After Gov Obaseki’s ‘flush them out’ speech, Edo APC secretary suspended

The crisis in the Edo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) thickened on Friday as the secretary of the party, Mr Lawrence Okah, was suspended.

His suspension took place at an emergency meeting of the State Executive Committee in Benin.

The party Chairman, Barrister Anslem Ojezua, while confirming the situation, said the suspension was to enable a proper investigation into some allegations levelled against the secretary.

Ojezua added that the suspension was not a punitive measure but a normal administrative procedure of the party.

“He was just suspended to allow the committee set up to look at the complaints against him. We have not expelled him, no it is not like that. The suspension is not punitive it is just a normal administrative procedure.”

The party chairman had earlier warned that parallel-groups would not be allowed in the party.

“Anybody that is organizing a parallel group in the party will have to contend with us. There is no better way to destroy a party than to encourage fractionalization. That one we have zero tolerance for and the constitution provides very expressly that it is not acceptable and we will deal with it,” he said.

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It would be recalled that Governor Godwin Obaseki vowed to flush out those considered dissidents from the party as he continues his battle for political survival against the onslaught of his predecessor and national party chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

Speaking at the inauguration of the board of Edo Development and Property Authority, Obaseki praised members of Edo APC that had remained faithful to the party in the state but vowed to flush out any dissident APC member in the state.

“I want to thank those APC members that have remained committed. You know we have not wasted government money. We are progressives because we want to make tomorrow better for our children. Many have derailed. We thank God they have derailed because their hearts were not pure.

“We will flush them out. We own the land. We determine who our leader will be. Nobody can come here and impose on us who we don’t want,” he said.

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