- Says ‘he acts like a loose cannon, never attends party meetings’
- Denies plot by disgruntled members to kick out Adamu
- PDP seeks FG, INEC neutrality ahead of Nov governorship polls
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Iyiola Omisore, on Tuesday night, described the National Vice Chairman of the North West, Salihu Lukman, as a loose cannon and the ‘black sheep’ of the party.
He also denied an alleged plot by disgruntled members to remove Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman of the party.
Omisore made the claims during a live television interview monitored by The Point.
The development came barely two months after Lukman accused Adamu of running the party like a garrison commander.
The Kaduna politician had earlier dragged both Adamu and Omisore to court for allegedly failing to account for the party’s resources, refusal to summon a meeting of the National Executive Committee and breach of the party’s constitution.
But Omisore described the National Vice chairman as a gas lighter who likes crying wolf where there is none.
“What else do you want us to do to him? Beat or kill him? When you listen to people like Lukman, you won’t know what is happening. This is your Lukman that doesn’t attend meetings. He is acting like a loose cannon.
“The NWC members are 25 and only one person, Lukman, has written so many letters, which borders on ignorance on his part. About two months ago, he came to apologise and held a press conference to say he wasn’t well informed about what he did. All he said were things done within the party. He never attends party meetings,” he said.
When asked if he was aware that many APC supporters and NWC members wanted Adamu to be kicked out of the party, the former deputy governor of Osun State dismissed the report.
Omisore also berated those secretly backing or standing by Lukman’s philosophy, saying they are ‘cowards.’
“We are not aware of any. But know that they are cowards too. There are cowards everywhere. So it is not impossible. But the point is that out of 25 members of the NWC, only one person is the ‘black sheep.’
“He is just used to doing the ranting. There is nothing special about it. This was somebody who came to apologise openly at a press conference. How can you take someone like that seriously?” he quipped.
Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission, to ensure neutrality in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.
This was part of the resolutions from the communiqué issued at the inaugural PDP Governors’ Forum meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
It was also the first meeting under the leadership of Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State.
The governors resolved to work together and unite the forum to provide a platform for peer review of issues, policies, programmes and achievements (legacy projects) of member-Governors across the PDP states.
The meeting advised INEC, the security agencies, and the Federal Government to be neutral in the conduct of the off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states.
The meeting, while noting the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Plateau and Zamfara states, amongst others, advised the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to the situation and bring the situation under control.
The Forum said it would cooperate with the Federal Government on issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians and good governance while striving to maintain the independence and autonomy of the Forum through offering constructive criticisms where necessary.
The meeting was attended by Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Chairman of the Forum, as well as all the PDP Governors.
The party has continued to struggle with several political issues since the Presidential primary that witnessed the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate.
The crises led to the formation of the G5 Group made up the then Governors of Rivers, Abia, Benue, Oyo and Enugu.
Governor Mohammed who also contested the Presidential primary of the party in June last year, has however vowed to rebuild the party ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections taking place in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi and Edo States.
