National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun does not hesitate in baring his mind on happenings within the polity, his party and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a chat with select journalists, Odigie did exactly that as he shared his thoughts on a number of touchy issues in the polity. Excerpts:
Your party, last week resolved the seeming intractable crisis rocking the APC caucus in the House of Reps, how did you achieve that?
We are glad that the misunderstanding in the House of Representatives has been amicably resolved; thanks to the intervention of Mr. President who once again made it quite clear with everybody, that there is no alternative but to listen to what the party says.
He emphasised the fact that all of us were what we were and what we are, thanks to the platform that the party provided for everybody.
I think his message resonated very intensively with all the members of the House. Yet, he did not interfere. I want to make that very clear. His parting words to us was that the presiding leadership of the House and the party should go and resolve whatever issues there are that were militating against the resolution of the problem. And that exactly is what happened.
When we were leaving there, the press was very anxious to hear that A, B and C have been appointed to whatever positions but that is not what happened. I promised that within a few hours, it would be resolved. Precisely, I said that by the next morning, the nation will be glad knowing that this issue would have been resolved and put behind us.
We left there and went a few hours later into consultations and discussions with the presiding officers of the House of Representatives. Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute to their maturity, to their sense of responsibility. I pay tribute to their loyalty to the party and above all, tribute to their sense of general good, meaning the patriotism displayed by the Speaker and his Deputy.
It did not take long, necessary concessions that had to be made were made. The very next day, I think you all witnessed the general jubilation that greeted the final resolution of what was proven to be an intractable problem. One behind us, one to go. Everybody has ended up being happy with the solution that was proffered to the problem of party position primarily being upheld.
But some members appear to have been cheated in the way the matter was resolved. Are you not concerned that the South East could not get anything in the sharing arrangement adopted by the party?
The sharing process is not over. I want everybody to get that very clear. In the House of Representatives, it is not yet over, all the zones yet to get anything will be taken into consideration when other positions in the House are being distributed, I have no doubt.
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