Pro-Oshiomhole governors in the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday beat their counterparts against the removal of national chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
They turned the table to secure the suspension of Tuesday’s contentious Emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Sixteen of the 20-member Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) met to take a position on the leadership crisis rocking the party before interacting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa.
The Nation reports that the group deftly ensured that the NEC meeting planned by their counterparts against the former Edo Governor is suspended indefinitely.
While Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma led the pack of pro-Oshiomhole group, chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) Kebbi State governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu was arrow head of the anti-Oshiomhole group.
Source at the pre-villa meeting of the Governors said it became rowdy when Pro-Oshiomhole group gathered their counterparts had concluded plans to present a position to the President that the forum has endorsed the anti-Oshiomhole NWC, a move that was swiftly contested, forcing the PGF to back pedal.
“It was gathered that the PGF chairman had perfected a plan to present a position that the governors endorsed the NEC meeting to the President without prior discussion by the whole house.
“This angered Imo State governor, Uzodinma who stood his ground and accused the chairman of imposition,” a source disclosed.
Irked by Bagudu’s action, Uzodinma along with other allies protested, reinforcing their determination to resist any attempt to humiliate Oshiomhole out of office.
This development forced the meeting to agree that the NEC meeting would be suspended to enable them find amicable and popular solution to the deadlock.
It was also gathered that Uzodinma also complained what he described as the inglorious role of the Director General of the PGF, Dr. Mohammed Lukman.
He reportedly frowned at the “untoward” role the DG played in the leadership crisis rocking the party.
According to another source at the meeting: “Governor Uzodinma who was visibly angry complained that the DG can no longer be allowed to be disparaging the national chairman of the party and he said that he (Lukman) be relieved of his post”.
It was at this point that the forum chairman apologised and appealed to his colleagues.
An agreement was then reached to persuade President Buhari to support the suspension of the NEC.
Briefing State House Correspondents after meeting with the President, Bagudu said the forum had resolved to amicably resolve all the areas of differences that had all along been responsible for crisis in the party.
He also said that they (the Governors) agreed with President Buhari to suspend the scheduled NEC of the party until such a time when they (the governors) would deem it fit to hold the meeting and report back to the President.
“Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), who are governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled-states, came this afternoon to meet Mr President and among other issues,
“Yes, we discussed about party issues and showed appreciation to Mr President on how he has given access to each of us individually and collectively.
“Among the issues we discussed was the resolution the governors have taken to work together and resolve all the issues in our party and also we sought Mr President’s support to postpone the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was scheduled for tomorrow, until such a time that governors will be able to report back,” he said.
