*File photograph of President Muhammadu Buhari (right) pointing to something of interest to the trio of Governor Godwin Obaseki, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole the suspended APC National Chairman and Comrade Philip Shaibu
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The crisis tearing the ruling All progressive Congress (APC) party took a new dimension in Edo State on Tuesday as both the state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, jointly resigned their membership of the APC.
Mr. Crusoe Osagie, Governor Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications Strategy made the resignation known through a press statement he issued early on Tuesday, the same day the Court of Appeal affirmed the suspension of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman of the APC. Oshiomhole has been in serious battle with Obaseki to stop him from returning as Edo State governor.
According to the statement, Obaseki’s resignation from the APC “is a fallout of a battle that arose from his refusal to subvert the will of the people for the interest of a predatory group of godfathers and political thugs.”
We recall that in a bid to see an end to the disagreement with the National Chairman of the APC, Governor Obaseki met with President Muhammadu Buhari and during the meeting with the President reaffirmed his readiness to end the crisis in the interest of the development of Edo State. But from all indications, what has played out is an indication that even Mr. President could not weigh in on the warring parties.
Following Obaseki’s departure from the ruling party, his deputy, Comrade Shaibu also joined his boss and resigned from the APC. He was videoed removing the APC flag in his office and detailing his aides to return same to their owners amid cheers for him and jeers for the APC.
His resignation letter, which he addressed to the Ward Chairman, APC Ward 11, Etsako West Local Government Area. Part of the letter reads, “I write pursuant to Article 9.5 (i) of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to formally resign my Membership of the All Progressives Congress and to inform you of my formal withdrawal from all or any of its proceedings and processes whatsoever. Please note that this resignation takes immediate effect.”
It would be recalled that few days back, the APC had approved its screening and appeal committees’ reports, which disqualified Obaseki and two others from participating in the June 22 governorship primaries in Edo State. Governor Obaseki said he would not appeal his disqualification because the same people that do not want him back as governor of Edo State would be the judge and jury at the appeal.
With that development, the APC’s National Working Committee, led by Adams Oshiomhole himself, announced Obaseki’s disqualification on June 13 at a news conference in Abuja. Oshiomhole said the NWC, which reviewed the two reports, noted with satisfaction that members of the committees were unanimous in their decisions.
