By Tunde Opalana and Tom Garba
Reactions from prominent Nigerians yesterday trailed the resignation of National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.
Adamu quit the top seat on Sunday with it coming to light yesterday.
In his reaction almost immediately after news of the resignation broke, a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Mallam Ahmed Lawal, lauded the forces that led to his exit from the prime seat.
Lawan said the exit will save the party from implosion.
In a telephone chat with Daily Times, Lawan, who defected from the APC to the ruling PDP in Adamawa State, noted that he left APC for PDP on account of what he alleged was ”the massive corruption and injustice” that was tolerated to become the norm in the party under Adamu.
He described the tenure of Adamu as the locust years of the party.
He further alleged: “Former President Muhammadu Buhari had directed Adamu to pay all persons who stepped down in deference to the party, the funds they spent in their desires to occupy various leadership positions in the party.
“But Adamu decided to ignore that presidential directive and sat on the monies belonging to those aspirants. He blatantly told all those who cared to listen that he will not refund a dime to them.
“APC under Adamu was on the verge of implosion before the president’s timely intervention. I want to use this auspicious medium to urge the president to cause the investigation of Adamu.”
Lawal, who said he contested the position of National Organizing Secretary of the party at its last convention added that with the exception of two positions, all other aspirants were asked to step down by the party with a promise that they will be refunded monies spent in purchasing the nomination forms.
“We stepped down from the contest as directed by the party making the former president to give Adamu marching orders to refund all those who were asked to step down.
“But Adamu disregarded the directive. His sack is therefore a good riddance to bad rubbish,” Lawal said.
However, Lawal missed the point as Adamu was not sacked, but resigned voluntarily.
Also speaking, former APC governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan said he
supports the resignation of both Adamu and Omisore.
He told Daily Times: “Since the resignations are said to be voluntary, the real reasons would be exposed in the course of time. Though there have been allegations of financial impropriety levelled against them by a member of the NWC, I will support their exit if it would engender greater cohesion and discipline in the party.
“What the nation and the ruling All Progressives Congress need today is a clear, focused, disciplined and result oriented leadership that would quickly turn around things around for the better for the already over-traumatized Nigerians.
“As the National Leader of the party, I know that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would support only those things that would strengthen the party and make governance easier with little or no distractions.”
On his part, PDP chieftain, Hon. Tunde Suara, who was a member of House of Representatives, saw no big deal in the development, saying such is expected in party politics.
He declared|: “Resignation of Adamu as APC National Chairman is not the first and will definitely not be the last in history of party politics in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: Massive shake-up expected in APC as Adamu,Omisore
“Our party, the PDP, not quite long ago experienced such with the suspension of two National Chairmen in a row and heavens did not fall. The party moves on.
“Such resignation by Adamu is just face-saving to avoid being thrown out. He turned in his resignation letter ahead of their NEC meeting where a vote of no confidence would have been passed on him.
”So, he did the best thing in such a situation he found himself because there is no way he could have survived the thick plot to ease him out of office.”
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