The Senior Special Assistant to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Public Enlightenment, Oliver Okpala has claimed that some politicians have been sent by the opposition to cause division in the party.
He stated this in response to a statement by a chieftain of the party, Saleh Zazzaga, who claimed that he has rejected the endorsement of the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule.
Okpala faulted Zazzaga assertion, describing his comments against Governor Sule and Ganduje as reckless.
Speaking via a statement, Okpala maintained that Zazzaga is a purveyor of lies and should not be given attention.
According to him, “APC, as a notable political organization, has a valid National Chairman duly recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and he should not be blackmailed by Alhaji Zazzaga.
“Zazzaga should return to the path of political rectitude if he is a true party man before it is too late.
“He should take advantage of all the organs of the party through which issues can be resolved, rather than playing to the gallery and washing dirty linens in the public glare.
“He ought to know that political parties have internal platforms for resolving issues, no matter how vexatious they may appear.
“When one fails to explore those options, but rushes to the courts as Zazzaga has done, it is an indication that such a person is a dissident and an outlaw.
“You cannot be claiming to be a zonal leader and be casting aspersions and insinuating ignoble innuendoes against the leadership of your party. That amounts to attempting to bring your own house to disrepute and ruin”.
Okpala recalled that Zazzaga has been attacking the National Chairman and even the President, adding that it does not portray him as a good party man.
He said that since the Chairman of the APC North Central Governors Forum had spoken clearly and endorsed the leadership of Ganduje, Zazzaga as a true and disciplined party man, should know that the Governors are superior to whatever he claims to be in the party hierarchy.
“The Governors are a great force to reckon with especially within their zones and the party in general. They have clearly taken a stand to remain behind Dr. Ganduje and their position is far superior to the rantings of anybody in the zone.
“If the governors have said Ganduje is proper and fit to carry on as National Chairman of the party, the objections by Zazzaga are mere distractions.
“His continued attacks on Dr. Ganduje shows that he has been contracted by the opposition to undermine, cause division and bad blood in the APC and that plot will fail”, Okpala added.
