Oshiomhole will survive gang up against him, says Ogiemwonyi

Former Group Managing Girector of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship aspirant in Edo State, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, on Thursday, assured that the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, would come out strong despite the gang up against him by political friends and foes.

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He said all those plotting Oshiomhole’s removal as national chairman of the APC are ingrates, particularly having been beneficiary of Oshiomhole’s large heart.

Ogiemwonyi, who described Oshiomhole as a large-hearted individual, said he has been betrayed by many of his close political friends including persons he empowered and favoured as the former governor and even the party’s national chairman.

He said the APC national chairman is loved by many home and away for his understanding and generosity as well as his charitable contributions to all and sundry as a former governor and national chairman of the APC.

On the crisis rocking the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogiemwonyi said that leaders and stakeholders of the party were desperately waiting for the reconciliation committee headed Chief Bisi Akande.

“I always believe in reconciliation. I want to thank Mr. President for inaugurating the Chief Bisi Akande APC national reconciliation committee. My prayer is that we need a strong party before the elections. I urge Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole to embrace peace.”

Expressing dismay over the actions of some party leaders moving against Oshiomhole as national chairman, Ogiemwonyi said: “God will give Oshiomhole victory because he was there for all those now working against him. As the APC national chairman, all those plotting his removal have in the past sought for his help one way or another. Today, they are backstabbing Oshiomhole and God is against such. We believe in God and also know that God hates ingratitude”.

Describing the forthcoming elections in the state as one that should be about ensuring the best candidate emerges, Ogiemwonyi said: “I am not a local champion. I know what I am carrying. At the centre, I was one of the best Managing Directors NNPC ever produced. This informed my decision not to play second fiddle in Edo politics. I am still one of the best at the level of management as far as NNPC is concerned. Based on my antecedents in NNPC, I have so much to offer Edo people as governor.

“If we are talking about aspirants, I have what it takes to govern Edo State. You can check my pedigree and antecedents during my days in NNPC. I am still the only person that ran three SBU’s for NNPC.

“I was Managing Director of NAPIMS, managing director NPDC Benin, Managing director of Nigeria Gas Company, before I became Group Executive Director”.

He charged Edo people to challenge all aspirants of the ruling party to present their scorecard as it relates to their career before joining politics as requirement for seeking the number one office in the state to enable them have forehand knowledge of who best should be given the party’s ticket and saddled with the responsibility of governing them ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

He expressed optimism that the party is committed to ensuring that all six aspirants loyal to Oshiomhole would come together and present one candidate to contest the against Governor Obaseki in the governorship election in the state coming up in September.

“We have all agreed to work together. We are going to raise money to buy nomination form for one of us. We are six aspirants vying for governorship in the state. So, one of us would be contesting against Governor Obaseki probably in any other political platform the governor chooses,” Ogiemwonyi said.