By Tony Esheriri, Benin
A Stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chief Press Secretary to Etsako Central local government Council, Mr. Elias Inaede, has stated that the continuous stay in of Office by Comrade Bagudu Suleiman as the APC Chairmen in the local government is a huge threat to the unity and progress of the party.
The former Chief Press Secretary made this known during the week in Benin City while fielding questions from newsmen ahead the forthcoming APC local government Congresses.
He asserted that the party under the leadership of Bagudu has witnessed sharp divisions, high-handedness, high rate of embezzlement and misappropriation of party funds with particular reference to the just concluded APC membership revalidation and registration excercise where a lot of people across the local government were not paid their Stipends even though the party released the money to the embattled Chairman.
According to him, Bagudu unilaterally handpicked members of the Party’s Caretaker Committee without consulting the leaders in various Wards and that has caused disunity and acrimony among the party members.
His words ” APC in Etsako Central is now a personal property of Bagudu. He does things the way he likes without recourse to the leaders and the Constitution. He doesn’t consult before taking decisions and that is what is affecting the party in the local government. Even the money given by the Senator during the last Sallah to Bagudu to various Wards in Etsako Central to hold Ward meetings was equally embezzlement by the outgoing Party Chairman Bagudu ” he added.
Mr. Inaede, reiterated that, the party has lost total confidence in Bagudu, stressing that it was irresponsible and disheartening that Bagudu who openly sworn an Oath to uphold the Party’s Constitution be the one destroying it to advance it’s selfless interest and called on him to honourably resign now to avoid humiliation at the Congresses.
His exact Words ” How can a man who sworn to respect the party constitution be the one destroying it as a result of his inordinate ambition and that of his Sponsors ? What is more worrisome is that those suffering marginalisation and neglect in the hands of Bagudu are respected leaders who stood solidly against all odds to bring him to power.?
He urged the leadership of the party to ensure that the decision of the generality of the party members and the leaders is respected to have rancour free Congresses as it is better to lose one Sheep than losing ninety nine Sheeps.