Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday said he has accepted the dissolution of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which he headed, in good faith.
He disclosed that he had instructed his legal team to withdraw the pending appeal challenging his suspension at the Supreme Court forthwith, stressing equally that the legality or otherwise of the dissolution of the NWC last Thursday was of no consequence.
According to him, pursuing the appeal would amount to disobedience to President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said graciously invited him two years ago to reform the APC.
The former governor of Edo State, who addressed journalists in Abuja, admitted that the challenge to reform the party came with difficult and unpalatable decisions, adding that he did his best.
Oshiomhole said: “I thought that it is important that I formally react to the recent events as it affects our party. We are all aware that on Thursday, a special NEC meeting was called and was attended by Mr. President, governors, APC leadership of the two chambers of the national assembly and some other leaders of our party.
“At the end of the meeting as you all know, the National Working Committee (NWC) was dissolved and accordingly I ceased to be the chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
“Mr. President graciously invited me to run for the office of chairmanship of the party in 2018 precisely about two years ago. The president told me then that if we do not reform the APC, we can as well forget about the party.
“You know that reforms are challenging and it will entail taking difficult decisions. Mine has been a life of trouble and I accepted this and I believe I did my best. I’m happy that at the end of the day, 2019 elections have come and gone thanks to Nigerian people, our president had more votes in 2019 than we had in 2015. We have more members in the Senate and House of Representatives.
He said that he was relieved that it was President Buhari that supervised the dissolution of the NWC.
READ ALSO: Oshiomhole’s Suspension Remains – Ward Chairman
He said that it was gratifying that the APC had not only been in control of the National Assembly, but was able to manage the party’s superiority in the two chambers, unlike what obtained in 2015.
“Unlike 2015 we were not able to manage our victory in the two chambers such that we had an APC president in the senate and PDP deputy senate president. This time, working hard with my colleagues in the NWC and in consultation of leaders of our party across board, we have the kind of unity expected in the governing party in the two chambers of the national assembly.
“I’m happy that the leadership of the National Assembly is working harmoniously with Mr. President.
“The APC under my chairmanship has done its best and the results are there. Of course, we have now been dissolved and I have accepted that dissolution in good fate.
“I’m not going into the question of legality or illegality. The bottom line is that the President who invited me to lead the party and who mobilised all the support for my emergence as chairman also presided over the meeting where the NWC has now been dissolved.
“As a demonstration of my loyalty to Mr. President, loyalty to our party and loyalty Nigeria nation, I have decided to accept the decision in good faith and to maintain my loyalty, my respect and admiration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Accordingly, I have instructed my lawyers to withdraw my case that is currently pending at the Supreme Court which has to do with the issue of my suspension. To sustain the legal action would be tantamount to disobeying one of the decisions that the President has made.
“I have a duty to live by example. I have taken a bow and accept the decision of the NEC,” he said.
