Ahead 2023 : Oshiomhole Should be Reinstated If APC Wants to Retain Presidency Says, Hon.Francis Izuagie

 

Hon.Francis Izuagie (Franco) , is a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress. He was a former South South Youth leader of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and a former member of federal Polytechnic Governing Council,Offa, Kwara State.

In this interview, he bares his mind on the achievements of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Nigeria labour Congress (NLC), as Edo State governor and as immediate All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.

Excerpts : 

What is your message  to APC leadership regarding the 2023 Presidency ?

Well, as Nigerians, we have passed through many challenges.It is unfortunate that the APC has decided to bite the finger that fed it.Comrade Adams Oshiomhole's influence in Nigeria led to the victory of APC in 2019 Presidential election.Oshiomhole is too big for anybody to be rubbished.He has come a long way.His elevation to where he is ,is not man made, but, through Divine intervention.He came out from nowhere and because the Nigeria labour Congress (NLC) President.

During that time,Comrade Oshiomhole was able to resolve the crisis between labour and and the federal government during the time of Olusegun Obasanjo's administration. He negotiated a 25% increase in wages of Public Sector Workers during the early administration of the then President Olusegun  Obasanjo.The records are there. He led a Nationwide strike against high oil prices in Nigeria introduced by Obasanjo. Infact, he was persecuted for his relentless moves against the then government concerning the fuel prices.He is always on the side of the people.

Adams Oshiomhole is known for his outstanding role in bringing about a culture of radical and critical citizenship where leaders can be questioned by their followers.

He won the governoship election in Edo under the then Action Congress  (AC) and now All Progressives Congress (APC) even though the party was not known then. And today, he remains one of the founders of the APC in nigeria.If at this critical time of our political history ahead 2023 Presidential election, the party is thinking of how to dump him., then APC is not ready to win the presidential election..We know those who want to betray the Southerners because of Tinubu that are fighting Oshiomhole.Oshiomhole has paid his dues especially to Buhari and APC.

What is your take on the recent ENDSARS protests across the Country ?

Let me tell you Gentlemen of the Press, if Oshiomhole were still the National Chairman of APC, that crisis would have been nipped in the bud. It  would have been averted because he has that negotiating power to resolve issues. The Caretaker  Committee National Chairman of APC could not do anything. The Committee led by Mai Buni has not made any significant impact towards the advancement of the APC to ensure the protest did not affect the chances of the party.If Oshiomhole were still the National Chairman, the protests would not have been hijacked by hoodlums because he knows what to do at the right time.

My own opinion is that, Oshiomhole's reinstatement is key to APC'S victory come 2023.He knows the knitty gritty of party politics.

What is your take on the recent governoship election in Edo State ?

Many of the APC'S leaders at the National level worked against the party in Edo governoship election just to demean Oshiomhole not knowing they were rubbishing themselves.I am happy that his people in Edo North stood solidly behind  him as evident in the election results.Even the Caretaker Committee National Chairman, Mai Buni immediately congratulated PDP and Obaseki  without hearing from the leadership of the party in the state before taking a final position on the governoship polls.He did that because he (Mai Buni) and his cohorts had already sold out.But when APC won Ondo, Uche Secondus,the National Chairman of PDP refused to congratulate APC and Akeredolu and even as we speak, Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP is already at the tribunal challenging Akeredolu's victory..So, what has that got to tell you?  He (Mai Buni) was one of those that worked against the party in Edo.

What are your reasons for canvassing support for Oshiomhole ? 

Oshiomhole has managed the party well.Brought in a national Assembly that is working in total harmony with the federal government.He was able to put in place a National Assembly that is having a cordial relationship with the President. We are living witnesses of what happened in 2015 during the time of Saraki and others who were making the country ungovernable for Buhari to function effectively.Today, the story has changed  courtesy Oshiomhole.Majority of the bills that were not passed during the last National Assembly are passed speedily today as a result of the cordial relationship between the Assembly and the Presidency made possible by Oshiomhole.

Look at the 2021 budget for instance, the National Assembly has promised to pass it before the end of the year which has never happened under the immediate past leadership of the NASS.

For that singular reason and many others, I believe Oshiomhole is a man with a large heart, he has what it takes to move APC forward.But if the party and I repeat decides to rubbish him,APC will meet it's Waterloo.Let them try it, that will be the end of APC.Oshiomhole is an asset to APC whether we like it or not.Throughout the period Oshiomhole piloted the affairs of the party, there was relative peace.He never went to any governor to solicit for funds to run the party.He is creative, innovative and highly versatile.

What is your advice to Edo North APC on why they should rally round Oshiomhole ?

For quite sometime, we have not had somebody at the National level to represent us politically.Today, he is the leader of the party in  Edo North.Oshiomhole brought us from the periphery to epicenter of national politics. APC is not a baby party to be left in the hands of inexperience and ineffective leaders.

We are urging everyone in Edo North to continue to rally round Oshiomhole to take us to the next level.Nobody is presently feeling the impact of APC because of the weak leadership at the National level.This is an opportunity for Edo North to give him all the necessary supports, he knows what to do and how to  meet the yeanings of the people.Take a look at the Okpekpe marathon race that is now in the world map and other many laudable projects he executed in Edo North and the entire state, you will agree with me that he deserves every support to move Edo forward.