I won't trade words with Tinubu; I respect him – APC Chairman

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has said he would not be drawn into war of words with the National Leaders of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over allegations leveled against him over the Ondo governorship primary until after the governorship election in Edo.

Tinubu had took a swipe at Oyegun over the outcome of the Ondo governorship primary of the APC, declaring that the chairman must step down for rejecting the report of the Appeal Panel set up by the party to review the outcome of the primary in the state and instead submitted the name of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as governorship candidate of the party to INEC.

Reacting to the development, Oyegun said: 
“Asiwaju is a well respected leader of the APC and as such, I cannot be heard speaking evil against him,” saying he had to consult with other leaders of the party before making any definite statement because “you know we have a crucial election here in Edo which is my priority right now”.

According to Oyegun, “I don’t want to lose focus and I know Asiwaju also wants us to win because we all worked hard for this. So may be after the election if there is need, I will speak if there is no need, I will relax.

“But all I can say now is that most of the things said in the papers about me are not true. I have always believed in internal democracy, that the credibility of primary must be taken seriously.”

He added: “I believe that if the primaries of parties are not credible, it may derail any democracy, so I don’t play with these things at all. Everybody knows me and I don’t joke with my credibility and I have tried to maintain it.

“Like I said, Asiwaju is our leader and we all hold him in high esteem, so I will never join issues with him. But may be after the Edo elections, after we must have emerged victorious, we may speak on some of the issues raised. So there is no problem at all."