From Moshood Karim
The recent demand by a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oredo Local Government Area, seeking the resignation of the party’s State Secretary, Lawrence Okah, deserves a sober reflection rather than hasty judgment.
Operating under the name Concerned APC Members in Oredo, the group accused Okah of allegedly concentrating political appointments in his Ward 7, sidelining the other 11 wards within the council. Their claim, if left unchecked, could easily sow unnecessary disunity in a party that has fought hard to stay intact in Edo’s turbulent political landscape.
But beyond the rhetoric, one must ask: is Lawrence Okah truly guilty of marginalisation? Or is this another episode in the endless power tussles that have often defined Edo politics?
It would be unfair to dismiss, in one breath, the contributions of a man who has stood like a bulwark for the APC in its most trying moments. During the tempestuous era when former Governor Godwin Obaseki launched a bruising war against the party, challenging the authority of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and other leaders, many would recall how fragile the APC structure became in Edo.
At that fiery time, when missiles of political sabotage were flying in all directions, it was chieftains like Lawrence Okah who refused to bow. He worked tirelessly to keep the party’s base together, warding off cracks that could have split the APC into irreparable factions. Edo APC survived those storms not by accident but because of men who prioritised the party’s survival above personal gain.
Importantly, the APC as a body has risen to Okah’s defence, debunking claims of favouritism. The State Publicity Secretary, Uwadaie Igbinigie, made it clear that allegations against Okah were baseless.
According to him, “The claims are a foul cry far from reality. Several prominent appointments from Oredo are not from Ward 7. The party secretary has been inclusive and carried everyone along, even within the state exco.”
Igbinigie pointed out that the current Commissioner for Education, an indigene of Oredo but not from Ward 7, stands as evidence that appointments have been equitably distributed. This fact alone punctures the narrative of lopsidedness being peddled by the aggrieved group.
Political appointments are often sensitive matters, easily stoking envy and division. But APC in Edo, particularly in Oredo, cannot afford distractions at this critical time when the focus should be on consolidating the party’s gains and preparing for future electoral battles.
Lawrence Okah’s record as a stabiliser during crises, coupled with the party’s official position, makes the calls for his resignation appear more of a political outcry than a genuine grievance. If indeed unity and growth of the APC in Oredo are the ultimate goals, then the path forward should be dialogue and reconciliation, not vilification.
In politics, no leader is perfect, and criticisms—when constructive—are vital for balance. But in this instance, one must remember that the same Okah being accused of marginalisation is the one who held the party’s fragile fabric together when many thought it would collapse.
For Oredo APC, the choice is clear: rally around a man who has proven his loyalty to the cause, or allow unnecessary infighting to weaken the collective strength of the party.
Moshood Karim is the publisher, Uptown Global Press Nigeria
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