Tinubu's Absence: APC Planned To Disgrace Him At NEC Meeting

                                              Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The reason why former Lagos State governor Bola Tinubu, Interim National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) and erstwhile governor of Osun State Chief Bisi Akande boycotted the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC has started to surface.
According to Sunnewsonline, Tinubu’s absence was not due to ill-health or permission by the authorities of
the party but because he became aware that there were plans to humiliate him and his henchmen according to a member of the NEC committee.

“Tinubu knew that some people were pre­pared to fight him. He would have been hu­miliated by some people”, the official said.
He explained that some APC men had arranged to engage him in a brawl and compel him to leave the venue of the meeting in an­ger. “Those who were to humiliate him were on ground but his absence saved the day”, the APC chieftain added.
He went on and revealed that the party leadership had thought of barring journalists from cov­ering it.
He said “we tinkered with the plans of barring journalists from covering the event. We knew that anything could happen but we didn’t want to be ridiculed in the public.”
He then explained that some APC governor had met to resolve the leadership crisis rocking the National Assembly . The meeting, he said , recorded some successes but could not address all the issues.
“The governors held a meeting on Thurs­day and brought some good news to the NEC meeting ,” he said
As for what happened between the time of 11 am and ended a little before 1pm , the APC chieftain said “the meeting was brief. The absence of Tinubu meant that we focused on few issues.”
“After a welcome speech by the Nation­al Chairman, the President read his speech. The problem bedeviling the party was tabled. We agreed that governors should continue from where they stopped.
“We looked at some allegations against the national chairman and many people believed that he was not guilty of those things they said he did. We decided to pass a vote of confi­dence on him. We commended Mr President on how far he has handled the affairs of the nation”, he added.
The meeting ended and surprisingly the trio of Oyegun, Sen­ate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Hon Yakubu Dogara were happy. Saraki said: “You can see from the smiles on everybody’s face. It is a good way to go.”
While Imo State governor and Chairman APC Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha said “Many people think that there will be problems between APC members at this meeting. But I am assuring Nigerians that we have met and discussed what affects all of us and we have understood ourselves. We have also reiterated our support and loyalty for our leadership.

Governor Rochas Okorocha

“We are also going to meet on the issue of the National Assembly crisis and it will be re­solved amicably. So, I can confidently say that the crisis facing the party is almost over now.”
Na­tional Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammad said:”NEC has provided an en­abling environment to look into ways of re­solving the National Assembly logjam. Later in the day, the governors will be meeting with the Speaker and the Senate President in a fur­ther attempt to find lasting solution to the lin­gering logjam at the National Assembly.
“Also, it is important to let you know that everybody in the party is united on two issues which are party supremacy and the need to ensure that this government delivers its cam­paign promises.” When asked whether the leadership of the Senate and House of Rep­resentatives will now consider the position of the party on the selection of principal officers in both chambers of the National Assembly, Mohammed said “I have told you that the NEC has provided a platform to resolve this issue and part of the resolution is the meet­ing that will be held today (Friday) between the governors, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The president said he believes in party supremacy, we have a problem on our hands and we must find the best means to resolve it. One thing I can assure you is that, this house (the APC) shall not fall.”
One chieftain who plead anonymity said that some had planned to use the meeting to get rid of Oyegun as chairman.
It was gathered that chieftain of the party loyal to the national leader and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu were in the forefront of the move to shove Oyegun aside .

John Oyegun

The source said “ those loyal to Senator Tinubu believe that it was time for Oyegun to go. They were not happy with him over the way he handled the National Assembly leadership matter. They thought they could mobilise enough support to force him to tender his resignation before or during the NEC meeting”.
He said “There is nothing they have not said about me but when you ask what has the man done, one of their reports said the present executive can not win us elections in 2019. Good Lord! You’ve not even finished with 2015, you’re talking about 2019. They also talked about the elite of the North against the people of the south west, am I from the North, am I the one organising them?”
that Oyegin survived the plans to remove him was due to the grace of henchmen of President Buhari and that of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
It’s believed that Buhari’s men felt that Oyegun did not deserve to go and believed the the allegation of being bribed by the Senate President Dr Saraki, one of the reasons adduced by proponents of his removal was not true.

Governor Rochas Okorocha hugs Senator Bukola Saraki

Buhari’s men knew Tinubu’s men were angry because they didn’t succeed in “encircling the President with Tinubu’s men”.
He said “the President’s men refused to buy into the campaign that the National Chairman was compromised by Saraki. They didn’t see any evidence to that effect. Rather they believe that those who want him out were angry that their agenda of encircling the president failed.
“They were angry that Oyegun was called up at 4am by forces from Lagos to do a dirty job. They even dropped the name of the President in all those dirty jobs. Instead of apologising to Mr President for lying with his name they are insisting that the National Chairman must go.”
He said the party should be “happy that PDP did not elect one of its own senate president. Saraki saved the party because there was nothing we would have done if they had elected one of their own as senate president. They formed a quorum, we were lucky that it did not go into their head to elect one of their own as senate president. And the mistake was because somebody in his desperation to have everything lied that the President called a meeting and took our lawmakers to a place they were not supposed to be.”
However, Atiku and Buhari’s men are the ones fighting for the survival of Oyegin, who is said to be against Tinubu calling the shots in the party.
The Believe is that the Vice President is a product of Tinubu and that should be enough for him.