By Uche Mbah
Indications are that Adams Oshiomhole, the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives congress, APC, may have reached a new low in his relationship with the governors under the aegis of the party who are battling him over his conduct of party primaries. Early this week, he was said to have been arrested by the Directorate of State services, DSS, based on petitions by the governors that he took bribes in connection with the primaries. bribery of the magnitude being spoken about should ordinarily fall under the activities of the economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, but it appears they have kept mum on the issue, although it is not clear whether the Agency was petitioned to by any person or group.
But information reaching this Magazine indicate that even the DSS extended no written invitations, that he was brought in to the Abuja office quietly. Upon interrogations, it was said, he was found to be culpable, and the DSS had told him to resign his position. He allegedly declined and insisted that there is no action taken by him that the Presidency is not in cohort with, and that he can only resign if the President says so. Immediately he was released on Monday, 5th November 2018,, he ran to the president to brief him. the president was said to be alarmed and insisted that he “is not aware” of the invitation, and promised to look into it.
All these were happening before the president became busy receiving the Heir apparent of the British monarchy, Charles Tudor, the Prince of Wales, and his consort, Carmela. The reception was, however, done without the presence of the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, who ordinarily should have been hosting the wife of Charles. This has done a lot to fuel the conspiracy theory of an estrangement with his wife for undisclosed reason. The last time Aisha went on a trip with the President was to China in what some claim was a private business trip under the umbrella of the Trade delegation.
Beyond the Governors allegation, Oshiomhole was said to have not been forgiven by the former DSS boss, Lawan Daura, for his ouster as the head of the spy agency. It was said that the action taken by Daura was in collaboration with Oshiomhole, and that Daura was the one that was used as a fall guy. Given that Daura was said to have been consulted in the appointment of the new man, Yusuf Bichi, who had retired under Daura and said to be a security consultant for the DSS when Daura allegedly recommended him. Recently, Daura was invited for a closed door meeting with the President. Although details of the meeting was not known, it is believed that it is not unconnected with the security anf the 2019 general elections.
If Oshiomhole finally bows to pressure and resigns, the mantle may still fall on a South south APC politician believed to be in the good books of the APC governors forum.
