Anselm Ojezua: Edo APC Chairman

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

A former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie, has described his suspension by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo state, for alleged anti-party activities as ill-motivated and lacking in merit.

The former lawmaker had been suspended along with 30 others for allegedly working against the APC during September 28, 2016 governorship election in Uhumwonde local government area of the state.

He was suspended along with 30 others, including local government area executives and other notable leaders, for alleged anti-party activities.

But Osagie, in a statement on Sunday, said nothing can be more ludicrous and false, than for him to be accused of anti party activities, even as he alleged that it was masterminded by one Charles Idahosa, a leader of the party in the area and former political adviser to the immediate past Governor of the state.

“Let me state clearly that as against my accusers, particularly Charles Idahosa, I followed the governor and the entire State campaign team to campaign throughout Edo South Senatorial district and eventually worked hard to ensure that the APC won overwhelmingly in my Unit 4 at Egba and the entire Ward 6 (Umagbae South) in Uhunmwode Local Government Area. Hon. Charles Idahosa the mastermind of this suspension did not win his own unit in his community, Ehor town. The results are there for everyone to see,” he said.

Osagie further stated that “the State Secretary, Chief Osaro Idah (who constituted himself into the State Exco, because other State exco members are unaware of the matter) and who illegally ratified a notice of suspension knows the truth in the matter.

“It’s a fall out of the last gubernatorial primaries in which I played a prominent role in support of former Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Pius Odubu as against the incumbent Governor.

“For him and his cousin, Hon. Charles Idahosa, it is payback time for daring to disagree with them on who Uhunmwode delegates should support in the primaries. After the primaries together with others we worked for the party’s victory in Uhunmwode.

“It is important to let the public know that neither myself nor any of those allegedly suspended with me was ever invited by any organ of the party for the purpose of trial for alleged anti party activities.

“This suspension is ample evidence of the reign of impunity that has taken over the running of the Party. It was done to massage the already deflated ego of Charles Idahosa who has completely lost the confidence of Uhunmwode people.

“I was the Senatorial Candidate of the party in the 2015 National Assembly/Presidential elections, I was even a member of the Presidential Inauguration Committee set up by the National Working Committee, except for mischief and an attempt to pull me down how can any right thinking person conceive that I could work against a party I defended so hard as it’s Minority Whip in the House of Representatives and its candidate for the Senatorial seat of Edo South. It is inconceivable,”‎ he said.

He therefore, urged everyone to discountenance this rumour and illegal suspension as it is a ruse not having complied with Article 21 of the Party’s Constitution.

“I wish to restate the fact that I remain committed to the APC and no amount of blackmail, trumped-up charges and conspiracy can make me think or act otherwise.

“At the end of the day I am confident that reason will prevail and the right thinking Leaders of the party in the State will see through the hollowness of the action of these people and lay it to rest,” Osagie added.

When contacted on the allegation of conspiracy to suspend him, Chief Charles Idahosa declined to speak on the matter.