All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (Southsouth) Prince Hilliard Eta yesterday said those behind the plot to remove the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, plan to weaken the ruling party.
He alleged that the motive of the agents of destabilisation was to pave way for their 2023 presidential ambitions.
The APC chieftain said he has unraveled moves by the anti-Oshiomhole elements in the party to distract President Muhammadu Buhari from delivering, thereby weakening the fortunes of the party and moving members to another party where they can pursue their selfish ambition come 2023.
The APC vice chairman told reporters in Abuja where he debunked media reports that his kinsmen in the Southsouth have abandoned Oshiomhole.
Contrary to reports, Eta maintained that members and leaders of the party from the Southsouth geo-political zone are solidly behind the leadership of the national chairman.
He said: “Oshiomhole remain the best for the position. Therefore, he is enjoying the support of the leaders of the zone contrary to reports in the media.”
Eta added: “I was surprised when I read the report that the Southsouth have abandoned Oshiomhole, that is completely untrue and being fueled by those plotting evil against the national chairman. I am the National Vice Chairman of the party in the South South zone, and I know better. The political leader of the zone who is the Deputy Senate President (Ovie Omo-Agege) was not contacted by anyone to know the position of the zone.
“So, I wonder where that Newspaper got their information from. As I speak with you, the zone is implicitly behind the national chairman of our party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. We are fully in support of our chairman and people from outside of our zone will not tell us how we will manage our office that was zone to our region.
“We believe that the Chairman is doing very very well and on account of his performance, the zone stands solidly behind him. We have continuously and persistently said so because nothing has fundamentally changed.”
Eta blamed the current crisis in the party on 2023 presidential ambition of some governors, who are hell bent on removing the national ghairman in order to actualize their selfish ambition and interest at the expense of national interest.
He warned: “We should be mindful of the consequences of our actions because they are distracting our President who is settling down after he won his second term to provide the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
“I happen to know that there is this move by some of these people to weaken the party and get some people out so they can form another political group to challenge the party in 2023. But, that can be done without heating up the polity the way they are doing now.
“Those who love this party must call the troublemakers to order, whatever happens to this party between now and 2023 will affect the democratic fabrics of this country. So, we must be mindful of not just the corporate health of APC but that of the entire Nigerians,”
