5 Major Points As Tinubu Breaks Silence On Oshiomhole, 2023, APC, Others

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had remained silent since political intrigues engulfed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which he is the national leader.

But in a statement on Saturday, the former Lagos State Governor touched on many issues including the ouster of APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, his 2023 Presidential ambition, the Edo State governorship election, amongst others.

Here are five key points addressed by Bola Tinubu…

1. Oshiomhole Acted Too Late

Tinubu accused the former National Chairman of the APC, Oshiomhole, of acting too late in dealing with the crisis that rocked the ruling party.

He said: “Some members went against their chairman in a bid to forcefully oust him. In hindsight, his fence-mending attempts were perhaps too little too late,” Tinubu said.

“I believed and continue to believe that Comrade Oshiomhole tried his best. Mistakes were made and he must own them. Yet, we must remember also that he was an able and enthusiastic campaigner during the 2019 election. He is a man of considerable ability as are the rest of you who constituted the NWC.”

2. Thinking About My 2023 Ambition Distasteful, Uncaring

The APC national leader stated that he was yet to make a decision regarding his 2023 presidential ambition.

He noted that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was a more important topic to be discussed than his ambition.

He said: “I am but a mere mortal who does not enjoy the length of foresight or political wisdom you profess to have. Already, you have assigned colourful epitaphs to the 2023 death of an alleged political ambition that is not yet even born.

“At this extenuating moment with COVID-19 and its economic fallout hounding us, I cannot see as far into the distance as you. I have made no decision regarding 2023 for the concerns of this hour are momentous enough.

“During this period, I have not busied myself with politicking regarding 2023. I find that a bit distasteful and somewhat uncaring particularly when so many of our people have been unbalanced by the twin public health and economic crises we face.”

3. We Must Accept President Buhari’s Decision

Bola Tinubu called on members of the APC to accept the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari during the NEC meeting of the party.

He bemoaned the fact that the crisis got to a point that the president had to intervene to save the party.

“With lawsuits so numerous one needed a spreadsheet to keep track, President Buhari has reasonably decided that he has seen enough. I do not lament his intervention or its outcome. I lament that the situation degenerated to the point where he felt compelled to intervene,” he said.

“The President has spoken and his decision has been accepted. It is now beholden on all of us, as members of the APC, to recommit ourselves to the ideals and principles on which our party was founded,” he added.

4. APC NWC Rivened By Unnecessary Conflict

The former Lagos state governor in his statement lambasted members of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

He accused them of using the power of executive authority to bury each other.

Tinubu also accused members of the dissolved NWC of exhibiting the behavior of a fight club “(which is) not the culture of a progressive political party”.

He said: “The National Working Committee, itself, became riven by unnecessary conflict. Those who disagreed with one another stopped trying to find common ground.

“Order, party discipline and mutual respect went out of the window. Members instituted all manner of court cases, most of them destructive, some of them frivolous, none of them necessary. In the process, a dense fog fell upon our party.”

5. Oshiomhole, APC Must Rally Round Ize-Iyamu

Tinubu commended the ousted National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, for accepting the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He urged Oshiomhole to return to Edo State and galvanize support for the governorship candidate of the party, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

He also urged the ruling APC to put aside all distractions and focus on the yet to be held primaries in Ondo State.

“In Edo, we must rally round our candidate Pastor Osagie Ize Iyamu. In this, Comrade Oshiomhole has a crucial role to play. I congratulate him for his equanimity and loyalty to the party and our President in accepting the dissolution of the NWC. I encourage him, now, to return to Edo State to energize the campaign for the election of Pastor Ize-Iyamu,” Tinubu said.