By Akinwale Kasali
The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole is gradually losing his relevance, honour, and integrity he once enjoyed when he first mounted the saddle as the APC National Chairman.
The party has now been enmeshed in crisis. The crisis stretches from his state, Edo, Supreme Court Verdicts in Rivers Zamfara, Bayelsa, his alleged ‘one man’ show, high handedness and his rigidity in running the affairs of the party.
In Benin, on Saturday, it nearly got to a bloody end.
If not for the prompt response of the Nigeria Army which averted bloodbath at the Benin Airport, between the loyalists of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and his own loyalists, the State would have witnessed a bloodbath.
His appearance at the VIP wing of the Benin Airport tiggered the crisis. On seeing him, Youths numbering over 200 who had stationed themselves at the Airport, apparently waiting for him, began booing him, and chanting all sorts of anti-Oshiomhole songs.
Songs such as: ‘Oshiomhole o le’ (Oshiomhole thief); ‘Oshiomhole you worwor’ (Oshiomhole you are ugly); ‘Oshiomhole you short’, rented the air.
Loyalists to Oshiomhole, the likes of Pius Odubu, General Charles Airhiavbere, Samson Osagie and other APC chieftains were at the airport to receive him when the incident happened. They all had to run for safety.
However, it took the efforts of men of the Nigeria Army to dispersed the mob as they repeatedly fired into the air which made the youths to beat a retreat from their planned attack.
Their retreat enabled his security aides and other security men mobilise to the Airport to forestall possible attacks and booing. The National Chairman was quickly whisked into his waiting vehicle which zoomed off immediately.
