For the second consecutive day, a group of protesters besieged the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) demanding the resignation of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole; blaming him for the recent loss of Bayelsa State to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The protesters vowed to sustain the protest with a view to ensuring that the National Chairman gives way for the party to move forward.
Armed with placards with inscriptions such as “Oshiomhole must go”, and “President Buhari should either ask Oshiomhole to resign or sack him” among others, the protesters under the auspices of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Resident All Progressives Congress (APC) Youths Stakeholders Forum (YSF) said the APC lost elections in some states due to interference from Oshiomhole.
“What happens in Bayelsa State was caused by Oshiomhole and we say ‘enough is enough’. We want him to park his load and leave that office. He is not the only Nigerian that can manage that office. “Since he came into that office he has been creating problems for the party. We will suffer to win the election and at the end of the day, the opposition will go to court and collect the state. “We are not happy with his conduct and we are the party faithful we ask him to go, we put him there. Bringing Oshiomhole is like bringing a curse to the party,” the Convener of the group, Yinusa Yusuf, who led the protest, said.
Yusuf stated that Oshiomhole through his leadership style has disunited and disorganized the APC saying the ruling party is heading in the wrong direction and only Oshiomhole’s ouster would reverse course and change the APC’s dwindling fortunes.
Another speaker, Genesis Johnson who spoke on behalf of the protesters claimed that Oshiomhole had been running the affairs of the party in breach of the party’s constitution, adding that his impunity has caused the party a major loss in Zamfara, Bayelsa and Rivers states
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command has extended the three days dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Bayelsa over the protest following the Supreme Court judgment on Thursday. Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozie, who addressed journalists, said the extension was necessitated by the prevailing situation in the state.
“On the other hand, in the light of credible intelligence available to the command vis-a-vis the prevailing security situation in Bayelsa State, the command has deemed it necessary to review and extend the curfew to Sunday, February 23, 2020, with effect from Monday, February 17, 2020, from 10 pm to 6 am.
“Members of the public are advised to remain indoors, as security agencies will arrest anyone who violates the curfew and such outlaws will be prosecuted. They are also advised to remain calm as the command is poised to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state,” he said.
