Adams Oshiomhole, the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has shed light on the circumstances leading to his removal from office, attributing it to the actions of some governors, including Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
Oshiomhole made these revelations during the launch of the book “APC and Transition Politics” written by Salihu Lukman, a former national vice chairman (North-west) of the party, at the Shehu Yar’Adua Center in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Oshiomhole accused the author and certain governors of spearheading the campaign that resulted in his “illegal” removal from the position of APC national chairman. He specifically mentioned Fayemi and Amosun for instigating his removal, alleging that they employed various illegal means to oust him due to his efforts to establish party supremacy.
The former chairman claimed that Lukman wrote several letters dismissing his leadership without engaging him in discussions. Oshiomhole criticized the undemocratic appointment of Lukman by the governors’ forum and recounted his unsuccessful attempts to convene a meeting with governors to discuss guidelines for conducting primaries.
“I wrote to the governors for a meeting. The governors said no, I should come to Imo House, not the APC office. He (Lukman) was in there (where they were holding the meeting). He did not see anything wrong with that,” Oshiomhole stated.
Describing the atmosphere at the meeting with the governors, Oshiomhole said it felt like being in a military barrack. He recounted his response to the governors, asserting his experience as a two-term governor and dismissing their attempts to lecture him about power.
Oshiomhole also revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari did not intervene to halt the governors’ onslaught. He cautioned other governors, including Mr. Ganduje, to be prepared for similar tactics, noting that the lack of presidential intervention was a key factor in his own case.
Additionally, Oshiomhole disclosed that the party provided Kwara State with N800 million to support the “O to ge” movement, which contributed to the party’s victory in the state.
