Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South geo-political zone on Friday commended the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, describing him as a strong and competent leader. The group also berated the party’s Deputy Publicity Secretary, Mr. Timi Frank, for his comments on the leadership of the party.

“Oyegun knows his substance. He is working closely with President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption in the country,” the leaders said.

They also praised the national chairman of the party for freeing the party from factionalism, vested interests and authoritarianism.

In a statement in Yenegoa by the Chairman of South-South APC Leaders Forum, Chief John Harry, the leaders commended Oyegun for promoting progressive values, respecting progressive views and keeping members of the party together.

“Oyegun is a man of impeccable credentials. He is a highly trained technocrat. We are blessed to have him at the helm.”

They also dismissed the opinion of Mr. Timi Frank, saying it is essentially a figment of his imagination and that of his cohorts.

The leaders said in a big party such as the APC, conflicts were inevitable.

“There is no political party in the world that does not have its own internal crisis. A political party has its own internal mechanism to put its house in order. It is disgraceful for Timi Frank to ridicule his office. It is also a dereliction of his duty. It clearly shows that the man does not understand his office or the party.”

The astonished leaders described the action of Frank as regrettable and a betrayal of Oyegun and the South-South people.

“Mr. Timi Frank is a disgrace to APC. He lacks the ability to manage the party’s relationship with the general public. His incompetence is setting our party back,” they said.

They accused the deputy publicity secretary of the party of playing politics of the stomach.

“Timi Frank should learn to respect leadership. A responsible leader should not take sides on matters affecting his party. Frank’s utterances and attitude are geared towards causing disunity in the party.”

The leaders listed personal envy, vaulting ambition and gluttonous appetite for personal power as reasons for Frank’s actions.

“Is he saying the party is promoting corruption? Is he saying the party is not supporting President Buhari in his fight against corruption? Is he saying the party came to power to propagate corruption? Is he not part of the leadership? Where he sees leadership failure that overwhelms his capacity to correct, the honourable thing to do is to resign rather than fan the embers of discord. Timi Frank should stop acting deceitfully. He should find another way of currying the favour of his sponsors.”

They urged Frank to show respect for the elderly.

“Where was Timi Frank when Oyegun carefully crafted a winning formula that dislodged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power? Where the national Chairman is not in control of the party, it would be interesting to ask who controls Timi Frank. He should declare his sinister motive. Timi Frank belongs to a faction that wants to destroy the APC. His loyalty is not with APC or the national Chairman but an interest outside the party. The APC is one indivisible party,” they added.

•Photo shows Odigie-Oyegun.

Update news