OPEN S.O.S LETTER TO THE APC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

                                            20th May, 2017

OPEN LETTER TO THE APC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN


His Excellency
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun
National Chairman
All Progressives Congress
Headquarters
ABUJA

Your Excellency,

RESUSCITATING APC DELTA STATE CHAPTER:
THE WAY FORWARD


I send our indefatigable National Chairman warm felicitations and high regards this morning.

As our National Chairman may have seen from yesterday's Vanguard Newspaper, a group in Delta State APC listed names for the State Leadership Council, State Caucus, and State Elders Council (page 25), which is about two years late in coming.

This is suggestive that something is tragically wrong in the way our Party is going - towards the precipice - especially when it is noted that majority of those listed are unknown to the grassroots structure.

From feelers we are receiving, several of our Leaders on the list, including Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru and Prof Patrick Utomi who made the caricatured list have dissociated themselves from what is going on.

My foray into politics started in 1992 when I aspired to go to the House of Representatives under SDP for Isoko. I was in banking, UBA Head Office and UBA New York. I am a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. My public service record include being a former Secretary to the Commission of both the Revenue Mobilization Allocation & Fiscal Commission and the Federal Character Commission, the Presidency, Abuja. (I have summarized my pedigree for you to appreciate that you have people in d Party who can logically think with you in time of avoidable crisis).  NEVER BEFORE IN MY 51 YEARS OF PRIVATE, POLITICAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE has a purposeful and intelligent people like my brothers in APC Delta being so disorganized and disoriented.

The disagreement in APC Delta has assumed cancerous dimensions which must be attended to with despatch before the Party is buried alive.
God forbid!

In suggesting a way forward, I advise that you carefully brood over the option of either doing nothing as hitherto, or take decisive action no matter whose ox is gored.

Remember, you are occupying a strategic office and you can make or mar the positive development of Nigeria by your decisions.

Your Excellency, it is ripe for you to establish a Caretaker or Adhoc Committee which will midwife the Delta State APC through till when a fresh Congress will hold in 2018. I suggest you hammer out the Committee latest by 2nd or 3rd week of June so that the new midwives can commence work on July 1st, 2017.

SUMMARY OF THE CHALLENGES

Let us recap on the key aspects of our problem :

There was a Congress to elect the State Executive Committee

An aggrieved Member challenged the results in Court.

The Asaba High Court sacked the State Executive Committee.

Court order for a new Congress.

State Executive Committee Chairman ignored Court decision.

Majority of State Executive Committee obey Court but embattled Chairman and a few others stick to their positions.

National Headquarters set up an Investigative Panel.

Results of investigative Panel not released till date.

Embattled Chairman took the National Headquarters to Court, arguing that SEC shouldn't be dissolved.

Party now being run against the principle of rule of law.

A peace parley convened and held in the Minister of State Petroleum residence at Onicha Ugbo which decisions weren't far reaching enough.

Dissatisfaction and confusion everywhere as though we have no purpose as a Party

SUGGESTION ON THE WAY FORWARD

The National Chairman and the NWC should consider and immediately install a Caretaker Committee for Delta APC. In making this recommendation, I appeal to all combatants to shield their sword for the Party to have a solid foundation to fight electoral battles in future - for success.

All Members and Leaders must remember that only when we win our elections that we can claim to be a serious Party. All parties at all levels should avoid any bickering whatsoever.

I therefore suggest a 21 Member Committee to be made up as follows:

DELTA SOUTH                          No. Of Members Nominated
Dr Alex Ideh/Temi Harriman                      2
Prince Ikpama/PZ Aginighan                     2
Chief Esigie/Deacon Osiobe                        2

DELTA CENTRAL
Chief Emerhor/Kokori                                     2
Chief Great Ogboru/Sen OmoAhege          2
Chief Barr Ideh/Dr Mrs Ogbuagu                 2

DELTA NORTH (There's relative unity)  
Engr. H. Enuha
Prof Patrick Utomi                                            6
Hon Victor Ochei
Sir O Akamukali                                      

BECAUSE OF THEIR POSITIONS IN D EQUATION:
Prophet Jones Erue                                            1
Chief Okotie-Eboh                                               1

TOTAL                                                                   20

APPOINTMENT BY
National Chairman / Minister                          1

REMARKS:

A. The appointee of the National Chairman should be done in consultation with the Minister of Petroleum; State.
This appointee will be an experienced person and will chair the Caretaker Committee and should be independent of any of the warring Leaders.  He will have a casting vote.

B.  There shall be three (3) Deputy Chairmen, 1 from each Senatorial District.

C.  Members will elect their Officers including the Secretary.

Quorum shall be 12.

This proposal isn't sacrosanct but can form a basis for charting a way forward, please.

Another appropriate Terms of Reference must be drafted by the National Headquarters.


Signed:
DEACON PATRICK EMERHANA, FCA
APC Leader, Emevor Warden/
Stakeholder