By James Orji
There’s no respite yet for the embattled Governor Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress, APC Caretaker Committee, following a recommendation by the immediate past Legal Adviser of the party, Babatunde Ogala that the committee should be sacked.
He called for the reinstatement of the former National Working Committee, NWC headed by Adams Oshiomhole, even though he said the former governor of Edo state must remained sacked.
Oshiomhole was removed last year by a presidential fiat which appointed Governor Buni in interim capacity.
Ogala made the call after a similar one by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour. Both are Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs. Ndoma Egba, a top Presidential Adviser and a former Senate Leader is also among those calling on Governor Buni to step down.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said in Abuja on Friday that the party’s state and local government congresses should go ahead across the country, noting that the Supreme Court’s ruling during the week would not affect the party in the future.
Following the Supreme Court verdict, on Monday, in the Ondo state Governorship Election, where three justices in the seven-man panel ruled that the Buni-Committee is illegal, the ruling party has been on the edge after some stalwarts of the party called for the sack of the committee.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s election was affirmed though, by the majority judgment but some party supporters have described the judgement as a narrow escape for the ruling party, after the minority judgment said the Buni-committee is illegal.
This development has polarized the party with some of its top guns calling on the party to organize an election where a substantive National Working Committee, NWC will be elected.
Ogala while lending his voice on the issue said the opposition could capitalize on the legal loophole cited by the Supreme Court over the Governor Buni committee to destroy the party’s fortunes in future elections.
The immediate past legal Adviser of the APC said in a statement that “The reinstatement of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) without the erstwhile Chairman who was suspended from office by Order of a court of competent jurisdiction should be seriously considered in order to cloak the impending Ward, Local Government Area and State Congresses as well as National Convention with the imprint of legality.”
He said the reinstatement of the dissolved NWC is a hard pill that the party must swallow, adding that the Buni Committee must not shy away from calls by majority of the party supporters to step down.
According to him “Just as the former NWC accepted their dissolution without much hassle, it is time for the current Caretaker Committee to sacrifice for the posterity of APC.
“The fate of APC is at stake in that all successes, victories and triumphs gained by the party will continue to hang on a very thin thread in the face of the progressive attitude of our courts on election and political matters.
Warning that it is better to err on the side of caution Ogala stated that it is “safe to conclude that the judicial attitude of the apex court is that APC would be dealt a fatal blow should Governor Mai Mala Buni remain at the helms of affairs of the APC and he is joined in a future suit.
“Therefore, in response to the well publicised opinion of my brother silk, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, the apex court gave the APC both a hint and a wink at the same time.
“The minority decision backed by the majority’s action of not ruling otherwise on this point sends a strong message which we cannot ignore.
“Without equivocation, the law is not on the side of perpetuating serving governors, including Governor Mai Mala Buni, in the leadership of the Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee. So what do we do as a party?”
He said the party must listen to the voice of wisdom, particularly calls by some stalwarts of the party that the Committee should be dissolved.
He said “I have read suggestions by my brother silk, Festus Keyamo, SAN to the effect that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party as well as its Board of Trustees (BOT) should take charge of the affairs of the party through a committee set up by either organ.
“This is a very wise proposition except that NEC alongside all other organs of the party was purportedly dissolved at a meeting convened and presided over by Governor Mai Mala Buni. Sadly, the Notice for the NEC meeting was issued by the same tainted leadership of the party.
“Therefore, it is my view that the meeting may not have been properly convened in the eyes of the law and its resolution(s) may have been void ab initio. This gives a leeway for the NEC to resume its duties and convene meetings immediately where it will decide the future of the party,” Ogala said.
