AC LG Boss Gets Suspension

The chairman of Action Congress (AC) in Owan West Local Government, Mr. Patrick Ojo has been suspended. His suspension which took place in an enlarged meeting of the entire party executive members elders, chairmen of the II wards, women and youth leaders in the local government was hinged on a petition that indicted Ojo of financial impropriety, high handedness, insolence and other sundry allegations. Mr. Peter Eguabor was later elected as acting chairman.

The meeting at Eruere on the auspices of Chief J.S. Oni, one of the party elders took a swipe at Ojo at the AC chief’s ineptitude, who was accused of being responsible for the party’s misfortune in Owan West. The members promised to assist the acting chairman to reposition AC to become attractive to new entrants who feel threatened by the former chairman’s autocratic leadership style.

Eguabor, who was unanimously selected in accordance with the party constitution, to replace Ojo in acting capacity, is expected to superintend the party’s affairs, until a later date when a substantive chairman would be elected. AC in Owan West, has known no peace since the seemingly controversial Ojo also known as “man of God” brought the party into disrepute. It was alleged that those who were ready to flirt with the party and swell its ranks were reluctant to  do so as result of Ojo’s politics of exclusion.

This became evident when a group of PDP chieftains, led by Prince Fred  Alaba Ogedengbe, defected to the Action Congress on hearing that the former chairman had been suspended. Ogedengbe and his group heaved a sigh of relief that their dreams to join the moving-train had been actualised by the exit of Ojo whose style of leadership was everything but democratic.

“AC in Owan West replicated all the abhorrent virtues that the PDP symbolised while Mr. Patrick Ojo was in the saddle as chairman. With the turn of event and what we know of the acting chairman, we are certain that AC is the party to beat in any election,” Ogedengbe said.

Mr. Bayo Adams, AC Senatorial leader who tacitly endorsed Ojo’s removal also received the former PDP members into AC fold, assuring them of equal ownership of the party.

His words: “In Action Congress, there are neither owners nor joiners. What we have is a platform and an integrated  space where everyone is qualified to achieve his or her dream, with or without money bag or godfather.”

He encouraged party faithfuls to work as hard as possible since the local government election is very close. Adams said that the AC being the government in power cannot afford to loose election in any party of the state on account of intra-party crisis, enjoining the members to resolve their crisis in the interest of peace and stability.

While thanking members for finding him worthy to lead the party to greater height, Eguabor pledged that he would reconcile the different factions that were created by the former chairman.

Ben-ose Ogbemudia, Benin