APC NWC: How Oshiomhole Secured National Women Leader for Mary Alile
Tension seems to have enveloped the National secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The latest disagreement is as a result of replacement of National Working Committee officers who have been elevated or left their positions.
One of the position is that of the National Women Leader that was hitherto held by Dr. Betta Edu who is now the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs. The position is zoned to the South South.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State, Midwest Herald gathered showed early interest to attract the position to his state and started work early – immediately after President Bola Tinubu announced his ministerial list.
Midwest Herald gathered that, Oshiomhole lobbied members of the NWC and used his relatively close relationship to the president and by extension, the mechanics who are working for control of the party by Tinubu.
The announcement of Mary Alile Idele from Edo State as the new National Woman Leader from South South Zone, who is believed to be a candidate of Senator Oshiomhole, attracted protest from Edu, the former Women Leader who had recommended Stella Odey-Ekpo as her successor.
An angry Edu, had stormed the APC secretariat at about 6:20pm last Wednesday, August 23, to protest against the replacement of her candidate with Alile.
The National Women Leader position has added to the number of NWC members from Edo State that Oshiomhole has succeeded in attracting to Edo State All Progressives Congress.
Current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu who was the National Women Leader of APC until her appointment by President Tinubu is from Cross River. She has argued that, based on existing principles of the party, Cross River State ought to have nominated her replacement.
But analyst have countered here that: “It was greedy for anyone to expect Cross River State with two substantive positions to aspire to corner a position meant for the South South zone to herself.”
A former legislator, Dr. Samson Osagie while commending Edu for her sterling performance, urged her to focus on her new assignment as Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, noted that, she cannot in all honesty solely determine her successor in office for a position meant for the entire South South geopolitical zone.
Osagie added that , the immediate past National Woman Leader of the APC will find in Dr. Mary Alile a consummate women mobilizer and great philanthropist who have empowered thousands of women in the South South zone.
Indeed, Alile will be a significant and an invaluable addition to the progress not just of the APC but the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“I wish to commend Dr. Beta Edu and Dr. Mary Alile, both immediate past and present National Women Leaders for their God given roles at this material point in time, in the social, political and economic development of our great country.” Dr. Samson Osagie said.
