The All Progressives Congress (APC) has held uch-awaited, much talked-about convention. Indeed it has come and gone but it will continue to generate all kinds of analysis and reactions.
While awaiting the commencement of the program and even in the course of it, there were all kinds of sideshows and we hereby serve you just a few.
One of the stands with a special kind of vibe at yesterday’s event is the Edo State stand. The delegates representing the state were in their no nonsense mode yesterday. They demonstrated this mode the first time when the Minister of Health Dr. Chris Ehanire, an indigene of the state, came calling. While he was still trying to make his opening remarks, shouts of “no, no, noooo,” and “go, go, gooo” rent the air. The man had no choice than to discuss with his legs.
Shortly after that, Senator Domingo Alaba Obende, who represented Edo North Senatorial District in the 7th National Assembly, came calling but it turned out as a very terrible experience as he was not only booed, but also pelted with missiles. Some of the missiles came in form of empty water bottles, empty cans, etc He tried to put up some defiance, but the message of rejection soon registered and he left. It is believed that this attitude arose due to the perceived role of the Senator which led to the party’s loss of the state governorship.
Then came the big one which almost degenerated into fisticuffs between the delegates of Rivers state and those of Edo. This particular scene was rowdy, rancorous, and some of the political giants present like the governorship candidate of the APC in the 2020 Elections, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, had to come down to appeal for calm. What caused this?
Honourable Victor Giadom, who was in the race for the deputy national Chairman of the party in the south-south geo-political zone came, apparently to lobby the Edo delegates, but they would have none of it. He got a good portion of verbal missiles and physical pelting , which stirred the anger of some of the delegates of River State loyal to Giadom. Observers were quick to point out the anger and resentment was due to the role Giadom played in the removal of Adams Oshiomole as the chairman of the party. Adams Oshiomole is an indigene of Edo State. One of the aggrieved delegates who spoke to interfacenewshub.com said “Just imagine the cheek. It is insulting on our sensibility for Giadom, of all people, to come and seek our support considering what he did to Oshiomole. He should count himself lucky, that he was not injured.”
Another interesting feature of the day was the grand entry of Comrade Adams Oshiomhle into the venue. Shouts of Oshio baba!! rent the air as he went through the routine of going around the venue to exchange pleasantries with delegates from various states. With a huge crowd of admirers milling around him, he got a loud ovation at the various state stands. Some of the Hausa speaking admirers around him, were heard saying “ Oshio baba, ka jara kasa” meaning “ Baba Oshio, you laid a good foundation”.
It showed that despite his disgraceful exit from the office of Chairman of the party, there are still lots of party members who love and miss him.
What about the stoic rejection of consensus by some of the candidates. Most prominent of these is in the case of the National women Leader and the Vice Chairman (South-South) despite all the appeals to adopt consensus candidates, one of the women who wanted to vie for the position, Mrs. Ogbere, insisted she would not concede. Even when someone tried to play a fast one on her, by announcing that she had withdrawn, she quickly went and grabbed the microphone and promptly denied it.
The strong rivalry between Victor Giadom and Worgu Boms, for the post of Vice Chairman (South-South) also played out, as neither were willing to concede to the other.
Finally, there was no media stand or pavilliom. What would it have cost the organisers to have designate a stand for Journalists knowing fully well how crucial they are to the success of the convention. The same way they had a stand for the different committees there could have been one for journalists. A stand complete with charging ports for charging video camera batteries and phone batteries as well as counters ( like you have in banks for customers) to write on. Media practitioners deserve better treatment than this and I hope this does not amount to asking for too much.
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