path of progressive politics. Considering his pedigree as a former Labour Leader, who has earned great credence for his overwhelming doggedness in the struggle against incessant pump price increase during the tenure of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, however the task of repositioning the ruling party is widely presume as another rare opportunity for Adams Oshiomole to reenact his tenacity.
Regrettably, the failure of Adams Oshiomole to discreetly harmonize the divergent views within the ranks of the ruling party has copiously escalates the internal crisis of the All Progressive Congress to a melting point. Regardless of the grievous implication of his irrational position, it is unfortunate that in the face of the imbroglio rocking the ruling party, Adams Oshiomole has consistently remained confrontational. Hence, it becomes needful to remind the former Edo state Governor that his bellicose position had deprived the All Progressive Congress the opportunity of retaining the governorship seat in Adamawa, Zamfara, Bauchi and Oyo state. Similarly, the failure of the ruling Party to present a consensus candidate for the Rivers State gubernatorial polls emanates from Adams oshiomole’s needless meddlesome in the conduct of Rivers State gubernatorial primaries.
While it is evident that the enforcement of party discipline remained dominant in the mandate before the Adams Oshiomole led National Executive Council, it is apparent that the former labor leader will step on the toes of some perceived big wigs within the party hierarchy as it remains the only acceptable alternative. In a society as ours, where political office holders are presume to be on equal pedestal with deities and also where the demand for accountability and transparency on public finance is absolutely considered sacrilegious. Apparently, it is unsurprising, that most of the governors who had served out their tenure in office are unapologetically desperate to perpetually hold on to power through the back door by positioning their stooge as their successor.
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Owing to his diminutive look, it is congruent to assume that the former Edo State Governor will certainly be beleaguered by the immense power at the disposal of some of the discontented governors. However, going by the accomplishment of Adams Oshiomole in relegating Chief Anthony Anenih, the erstwhile political maestro and god father of Edo politics from the pinnacle of political relevance to the dungeon of oblivion, it becomes evident that Adams Oshiomole is never a naiveté, but a fearless veteran who possesses the acumen to confront political behemoths regardless the enormity of their political might.
Consequently, the need to enforce discipline into the fold of the All Progressive Congress ultimately compels Adams Oshiomole to unleash every available force in his arsenal against some governors that are disinclined to relinquish their overbearing control over the affairs of the party machinery in their respective state. Interestingly, the eventful displacement of Honourable Adekunle Akinlade and Uche Nwosu as the governorship candidates of the ruling party in Imo and Ogun State explicitly unveils the astuteness of the former Labour Leader. In spite of the immense support from their respective state governors, the unceremonious exit of the duo from ruling party is literally considered as a watershed in the fight against the culture of impunity and party indiscipline within the hierarchy of the ruling party.
Certainly, Adams Oshiomole’s tenacity to undermine the rapacious ambition of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Owelle Rochas Okorocha to forcefully impose their stalwart as the party gubernatorial candidate of their respective state is absolutely commendable. Likewise, the adoption of a truculent position by the Chairman of the ruling party is unreservedly acceptable when reflecting on the inane desire of the former governor of Imo State to defiantly instate his son in-law as his successor. Since it is assumed that the former Edo State Governor has successfully liberated the enemy territories from the clench of defiant governors, it is therefore apposite to presume that the process of reconciliation will be vigorously pursued by the Adams Oshiomole led National Executive Council as a way of mollifying aggrieved members of the party.
Rather than commencing the process of reconciliation as a matter of urgency, it is baffling that the former Labor leader has deliberately maintained a pugnacious ground at a time when peace should be ultimately pursued. Equally, the deliberate failure of Adams Oshiomole to convene the meeting of the National Working Committee becomes suspicious, as it seemingly appears to be an avenue for the office of the National Chairman to arrogate the powers of the highest decision making organ of the ruling party. In addition, the conspicuous display of his narcissist tendency and the blatant disregard of collective decision as undoubtedly spurred the animosity between the former Labour Leader and Lawal Shuaibu, the Deputy National Chairman, of the Ruling Party.
Again, it is absolutely ironic and hypocritical that the same individual who had gained prominence for his alacrity in his quest to annihilate godfathers from the annals of Edo state politics has abruptly evolve to become the proverbial dog that has returned to its throw up. While the former Edo State Governor has relentlessly refuted his alleged intention to become the Godfather of Edo State, it is compelling to question the raison d’être behind Adams Oshiomole’s desperation to position his stalwart as the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly. Subsequently, the ceaseless bid of the former Edo State Governor to have dominant control of the Edo State House of Assembly has undeniably inflamed the rift between the Former Labour leader and Governor Godwin Obaseki. In replication of the ignominious defeat, which the ruling party records in Zamfara, Adamawa, Oyo and Bauchi state, it is evident that the reprehensible actions of Adams Oshiomole may seemingly jeopardize the possibility of the All Progressive Congress to successfully retain the Governorship seat in Edo State.
Interestingly, as the storm from the troubled waters of the Ruling party continues to build up, it is apparent that Adams Oshiomole fate as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress anchors on the recent electoral success recorded by the Ruling party at Kogi and Bayelsa Governorship polls. It is unsurprising that the success in Bayelsa State, which is the home state of Former President Goodluck Jonathan and stronghold of the opposition party, is extensively assumed to be phenomenal, which has immensely become a source of arrogance for the Former Edo State Governor.
Apparently, the declaration of the Supreme Court, which nullifies the electoral victory of David Lyon, the candidate of the ruling party at the electoral poll appears to be a sucker punch, which might possibly cut short the aspiration of the former labor leader. As the reprehension of the National Chairman continues to intensify due to the laxity of the national Executive Council to uncover the discrepancies in the Academic certificates tendered by Biobarakuma Degi – Ereminienyo Bayelsa, the running mate of the ruling party Governorship candidate in the Bayelsa Gubernatorial polls, thus it is glaringly noticeable that this singular inaccuracy is presumed to be the tide that will eventually terminates the tenure of Adams Oshiomole’s led National Executive Council Bayelsa.
Consequently, the felonious and thoughtless vilification of the decision of the Apex Court by the Former labor leader is alleged to be a desperate ploy to save his face in the wake of the chagrin caused by his recklessness. Perhaps Adams Oshiomole has evolved to a lone wolf whose wild vituperation has become inconsequential as the camp of his traducers keeps mounting. Like a drowning man whose hope of survival rest on clutching to a straw, it is evident that the review of the decision of the Supreme Court remains the straw which the fate of the former Edo state Governor clutches. However, as the entire nation awaits the outcome of Supreme Court review of Bayelsa Election, it’s unequivocally certain that the failure of the apex court to upturn its verdict will culminates to the dissolution of the Adams Oshiomole’s led National Executive.
Abai Olumuyiwa
Lagos Based Public Affair Analyst
NAN
