Saboteurs behind Edo APC crisis, Oshiomhole tells Oyinlola panel

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams
Oshiomhole, on Thursday, described the lingering crisis in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress as the handiwork of enemies of the state and the party.

He also said the crisis was being blown out of proportion. Oshiomhole said this at the Government House in Benin, when he received the members of the fact-finding committee set up by the national secretariat of the APC to assess the internal wrangling rocking the party in Edo State ahead of the state's governorship election on September 10. The national leadership of the party had, on May 10, inaugurated the five-member reconciliation committee, led by a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to look into the immediate and remote challenges affecting its Edo State chapter.

Other members include Senator Osita
Izunazo, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba,
Hajiya Fatimah Mohammed and Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi. The Edo State chapter of the party has, for several months, been battling with
internal crisis ranging from the reported fallout between Oshiomhole and his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, over his (Odubu) decision to contest the governorship election.
The recent impeachment of the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Edoror, by 17 lawmakers, has also been linked to the crisis in the party in the state.
But Oshiomhole noted that the state had been put in a bad light by individuals who claimed to be members of the APC but
remained committed to the opposition party.

He added, "The more dangerous enemies are those whom people purport to have joined the APC but their soul is in the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party). By the choice of their language and style and tactics, it is clear that they wish to be in
the APC while working in futility hoping that they can discredit the APC so that their own party that they have grounded, dismantled and rest can hopefully be revived.

"So maybe in seeking to settle us, you will also need to settle Abuja. Otherwise, we might just be shedding a crocodile tears. The headlines that you refer to are credited to people who purport to be in this party. When you see their language in the print and electronic media, you wonder if this is a Hiroshima war.

"They are now the ones, having benefited from my labour and accomplishment, using the most uncouth and violent language to describe my person. The official attitude seems to be, 'reconcile everybody.' That is fine."

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