2019: Oshiomole Is The Engine To Drive APC To Victory —Hon. Johnson

As the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for their national convention the major concern of party faithfuls and Nigerians in general is who replaces embattled Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.

However, amidst all of the attendant suspense and hysteria Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha constituency of Edo State have described Comrade Adams Oshiomole as the ‘political V8 engine’ that will drive the APC into another election victory in 2019.

Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, Rep Member Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Constituency, Edo State

According to him, “the party as Nigerians can see is in dire need of a new leadership going forward, not because the current leadership has not done well, in fact I will say Chief Oyegun has done his best, but we need somebody who is rugged and dogged that can take the party to another level of greatness.

“Chief led the party to victory in 2015, and for me he must be appreciated, but I will borrow the words of Comrade when he says today we need new innovation, new awareness, new creativity, we have to change momentum going into 2019.

“So looking at all of these we decided that the right person is Oshiomole not because some of us know him personally or have worked with him closely, but because he has and is still doing a lot for the party and the nation.”

Responding to questions from our correspondent if the process leading to Adams Oshiomole’s emergence can be regarded as truly democratic with claims of the Comrade being heavily backed by President Buhari at the detriment of other candidates which seems to be polarizing the party, the Hon. was quick to downplay it.

In his view, he claimed that as a democrat, people have the right to agree or disagree which is a fundamental principle of democracy, that is being able to engage others, not through violence but peaceful engagement because 2019 is what is playing out today.

“APC for me as a party is more united than most people think, but yes there are a few people that are not happy about one or two things happening here and there, which is normal even in family sometimes you have misunderstandings, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the end of that family and this is also obtainable in politics.

“There is nowhere in the world were political parties are free of enemies whether internally or externally.

“What is important is the ability to know the problem and proffer the right solutions, and that’s what the party leadership is doing.

“We want to appreciate what happened especially in my state and many other states which did well, but I don’t want to play to the gallery of political gladiators who only wish Nigeria downfall, i want us to put them to shame.

“Let us come together regardless of party affiliation, APC, PDP, APGA, Labour even if you don’t belong to any political party, put this country first, put Nigeria first in our daily deliberations.

“Lastly, a good example is the role the President is playing which should be applauded as he has ensured that the congresses are held,” he said.

He called on party members to applaud the President for not intervening in the congresses held nationwide, and you must show him respect whether you are APC or PDP, enough of all of these hates speech, we need constructive criticism.

“We should do the needful, be you a Muslim or Christian.

“The president was neutral, his refusal to interfere should be applauded.I give him kudos, and I appreciate him.

“We are not where we used to be; we are not where we ought to be but we are progressing and all I am saying is that we should fast track that progression.

“If we must criticize,” he said, “it should be done in a more constructive manner, as he is not saying nobody should say what they believe in but we must make it void of any form of hate speech.”

On the budget the lawmaker claimed that he has been in the front and that the National Assembly will speedily pass the budget as we have seen much light in that direction in recent days.

He insisted that the blame on the delay shouldn’t be on National Assembly but rather the various agencies and MDAs that did not do the needful at the right time.

Speaker Dogara and Members of the APC House of Reps Caucus in a group photograph after the meeting with Comrade Oshiomole.

Meanwhile the former governor of Edo state and Chairmanship hopeful of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole in a bid to canvass the support of his party members and leaders in the legislature visited the House of Representatives on Tuesday to meet with the party’s caucus in the lower chamber.

Speaking with journalist at the end of the very heated meeting, the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) stated:

“I have no doubt in my mind that once we have a democratic organisation there is bound to be contestations, agreement and disagreement.

“But I think the main challenge is leadership which I am willing to provide to be able to find courage and good heart to listen and to pro-actively intervene and to help people who have issues to find common ground to coexist.

“I believe that all the members of APC have good intentions despite all the internal contestation and I assured that without any fears we will resolve them so that we can have a party that is united, cohesive, one which its membership has a sense of belonging where a strong correlation between effort and reward is enthroned.”

By Uchechukwu Ugboaja – Abuja