Edo APC to Lukman: Withdraw malicious statement against Oshiomhole within seven days

By Precious Igbonwelundu

The Director General, Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) Salihu Lukman has been given seven days to withdraw his ‘malicious’ statement against National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or face litigation.

The ultimatum was issued Monday by Edo APC Stakeholders in reaction to a memo Lukman wrote to the Chief Bisi Akande-led National Reconciliation Committee of the party.

Lukman had in a letter to the committee alleged that Oshiomhole was the problem of the party.

According to a statement signed by Chief Francis Inegbeneki and Alhaji Suleiman Bagudu on behalf of Edo APC Stakeholders, the statement by the DG was malicious and insulting.

The group said Lukman has seven days to withdraw it and apologise to Oshiomhole failure of which would warrant a legal action against him.

They took a swipe at Lukman; the stakeholders said he ceased being the DG of PGF the day he decided to allegedly “market his soul to those who were afraid of the ongoing reforms in the APC being spearheaded by the Oshiomhole-led NWC.

“He obviously has turned himself to a PDP man, masquerading as an associate of APC governors.

“For so long, we have kept quiet to his tantrums against the APC National Chairman, thinking that himself and his co-travelers, including Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, would turn a new leaf but they have persisted in their evil plot against Comrade Oshiomhole.

“Comrade Oshiomhole is not in the same category with small-minded men, like Lukman, who are making frantic efforts to please their pay masters. We are aware of his nocturnal visits to Edo Government House where he leaves with Ghana-Must-Go bags.

“If his memo is not full of mischief and motivated by compromised conscience that was not out to promote reconciliation, he should not have sent it to the press before making it available to the committee members.

“The point we make is that a memo he had prepared for the Bisi Akande committee should not have got to the press before members of the committee.

“To appreciate how mischievous the so-called Lukman is, he delved into Edo State politics to appease his pay master when he claimed the National Chairman is surrounded by sychophants in Edo as result of which he (National Chairman) does not take advice.

“If he does not know, the biggest sychophants around Oshiomhole were his (Lukman’s) friends-Obaseki and Philip Shaibu-who are his links to Edo State Government House. These two people deceived Oshiomhole into giving them power and today they want to kill all the leaders in Edo due to their desperation for a second term.

“We advise Lukman to continue to cultivate his new farm in Obaseki and Shaibu but he should stop insulting Oshiomhole or APC leaders because they are not on the same political pedestal.

“If he wants to be the National Chairman of the APC, he should wait for the next national convention to contest. But he should first test his popularity in his home state by running for councillorship position and see if he will win.

“We use this opportunity to also call on the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, to call his DG to order unless he is the one fueling the insults against Comrade Oshiomhole.

“It is even an insult on the governors to see their national chairman being attacked persistently by their DG. It is uncalled for and unacceptable to us.

“Edo APC will not tolerate any attempt to take Oshiomhole for granted by bread-and-butter men like Lukman. We will soon expose all Lukman’s dealings with the Edo State government and the world will know how deceitful he is. Indeed, Lukman lacks the moral standing to talk about Oshiomhole. He should go and contest election or keep his mouth shut.”

– The Nation