C'River APC crisis : Obono-Obla asks all factions to step down, sues for interim Exco

Chief Okoi Obono-Obla

Former Special Assistant on Prosecution to President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has asked all the warring factions in Cross River State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to step down in the interest of peace and the party.

Obono-Obla who was recently commended by the NEXT LEVEL MOVEMENT, an affiliate of the ruling APC for his sterling performances as Chairman of Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Properties, called on the national leadership of the party to urgently set-up interim executive to pilot the affairs of the party for at least one year in the state.

The former Presidential aide who took to his Facebook wall (Okoi Obono-Obla) to make the call lamented that while APC was penetrating other South South states, the crisis in the party in the state has prevented the it from challenging the ruling People's Democratic Party's dominance.

While congratulating the APC and its candidate for the victory in the last Bayelsa State governorship election, he recalled that he set the foundation for the party in the state as the Chairman of APC Bayelsa Registration Committee in 2014.

"On or about 29 January 2014 , Babachir David Lawal ( former Secretary to Government of the Federation) called and asked me to see him in the house of Chief Timipreye Sylvia in Niger Close Maitama, Abuja . I dutifully left what I was doing to proceed to Chief Sylvia’s house . I met Babachir David Lawal  with Chief Sylvia. Lawal told me I have been appointed the Chairman of APC Bayelsa State Registration Committee saddled with the responsibility of registering people from Bayelsa State as members of the APC ! The rest is history ! 

I am exceedingly glad that 6 years along the line APC has resoundingly won the governorship election in Bayelsa State, a hitherto seemingly impenetrable PDP political fortress in the South/South Region.  Thanks to the political maturity , sagacity and stratagem of Chief Sylvia". 

He added that "however , disappointingly Cross River State APC has continued to be rudderless and wobbling and on the brink of disintegration! It is torn apart by pettiness, infighting, factionalization, opportunism and completely rudderless! Time has come for all men and women of good will to say enough is enough! 

All the factions must immediately collapse their selfish interest and end the needless fighting for leadership and work towards rebuilding the Party! In this wise I call on the leadership of the two factions to leave the stage! The National leadership should appoint an interim Committee composed of men and women of proven integrity and competence to take over the running of the Party for one year". 

He maintained that "The Committee will also be saddled with the responsibility of reorganizing and rebuilding the Party. At the end of its one tenure, wards, Local Government Areas congresses and State Congress respectively must hold to elect new executives from the Wards, Local Government Areas and the State".

Recall that two factions operating at different secretariats emerged in 2018 ahead of the 2019 general elections with former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs,Pastor Usani Usani and Senator John Owan Enoh as leaders.

Both leaders of the two factions layed claim to the governorship ticket of the party. Although Sen. Enoh was recognised by the party, Usani continued to parade as candidate and even went to tribunal and appeal as candidate to challenge the outcome of the election.

Usani's matter against the winner of the election, Governor Ben Ayade was however dismissed at the appeal court on the grounds that he was never a candidate of any political party in the election. The court also asked him to pay damages to Sen. Enoh and Gov. Ayade.