The Senator Francis Spanner Okpozo led Elders Committee which on September 16, 2016 published a press release announcing a 25-man State Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party in Delta State has been tongue-lashed by the National Vice Chairman, South-South of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ntufam Hilliard E. Eta.
The South-South Zonal leader in a release made available to newsmen on 16th September, 2016 described the action of the Okpozo illegal committee as “a strange body not known and recognised by our constitution. Consequently, any gathering under that nomenclature and guise becomes an aberration, and all decisions taken by such unknown creation are a nullity”.
The Zonal Executive Body of APC berated the elders and those who took part in the ill-conceived gathering, adding that, “At no time and on no account has any such body been recognized and/or mandated by either the National Working Committee (NWC) or the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) to superintend over operations of the party in Delta State and at such passing judgement on the Prophet Jones Ode Erue led State Executive Committee amounts to embarking on a WILD GOOSE CHASE”.
Ntufam Eta: “To castigate the National Working Committee (NWC) for failing to yield to the demands of sanctioning the Prophet Erue led State Exco within the period of the group’s ultimatum is to say the least an act of “insubordination and rascality”.
Determined to end petty squabbles, unnecessary wailing and ranting’s by the Okpozo fake elders committee, the leader of APC South-South Zonal Executive Committee directed the group to do the following without fail so as to avoid severe sanctions:
“That the said Elders and Leaders Committee and their purportedly nominated Caretaker Committee members are to within 24 hours of this press release, cause the retraction of the said communique which shall be published in any National Dailies.
“That all the signatories to the said publication and the purported caretaker committee members are to make themselves available to meet with the National Vice Chairman, South-South on Wednesday 21st September, 2016 at 10am at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.
“That failure to adhere to the above directives will lead to severe sanctions as stipulated in our constitution”.
Political observers are of the view that the latest move by the National Vice Chairman of the party in South-South would to a large extent curtail the anti-party activities of the Okpozo led illegal Elders and Leaders Committee believed to be heavily funded by powerful and wealthy key members of the opposition in the state.
The loyalty of the group shall come to light on Wednesday next week when they come face to face with members of the National body administrative organ of our great party.
The political scheming may end after the deliberation in Abuja next Wednesday or may even escalate depending on the open or hidden agenda of members of the ill-motivated Elders and Leaders Committee.
To prevent further illegal activities and unconstitutional gatherings by individuals or groups within the APC family in Delta State, the Zonal Executive Committee handed down a stern warning to members, “let me encourage all structures and members of the party in Delta State to remain calm, and to remain loyal to the Prophet Jones Erue led State Executive Committee as the National Working Committee of our great party is working hard at resolving all contending issues in Delta State,” Eta stated.
The basic and fundamental ingredients of the press release by the South-South Zonal Executive leader are very clear and unambiguous.
It is expected that all genuinely registered members of APC in Delta State would comply accordingly pending the final resolution of the issues under reference, the statement added.
