‘My APC chairmanship will unite the party before election’

With internal bickering threatening the unity of the party, immediate past governor of Edo state and aspirant for the National Chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday said if he emerges as chairman, he has the capacity to unite the party before the 2019 general elections.

Besides, he said majority of the leaders of the party were backing his aspiration because they are aware of his loyalty and commitment to the party.Speaking in an interview Oshiomhole who said he will exercised his “ persuasive powers, negotiating skills” in resolving the crisis in the party.

“If I have prominent people from the North, prominent people from the South, East and West it means I will be at the center. No one will say if not for my support you would not have been there. If you are a product of one section then you might remain detained by that section if you feel that to return that office you must service that section because it is your support base. But when you have the privilege of a broad support, from many leaders then no one leader will say I put you there you must listen to me.

“Let me also say is that what is qualitatively different about this support is that there is no question about what is influencing this support because conventionally in our political environment, we hear that those who have the deepest pocket tends to buy the support. But these supports are being offered from people who cannot be procured which tell you it is flowing from the knowledge of my person. “Because I have been fortunate to work with all the governors, including past governors. Those I did not meet in office I met them when I was President of the NLC, we had engaged so on one to one they know what I stand for. “

So they offered this support based on their understanding of my person and not inducement and that makes a difference” he stated.Adding that he was never a dictator as being alleged in some quarters, Oshiomhole said, “some of the things I learnt in the labour union is negotiations and never dictatorial because even though I was the President of the NLC, I cannot even control my deputy because he was voted the same manner I was elected. In the NLC you must listen to everybody unlike in government where as an executive you can dictate decisions”