Oyegun: APC National Chairman At An Opportune TimeBy Edwin IkhinmwinThe attention of the office of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), H.E. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, CON, has been drawn to the impolite, skewed and misrepresented report: APC, A Party In Power And Opposition published on Page 43 of Leadership Newspapers political commentary column, Flashpoint on Friday, April 7, 2017.While we recognise the authors right to an opinion, we particularly find the resort to name calling discourteous and pointless.However, in view of the gross misrepresentation that has been fed to the public through the report, it is pertinent to make some clarifications on the National Chairmans leadership style and his recent activities on Party affairs, as reported in the publication.What is politics' If not a struggle for relevance, power and interests, however disguised. The APC is a political organisation, therefore the attendant scheming and reported wrangling within the Party are normal and a global phenomenon in countries with Democratic Party systems. As the report attempted in its analysis, the issues within the Party largely find expression in the struggle for influence among political actors and interests within the party structures. That is the reality.One must not lose sight of the manner in which the Party was formed. The APC was a coalition of vibrant opposition parties who bought into the objective of upstaging a previous defective government and bringing about the Change that had long been desired by Nigerians. Yes, the APC recorded a historic feat by winning the presidential election and majority governorship and legislative positions in the country. But that does not necessarily mean that all the powerful groups that coalesced into APC have dropped their respective interests.Creditably, Chief Odigie-Oyegun has frontally addressed himself to moderating and refereeing these forces at play within the APC with a sincerity of purpose and duty. Even in the face of mudslinging, blackmail and baseless allegations directed at him, his goal of providing leadership and ensuring a focused, united, strong APC is unwavering.Recently, the partys National Working Committee (NWC), under the leadership of Chief Odigie-Oyegun embarked on very successful consultative meetings with APC governors and the Partys National Assembly caucus. The consultations have resulted in very positive outcomes. Discussions on the passage of the 2017 national budget, cordial legislative-executive relations, Party supremacy and other relevant party affairs have been very successful.With all presently at play within the APC, one can only imagine the APC without a focused, cool-headed, stabilising and self-effacing personality like Chief Odigie-Oyegun as national chairman. Perhaps, we should refresh our memories of how the temperament and shenanigans of National Chairmen of the now ailing and factionalised People Democratic Party (PDP) brought the Party to its knees. Ikhinmwin is Chief of Staff to the APC National ChairmanEFCC, Time To Review StrategyApart from football, boxing is one of my favourite sports. That feeling when an opponent knocks out his rival stone cold is unrivalled. Mike Tyson was the king of knockouts, usually before the third round, he would have knocked out his opponents.According to TheMacPhisto A full bare knuckle punch from Tyson in his prime would probably kill most people.The tsunami of judgments against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) can be likened to a Mike Tyson knockout punch in his hey days.The commission lost four high profile cases in 96 hours which analysts describe as a big blow to the anti- corruption war.First was the unfreezing, on the order of a Federal High Court, Lagos, of the account of Lagos lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), which is said to hold a sum of N75million professional fee paid to him by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State which according to the EFCC, the money was proceeds of corruption.Next was the discharge and acquittal of Justice Adeniyi Ademola and his wife of charges of corruption and possession of firearms filed against them.The initial forfeiture of a sum of $5m found in an account of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was similarly reversed on the order of another court, while the Minister of Niger Delta in the Jonathan administration, Elder Godsday Orubebe was also discharged and acquitted after Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the federation, told the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) that the case filed against the former minister did not exist.The ICPC had accused him of diverting N1.97 billion meant for the compensation of owners of property on the Eket Urban section of the East-West road in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.My candid opinion about this is that corruption is fighting back. At the same time, the EFCC is the architect of its own misfortunes. They have excelled in sensationalism and have scored low in investigations. Most times, the investigations are shoddy without first gathering information to have a water -tight case, they leak the stories to the press and end up increasing our blood pressure. The commission are experts in media trial.The four cases were struck out on the ground of technicalities. In the case of Justice Ademola, in the spirit of esprit de corps, I dont expect a fellow judge to convict his fellow judge.The EFCC should re-invent itself, all these media trials should stop. In fact, media houses should put an embargo on EFCC stories, the only cases we want to hear and read is court jailing someone for corruption. Like I said before, the commission has recorded some successes in prosecuting the small fishes but when it comes to politically exposed persons, they lose their mojo.With the present judiciary, I dont think we will make a headway in the war against corruption, I remember when President Muhammadu Buhari lamented that the judiciary is his headache in the war against corruption. With an unwilling legislature and an indifferent judiciary, the war on corruption is on tenterhooks.
Click here to read full news..
