APC chairman replies legal adviser over claims of taking over his duties

– APC national chairman Oshiomhole says claims that he has taken over the duties of the party′s national legal were wrong

– Oshiomhole says the party′s constitution recognized him as CEO and therefore he was within his powers to control the NWC, including the legal adviser

– The former Edo state government brushed aside the claims as distractions which he did not have time for

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole has replied the party′s legal adviser Babatunde Ogala, who recently alleged that he (Oshiomhole) was usurping his (Ogala′s) duties.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Oshiomhole noted that all members of the APC’s national working committee (NWC) must take directive from him.

He noted that this is so because the constitution of the ruling party provides that he is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the APC.

He said: “We have a constitution. It’s very clear that nobody is an island to himself or herself. Yes, we have 21 elected members of the NWC. We constitute an organ. It is not 21 NWCs, it’s one, and the duties and responsibilities of the chairman are well-stated. Among others, it provides that the chairman is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the party. He is also the chief accounting officer.

“The word CEO has the same meaning everywhere in the world. The fact that you are the head of a department or a division, or a unit, does not isolate you from taking a directive from the CEO. So, if there is anyone, including a legal adviser, who thinks that he is running a different system that is not accountable to the internal structures and power and control within the party, the challenge may be his.

“But again, those are all part of the distractions. What happens in government and some organisations is that if you don’t pay attention to some minute areas, they become the entry point for opponents to infiltrate and create maximum damage. What are the issues? The right to nominate who represents us, the right to be consulted.

“If I am taken to court as national chairman, and my name is mentioned, or they just write national chairman and write All Progressives Congress, common sense should ask, should I have the right to be informed and to approve who represents the party in a lawsuit? Why would anybody want to monopolise that? For me it’s straightforward. I have seen ridiculous situations in which people who took our party to court come to me to say, ‘Allow me to nominate the person who’ll represent the APC’ so that they are guaranteed of the outcome of the case.

“I cannot oblige such a request, and if insisting that the right thing is done leads to internal memos that some choose to publish, my eye is on the ball, to protect the corporate interest of the APC.”

TRACKNEWS.NG reported earlier that Ogala, the national legal adviser of the APC accused the party’s chairman, Oshiomhole, of taking over his own duties and functions as ascribed to his office by the organisation’s constitution.

Ogala further accused Oshiomhole of violating the constitution of the party in a four-page letter he personally signed to Oshiomhole.

The letter seen on Sunday, November 18, stated: “I am constrained to put this memo and complaint in writing in the light of the repeated acts of usurpation and deliberate encroachment on my office and attempt to undermine my person and the office.”