The Deputy National Chairman (North) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lawal Shuaibu, who wrote a letter demanding the resignation of Adams Oshiomhole as the party’s National Chairman, on Sunday said he would not appear before a disciplinary committee set up by the party.
His response was contained in a letter dated June 7 and addressed to the Deputy National Chairman (South), Niyi Adebayo, who is heading the panel.
Following Shuaibu’s letter, the National Working Committee (NWC) however passed a vote of confidence on Oshiomhole and set up a five-member disciplinary committee to investigate Shuaibu.
According to a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, the decision was taken at the 38th regular meeting of the NWC held in Abuja.
Onilu said the committee headed by Adebayo, would investigate Shuaibu for allegedly instigating some members of the party in the National Assembly against the party’s decision on the choice of the next leaders of the federal parliament and summoned Shuaibu.
In his letter, Shuaibu, who acknowledged receipt of the letter, wondered where the NWC derived the power of discipline and referred to Article 21 of the party’s constitution which states that such power shall only be exercised by the party through the respective executive committee of the party at all levels.
Describing the allegations and the invitation of the committee as illegal, Shuaibu said he will not appear before it.
“Let me state that with due respect to the National Working Committee, an important organ of my Party, I will not appear before your committee as it is illegal and I am too informed to get involved in illegalities,” he wrote.
“Given the NWC has the power, how can the Chairman preside over a meeting in which discussions that border on allegations against him are discussed? Let me repeat again as in my letter to the Chairman, YOU CAN’T BE A JUDGE IN YOUR OWN CASE!
“And to even say he was seated there to accept a vote of confidence as well as preside over setting up a committee to punish the member that accused him!
“I can equally imagine how the NWC, an important organ of the Party could convene what was described as a regular meeting for which less than 24 hours’ notice was given, specifically to discuss my opinion on the chairman and even issue a communique in that regard. You are actually making me appear to be more important than I have always felt.
“I am not sure of the source of your meeting with respect to the other shocking allegations contained in your resolutions, but what I read from it in virtually all the Newspapers this morning painted me darker than I am.
“That I was inciting National Assembly members against the nominees of Mr President is to say the least, that your meeting ran out of creative ideas on how to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.
“They are weighty allegations, but I don’t get intimidated and for those who know me, I have never in my life, played any double standard and they can tell you that I don‘t tell lies for any favours, because I depend on God for all my needs and every other favour.
“If you want to punish me for saying what I still believe is true, then you have to take this matter to where you are avoiding, the National Executive Committee. My advice is, please, let us save this party, as a stitch in time saves nine.”
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