The contentious
primaries of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), in Edo State is
causing a lot of ripples. Just a day after two commissioners and the
Head of Service resigned their appointments, another commissioner has
also resigned from the cabinet of the ‘Comrade Governor’. Commissioner
of Agriculture, Tunde Lakoju did not just resign from the government,
he also quit the ACN. The members of the cabinet who had earlier
resigned their appointment are: Simeon Imukheme, the Head of Service,
Ngozi Osareren the Education Commissioner, and Ahonsi Unuigbe,
Commissioner of Budget and Planning. It was gathered that Mrs
Osarenren, will be going back to the classroom as a Professor at the
University of Lagos, while Mr Unuigbe is returning to Stanbic IBTC Bank
as a senior management staff.
In the resignation
letter dated January 25, Mr Lakoju attributed his resignation to
domestic pressures and higher calling. All arrangement for handing over
all government property in his possession, he said have already been
concluded, he expressed gratitude to Mr Oshiomhole for the opportunity
given to him to serve the people of the state.
In his letter of
resignation from the ACN which was addressed to the state chairman of
the party, Thomas Okosun, Mr Lakoju predicated his resignation on
disillusionment and frustration arising from the just concluded Edo ACN
congresses and primaries.
“All petitions to
address the terrible manipulations done in Akoko-Edo Wards 04 and 07
and the Local Government Congresses fell on deaf ears,” he said, adding
that the so called harmonisation that was done was to protect favoured
candidates.
Our supporters are confused
“Our supporters are
confused about the sincerity of our party about its avowed philosophy
of one man, one vote, which signifies an end to godfatherism. If I was
expressly told that the positions had been zoned, I would not have
risked my life, wasted my time and resources, including the payment of
N2.2 million I paid for the nomination,” he regretted.
Mr Lakoju said that
to pretend that all is well on this matter will kill the man in him,
adding that he cannot continue to tag along in the face of humiliation.
He further said that it was a big shame that some of them who fought to
build the party and fought elections tribunals and Appeal Courts, were
now being sidelined for those they challenged.
“As a leader in my
own right, I am not in any position to reassure my followers,
especially after the party primaries, where their support for my
aspiration to the Senate was violently frustrated. In my own ward 05 in
Akoko-Edo, a widow, Catherine Aliu, my classmate and supporter, was
murdered by thugs brought into the venue by my opponents, and the
primaries which I was clearly winning, was disrupted. Rather than fish
out the culprits and disqualify their principals, I can sense a
systemic cover up,” he said.
Mr Lakoju had contested the ACN primaries to represent Edo North Senatorial District in the Senate and lost to Domingo Obende.
Furthermore, the
state government yesterday relieved two commissioners of their duties.
Those dropped are: Jackson Eribo, Special Duties, and Moses Momoh,
Health.
A statement signed
by Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said that “the
commissioners were dropped as part of measures to refocus and
reposition governance in the state.
“The Governor thanks the former commissioners for services rendered
to the state and wishes them the best in their future endeavours,” the
statement said.
