APC better off without Atiku—Oyegun

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is better off without ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said on Tuesday.

He said the exit of Atiku from APC would strengthen the ruling party, contrary to speculations that it will trigger an exodus.

Odigie-Oyegun spoke at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, after receiving an award from the association of former local government chairmen and councillors.

He also lamented the loss of the November 18 Anambra State governorship election, blaming it on what he called “influence of a local party and incumbency factor.”

“As a parting shot, I want to say, let nobody entertain any fear that the defection of the former vice president (Atiku) is going to lead to any deluge. If anybody wants to defect, the day he will defect will be the day you will bring out your heavy guns not later as the media are speculating that some will still go with him.”

Oyegun is entitled to his opinion. It is not a surprise that he is trying to encourage and defend himself, after APC lost Atiku to the PDP. The defence is expected of Oyegun, having failed to provide a clear-cut leadership direction for the APC since he assumed office. Saying that Oyegun-led leadership of APC is like a rolling stone without a direction is like stating the obvious.

The party under his watch, has not only lost the verve that brought it into government, it appears helpless and hopeless in taking decisive decisions and uniting its members. That is one of the reasons Atiku left the party. For Oyegun and his cohorts, events before or after 2019, will determine whether APC is better off with or without Atiku. It is too early now to know if APC will be missing Atiku or not.