APC Chairmanship: Oshiomole says Osunbor, Ebri others, minor contenders

Former Edo State Governor and a contender for the office of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has said other contenders of the same position are minor contenders describing them as “feather weight”.

Other aspirants in the race include his predecessor from office of the Edo State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, former Cross River State Governor, Clement Ebri and Chief Ibrahim Emokare.

Oshiomole however, assured that whether or not he emerge as the National Chairman of the APC, he will continue to work hard to ensure that the party retains power at the center in 2019.

The aspirant who spoke with newsmen after he was attended to by the party’s screening committee, yesterday in Abuja, said the process leading to the emergence of a new leadership was more important than the outcome.

When asked to rate his chances of winning, he said: “I am used to contestations and competition and I am a democrat. That was why I did not agree with those who said extending our tenure without election. I think democracy is problematic, but there is no better way to govern a people who are not children who should be spoon fed.

“In this business, it is not just what you do, not how it is done and who is involved in doing. It is about participation. I am excited and the people are no strangers.

“At least, I know one and we have contested against each other before. He rigged me out, I pursued him and I won and retrieved the mandate from him. I went back to seek second term and I won. I defeated him even in his local government. I won 18 over 18, defeating him in his ward, his unit, his local government and Senatorial district.

“If I was able to defeat him as an ordinary union leader when they dismissed me that I was not a politician while he was already a senator and I was able to defeat him; now as a man who has had the privilege to preside over the affairs of Nigeria Labor Congress nationwide, a two time Governor, if I have to compete with somebody who was governor for 18 months, I don’t have any problem.

“As for the others, let me say that in a boxing ring, heavy weights don’t engage feather weight. But serious speaking, I am happy that we are in a democracy and people are free to contest.

Quite frankly, the process is much more important than the outcome. I am satisfied not because I will be chairman, but because my party is in power. My commitment is not just for me to be Chairman.

As chairman or no chairman, I will continue to work hard to see that our party retain power at the Centre and also run power in many more states and produce more senators, House of Representative members and more House of Assembly members so that we will have the strength we need to deepen the change and sustain the changes”.

Describing democracy as problematic, the former NLC President said that there was still no better way to govern a people who are no children than through democracy, adding that, “he was confident of emerging victorious at the end of the convention”, dismissing speculations that he was sponsoring some of those contesting the chairmanship seat along with him.