Claim by the Edo State
Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that Chief Timipre Sylva disrupted the
electoral process was repudiate by the Former Bayelsa State Governor Sylva.
The allegation referred to
the election during the disputed governorship primaries of the All Progressive
Congress APC in the state.
According to him, though
the Edo State Governor was the Chairman of the Election Committee and had left
the venue of the primaries, the election which led to his emergence as the flag
bearer of the party was free, fair and without violence as claimed by the Edo
State governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
Sylva in a statement issued
through his Media Adviser, Doifie Bukoribo, Wednesday night said
“It
is unfortunate that people like Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo State and
former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who pretend to be
incorruptible, would conduct himself in the manner in which he did in relation
to the Bayelsa State governorship primary. It was clear that Oshiomhole never
wanted to conduct the primary as scheduled.
“First,
on his request, the primary was shifted from its earlier date of Saturday,
September 19 to the Tuesday, September 22 2015 date. The grouse of the
delegates was that the primaries had been shifted once on Oshiomhole’s request.
That shift caused enough hardship already. The ‘comrade’ was again shifting the
goal post, without giving consideration to these hapless delegates. It was that
frustration that we were managing. It is so sad that the governor did not appreciate
our effort.”
“Second,
as chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Oshiomhole knew full well that
accreditation of delegates was to begin at 8am on Tuesday, September 22, but he
came to the venue of the programme well past 12 noon. After he arrived at that
late hour, he proceeded with a meeting with the committee members and another
meeting with the aspirants. He clearly had preconceived plans about the Bayelsa
APC governorship primary.
“Third,
Oshiomhole cannot really say anything about the primary election because he had
left the venue at the time voting commenced. Oshiomhole set the process in
motion for voting to commence before he excused himself on the grounds that he
was going to eat, and he mandated other members of the committee to carry on
without him.
“The
world needs to know that the Bayelsa State Electoral Committee is made up of
seven members, and of the seven only Oshiomhole left. The other six remained,
conducted the primary and declared Sylva winner of the exercise.
“Fourth,
it bothers on pettiness for Governor Oshiomhole to quote me as antagonist to
new entrants to our party. Every discussion I had with the governor was public.
“The
only private conversation I had with him was when he walked up to me and asked
me if I truly believed he was working against my interest. To that I answered
‘YES’. As a man of integrity (?) he even offered to step down as chairman. If
he had stepped down would that have invalidated the primaries? We should
refrain from exaggerating our worth and integrity. Let other good people judge
our character.”
“After
all, I was the one that received all new entrants. Oshiomole was invited and he
did not come. Fifth, Oshiomhole came to Yenagoa with a clear agenda, which was
to get me out of the race at all cost. We are aware that he had been lobbying
at the centre to get me out of the race in order to pave the way for one of the
aspirants. Indeed, one of the aspirants had boasted openly that Oshiomhole
would cancel the primary once he arrived, shortly before his arrival.
“Oshiomhole
should not tell lies, if I was not there, contrary to his insinuation that I
rented thugs to manhandle him, the crowd would have manhandled him. I
personally accompanied Oshiomhole to the gate when he was going to eat.
“Seventh,
if Oshiomhole has anything personal against me, let him tell the world. We are
shocked that the man who claims to be morally upright with a strong ethical
orientation would land in Yenagoa for an exercise in which he ought to be an
impartial arbiter with a helicopter provided by a friend of one of the
aspirants.”
Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment