AKHERE Godwin, Benin
There are indications that tension might be heightened in the Niger Delta following what sections of the region consider as marginalisation as reports emerged of plans to remove the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Reacting, the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Movement (NDENYLM) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently stop what it described as unholy gang up within the party geared towards removing Oyegun, who hails from Edo State.
The group blew open alleged plot to remove the National Chairman of the party, Odigie-Oyegun, in a statement made available to Global Patriot Newspapers, Monday, even as it warned that the people of the Niger Delta will resist such moves.
In the statement signed by its National Secretary, Abamojie Soboma Ajudua, the group reminded President Buhari of the support he enjoyed in the Niger Delta region despite the fact that the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan is from the zone, therefore warned against actions capable of tarnishing his image both in the country and abroad.
The group alleged that the gang up against Chief Oyegun was being perpetrated by a cabal in the party who “are after the head of the party chairman due to his stand that the decision of the party be respected in the election of Principal Officers in the National Assembly which include the Speaker and President of the senate. So what is wrong in that?
The group comprising of ex-militants and professionals in the Niger Delta, said : “We have it on good authority that the gambit is not unconnected with moves to punish the National Chairman of the APC for his uncompromising stands in the projection of Sen. Lawan and Hon. Gbajabiamila for the Senate Presidency and House Speakership respectively as the party unanimously resolved and directed.
“We know that the move is an unprovoked attack on the psyche of the average Niger Deltan, and we take serious and unparalleled exception to this unholy gang up against Chief John Oyegun; and if perfected as planned, we will retaliate with collateral consequences.
“Mr. President, be reminded that the PDP was voted out of power at the Centre essentially for its vindictive political tendencies; and from the tone of developments since the National Assembly election, it’s obvious that a tendency towards a diabolical-reward-system is being orchestrated in the APC, in order to unjustly undo men of integrity who holds national positions.
“The unassailable integrity, consistency to Progressive ideologies from the hay days of SDP to the Alliance for Democracy in 1999 are some of the attractive attributes of the National Chairman (Chief Oyegun) that endeared Nigerians to the APC; and if Your Presidency is starting on a vindictive note of this nature, we will organize an earth-moving procession in Abuja to sensitize Nigerians that the much touted change slogan of your party is a rouse after all” it stated.
