Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole has expressed optimism ahead of the 2023 general elections, insisting that God will not forsake Nigerians.
The former labour leader and ex-governor also dismissed having any regrets over actions and inactions that resulted in his sack as the ruling party chairman last year.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Rotary Club of Abuja fundraising event on Saturday as the chairman of the investiture of Rotarian Victoria Unoarumi as 10th President, Oshiomhole suggested that every Nigerian politician should join the club and allow its four-way tests to guide their actions.
Asked about his fears for the 2023 general elections, Oshiomhole responded: ‘I have hopes not fears for 2023. People like to talk about their fears but for me, my life is about hopes. I think that by 2023 God will not forsake a nation of 200 million people.
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‘Our democracy has come to stay, it is not perfect, a couple of things could be done to strengthen it but we have to move on and get on with the job. I strongly believe that God, in His infinite power, will help Nigeria to sustain democracy as we move through 2023.
‘As an optimist, I always say that with all the problems that Nigeria have, Nigeria is still much more than the sum total of all these problems,’ he insisted.
On whether he is regretting his role that resulted in his sack, he retorted: ‘No, no, no. Life is not all about regret. I am a very happy man or do you see me looking sad. I might look small but not sad.’
The former Edo State Governor further emphasised that he has been participating actively in party activities despite his removal.
‘The court judgment quashing my removal was not actually delivered last week. It was on July 2, 2020, two weeks after I was removed from office. The only reason I decided to publish it last week was because I saw comments suggesting that people were not aware that the case was dismissed.
‘I had addressed newsmen shortly after my removal and said that regardless of the legality or illegality of my removal, I have accepted what happened in good faith and resolved not to contest it. I promised to remain committed and do what I can as a party member to support the party.
‘You know in law, you can decide as I have done to sleep on your right. And as I took that decision to sleep on my right, it has remained sleeping. I have decided for the purpose of party chairmanship to sleep on my right and it remains happily so.
‘You can see that I have been active since I left office because I don’t think I need to be a chairman to remain relevant. I didn’t join the party to become chairman but because we wanted to form an alternate platform capable of taking PDP out of power and that objective was achieved.
‘It does not matter how it all went, but the important thing is that the primary purpose was not for me to be chairman,’ he noted.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
