By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has cautioned the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against interfering in its (APC) internal party affairs, saying the PDP has nothing meaningful to contribute to the political development of the state.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Party’s Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy and signed by its Director, Barr Kunle Oyatomi, in Osogbo, the ruling party accused PDP of dishing out malicious statements capable of destabilizing the state.
The spokesman reminded people of the State that the PDP had a terrible antecedent and record of violence, killings and maiming, to the extent that Osun people could not sleep with their two eyes closed.
The Party also condemned “the petty and empty statement” credited to one Ayodeji Areola of the PDP that “the Police should close down the APC state Secretariat to avoid further loss of lives”.
The party described Areola as an ignorant figure who knows next to nothing about the political development of Osun, except white lies he is being fed by the expired leaders of the dying party.
APC also urged the Security agents to invite PDP leaders, especially Areola, to name the person who lost his or her life at the APC state secretariat or face the law if they cannot substantiate their claims.
The APC urged the PDP in Osun State to face its business and put its scattered house in order rather than delving into issues that does not concern it
“What we are experiencing in the ruling APC in Osun is just an intraparty/family issue and will be amicably settled by elders and leaders of the party in no distant time”, Oyatomi said.
Enwang who is a member of the Board of Trustees of the APC said this in Uyo at the inauguration of the Akwa Ibom State and local chapters of the Progressives Patriots Initiative (PPl), an offshoot of Buhari’s friends’ Organisation- a pressure group within APC.
Enwang urged members not to be deterred by the current crisis, as the party is building structures that would sweep off PDP in the 2023 polls.
He said, “no matter what is happening in the party, it will be well, I say, it will be well. There is nothing that happens now in the party that will be new. It’s a normal thing to have issues in a party.
“We must keep APC in form, APC must take over the leadership of Akwa Ibom State. We are building our structure and I know it shall be well.”
He also condemned the actions of some leaders of the party at the just concluded ward congresses in the state describing it as ‘overbearing and undemocratic.’
Enwang who is also one of the patrons of PPI, lauded the group and encouraged leaders of the group to uphold principles of inclusion and fairness.
Also, the sole administrator, Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Effiong Akwa, who spoke about the activities of NDDC, said those agitating for the inauguration of a substantive board for the commission are sponsored by enemies outside the Niger Delta region.
He said forensic audit as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari was not to witchhunt anyone as speculated, but to right the past wrongs in the NDDC and give value for monies spent.
He also hailed the inauguration of the group in the state.
“when you see people issuing threats and giving ultimatums that within 7 days if you don’t set up the NDDC we are going to blow oil pipelines we knew that the whole thing was a game plan by enemies outside the region.
”Those outside this region also want our region to boil like theirs. If we allow that to happen Nigeria would have gone to another phase because the resources used in managing Nigeria 90% comes from your region.
”And so they want to make your region ungovernable. And that is why I salute the courage of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio who sat down and said he wants to go to the creeks to talk to those who are giving these ultimatums”, he said.
