Adams Oshiomhole, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has distanced himself from a rumour that Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment is working on his behalf to return to the office.
The former APC national chairman said this in reaction to a statement credited to a chieftain of the party, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze.
It was reported that Eze had said Keyamo and other members of the party were plotting to bring back Oshiomhole as national chairman of the party.
Reacting to the claim in a statement released by his media aide Victor Oshioke, Oshiomhole stated that it will be frivolous for anyone to think that Keyamo, who actively supported his removal would want him to return.
He added that all hands should be on deck to support the caretaker committee of the party to complete its assignment, rather than creating distractions that are counterproductive.
“In the said statement widely reported in the media, Chief Eze was quoted as saying that Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, and others were plotting to bring back Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC”, he said.
“Ordinarily we would have ignored this nonsensical suggestion. However, it is pertinent to set the records straight and put to rest this ridiculous falsehood being marketed by Eze Chukwuemeka Eze.
“Festus Keyamo was at the forefront and indeed provided legal support through his legal assistants who went to court and argued on behalf of those that filed cases for the removal of Oshiomhole as national chairman of the APC.
“Keyamo also offered legal advice on the legality of the NEC that was convened for the dissolution of the Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of APC and emergence of the Governor Mai-Mala Buni led Caretaker Committee.
“It is, therefore, frivolous for any right-thinking person to assume that Mr. Keyamo, who actively supported the removal of the national chairman elected by over 6, 500 party delegates from across the 36 states and the FCT, would now plot to bring the same Oshiomhole back to the office.
“It is strange that a serving minister would share on social media platforms what he captioned as a ‘private and confidential’ legal opinion for Mr. President who appointed him, especially considering that he was in the political kitchen when the pot of crisis he is now offering advice on was being cooked”.
The former Edo governor also said Keyamo may have failed to reap the benefits he anticipated with his removal as APC national chairman.
“The truth is that Mr. Keyamo seems to have lost out in the power play and failed to secure the benefits he anticipated in Oshiomhole’s removal from office with the consequent dissolution of the NWC and other structures of the party. This is the main reason for his self-serving new legal opinion which contradicts his earlier stance,” he added.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will not be part of any plot to destabilize or ridicule the party in any way or for any reason. He takes serious exemptions to his name being dragged into an issue that he has no hand in.”
He commended the party’s caretaker committee for bringing three governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the ruling party.
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