From Fred Itua, Abuja
SENATOR Ovie Omo-Agege of Labour Party (LP), who represents Delta Central in the Senate, has distanced himself from the leadership crisis rocking his party.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the lawmaker said he did not instigate the current leadership crisis in the party as rumoured by some aggrieved members.
“Sequel to resolutions reached on Monday by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, Comrade Atare Bobo Adou is now the Acting National Chairman of LP, while Akingbade Oyelekan is the Acting National Secretary. We also know that the NEC suspended Alhaji Abubakar Abulkadir Salam from office as the chairman of the party.
“NEC also suspended some other officials of the party. We know too that over 15 of the about 22 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party endorsed the said decisions of the NEC. These are facts,” he noted in the statement.
He explained further: “In our opinion, this approach to the serious crisis in the party is grossly irresponsible and diversionary. Blaming Omo-Agege for the collective decisions taken by over 15 NWC adults and tens of other adult NEC members only emphasises Salam’s poor leadership offering in LP.
“Let it be very clear that Omo-Agege did not instigate the division in LP. It is Salam’s very questionable and poor leadership methods that have thrown LP into this factional crisis. Indeed, Salam persistently prevailed on Omo-Agege to dissuade the NEC members from removing him as LP’s national chairman. However, Omo-Agege could not do that because the NEC members were determined to clean the party, particularly given the allegations against Salam.
“We note that it was particularly difficult for Omo-Agege to save Salam because we believe he (Salam) places his personal interests above party interests. His chairmanship of LP was characterised by serious injustices to candidates of the party.”
He added: “Salam ran a party that was always bent on sacrificing the party’s interests on the altar of troubling and greedy demands. These particularly made it rather difficult to stop the NEC’s responsible and bold move to clean the party.
“Therefore, we make bold to state that Omo-Agege could not help Salam to remain in office because Salam’s leadership of the party is tainted. A wise leader will show restraint at this time. It is therefore important to advise Salam to face the crisis in LP as an adult.
“He has to stop crying like a baby with the Senator’s name. On whether his media comments against Omo-Agege are libelous or legally harmful, we have asked our lawyers for advice. That advice will determine our next steps. There are always consequences for irresponsibility. This will not be an exception.”