By Osahon Osahon
A chieftain and former spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, has warned leaders and members of the party against allowing former governors to contest the national chairmanship position of the party in the forthcoming national delegation convention of the APC.
He said the warning became important as he has observed some former governors of the party had already commenced consultations to contest the national chairmanship position at the convention.
Erhahon, who is also a former Edo chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), gave the warning a statement on Tuesday titled “APC National Chairmanship: Let’s Say No To Ex Governors!”
According to him, APC does not need the egocentric former governors to chair the party’s national seat especially as the crucial 2023 general elections fast approach.
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He posited that such egocentric nature, generally possessed by former governors owing to the position had earlier occupied, is generally harmful to the successful organisation of a political party.
The APC chieftain alleged that governors of this dispensation have been turned by the system to lords and dictators where democratic tenets and members opinions are not considered.
Erhahon urged delegates to the party’s upcoming national convention to learn from their past mistakes in the interest of ensuring that the party produced President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023.
“As we progress towards the elective National Convention of our great party, let us learn from our own history, avoid common mistake and correct ourselves. We cannot continue to do things the same way, using same category of men, and expect better result.
“We have had four National Chairmen since inception, three former and one serving governors namely, former Governor Bisi Akande, former Governor John Oyegun, former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and currently, Governor Buni of Yobe State.
“Erroneously, we are fast establishing it as a convention that only serving or former governors can lead APC at national level. How much has leadership from this class favoured the party?
“Experience has shown that the qualities required of a national chairman to succeed are what our new generation governors lack completely”, he stated.
While stating that a national chairman of a party should be one with high respect for members and posses’ high level of humility, called on delegates in the forthcoming convention to put the interest of the party above personal consideration in choosing the next national chairman.
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“The qualities of a good national chairman include: The habit of wide and sincere consultation. Humility. Amiable and respectful disposition. Ability to accept corrections and contributions from others. Tolerance and embrace of dissenting voices and Experience in party organisation .
“With all due respect to governors of this dispensation, the system has spoiled them to be lords onto themselves, dictators in a democracy to the extent that they don’t value the input of others to the party.
“The chairman that APC needs now is one that is experienced in party organisation and membership mobilization. One who will not feel too big to visit even a ward leader in any part of the country, if duty demands him to do so.
“The egoes of former governors are harmful to the successful organisation of a political party. Such will be an expensive gamble for our party of today.
“It is therefore my humble appeal to all former governors from any of the regions to which the office of the national chairman is zoned this time around to please steer clear of the contest if they wish the party well”, the former Edo APC spokesman added.
