Disruption of Oshiomhole's presentation, we have been vindicated --- APC
(Nigeria) The
All Progressives Congress, APC, has condemned the disruption of Governor Adams Oshiomhole's of Edo State presentation during a meeting of
the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue in Benin on
Monday, saying that the despicable action has vindicated the party's decision
not to be part of the proposed conference.
In a statement in Lagos on Tuesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Committee must thoroughly be
ashamed of itself that one of its members led the show of shame that was
put up in Benin on Monday.
It therefore
demanded an unreserved apology from the Committee to Gov. Oshiomhole,
while the member who acted so unruly and irresponsibly must be publicly
cautioned at the least or be excused from the Committee.
''The truth is that
in proposing the conference, the government has no sincerity of purpose,
does not believe in engaging in any dialogue with anyone but itself and
has only used it to distract the attention of Nigerians from the total
absence of governance and sense of direction by the Jonathan
Administration.
''This is why we
refused to participate in what is nothing but a sheer deceit. We have
already been vindicated even before the start of the conference,'' APC
said.
The party
said since the essence of democratic discourse is for all sides to be
allowed to have their say, it was wrong to have shouted down anyone
because his stand does not tally with that of the committee or the
organizers of the meeting.
''Worse still is
that a member of the committee led the thugs who so rudely and
irresponsibly shouted down a Governor. What a contradiction, that a
member of a panel set up to help forge national discourse does not even
believe in the plurality of opinions. Does anyone need any further
evidence that the committee has already made up its mind on the
direction their so-called assignment will take? How can you sincerely
hope to midwive a dialogue with Nigerians when you cannot even oversee a
dialogue in a town hall meeting?'' it queried.
APC expressed total
shock and disgust that the governor of a state hosting a meeting of the
advisory committee could be so primitively treated by hired thugs, led
by no other than a out-of-control committee member.
''Even if they have
no respect for the person of Gov. Oshiomhole, couldn't they have at
least shown respect for the office he is occupying? If a person in the
calibre of Gov. Oshiomhole, with his antecedents and prominent role in
the national political discourse, cannot be allowed to air his opinion
on any issue, what then will happen to ordinary citizens?'' the party
further asked.
It commended Gov.
Oshiomhole for his maturity and decency, which showed through in his
handling of the whole situation despite the indignity meted out to him.
''By
his comportment, from which his security and other aides apparently
took a cue, Gov. Oshiomhole averted what could have been a violent
confrontation and left no one in doubt that he is a true democrat. In
the end, those who conspired to humiliate him have unwittingly played up
his tolerance, his decency and his democratic credentials,'' the party
said.
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