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ABUJA – All Progressive Congress chieftain and prominent member of the party’s 2023 Presidential election campaign Council has lashed out at president Tinubu, accusing him of nepotism and rewarding those who campaigned against him and the party during the 2023 presidential elections.
He bemoaned the plights of those who endured the “bullets” from the opponents of the president and wonders why the president has decided to ignore them and others who laboured day and night for him and the party.
Onokpasa told the president that the same people who mobilised for him in 2023 could mobilize against him and make him lose in 2027.
Onokpasa is very disappointed that, the president decided to reward Daniel Bwala who was all over the country defaming him and the party. He described his appointment as disappointing, insensitive and unacceptable . He spoke with Chalse Aniagolu of Arise TV. His words:
“Look Chalse, the more I think about this thing, the more I get confused, the more i get angry. This was how Mohammadu Buhari went about rewarding those who worked against him and the party.How are we supposed to know that Asiwaju would continue with such insensitivities?
” The reason we are angry and speaking out loudly now is because he decided to appoint Daniel Bwala. A man who had no control over his tongue. Who in Nigeria would say he was unaware of the level of insults that Bwala deployed on our party and Asiwaju who is our president today? Appointing him to do anything for this government is an insult to us all.
“This ridiculous appointment is a stab in our backs. All of us who are faithful members of APC . Asiwaju has given us black eyes.
“I heard Bayo Onanuga and others say, the appointment is just for strategy. No! As far as I’m concerned, it is absolute stupidity. Nobody does that.
“There’s no evil Bwala did not commit against ApC and Asiwaju. As a Catholic, I believe it was just the will of God that Asiwaju won the election. A man who won with such narrow margin ought to have read in between the lines and be wise and meticulous in all that he does.
“How could the president appoint such a person? A man who called him drug addict and and drugs Baron?
“We were the ones that defended the president day and night from vicious lions like Bwala. He was Atiku’s attack dog. While Bwala and his gang were going everywhere demarketing the president, we were everywhere doing the marketing. We took on Bwala and others. He went to the extent of accusing Asiwaju of drugs dealing. He called Asiwaju a drugs baron. The president, a dugs dealer? A drugs baron Who does that?
“Let not anyone think I’m looking for appointment or hungry. No! Not all of us supported Asiwaju because of appointments or for any personal gains. We supported him and defended him because we believed in him. We are disappointed!
” Let me say again that I don’t need anything from Asiwaju. I just love him like a family member. Yes, I don’t want anything from him. After all, Jesus has been taking care of me. The president doesn’t feed us. I don’t go to his house like many others do. Has anyone seen me there? He is not feeding us. We are only saying that he stabbed and humiliated all we his loyal supporters by appointing a man who publicly dragged him in the mud.
“What message is he sending? He has just encouraged more people to behave like Bwala. If he could get an appointment after such vituperation on the president, then what are we saying? Anyone could follow such bad example and get rewarded too.
When asked if he would forgive the president, he exploded again saying the president had lost his trust.
“It is not too late for the president to change. There are many angry people within the party. They are all feeling shortchanged and abandoned. Personally, he has lost my trust. As a Catholic, as an Urhobo man from Okpe, I have no fear in me. I don’t run away from challenges. I face them. I do not fear anybody apart from God. I don’t even run away from God. Instead, I run to him. Even as I no longer trust him(Asiwaju), I still support him. I just hope he turns a new leaf because, these actions and back stabbing has consequences”
When asked what could be the consequences of appointing Daniel Bwala, he said those who worked for the president in 2023 , may work against him in 2027. We made him, we can mar him. We can unmake him. It is in his own interest that he stops these annoying appointments of people outside of the APC. Many People within the party are very angry with him. Bwala’s appointment is a big blow from the president to we who laboured on end and took insults on his behalf. He remains my president though”
When he was asked if he would resign from APC over this, he said no.
“No, I’m not going to resign from the party. Just that the president has lost my trust. Many people across the country are feeling bad. I still love him, but he has lost my trust.
” Bwala helped Atiku Abubakar to fail in 2023. He will help Asiwaju to fail in 2027. Wait and see. We can’t tolerate this. Bwala in this government? No way. Asiwaju has to respect us. We deserve his respect. We Nigerians have the right to hire and fire the president. He has to respect us and the party”
On the appointment of Bianca Ojukwu, Onokpasa hailed it as a master stroke that will smoothen the president’s relationship with Igbo people.
“Bianca Ojukwu, though of APGA never insulted our party or Asiwaju. She’s the wife of a distinguished Igbo leader. Bianca”s appointment is very good. It was well thought out. It will be a big plus eventually. It would smoothen the relationship between the president and the people of the South East. But, Bwala, no way!”
Onokpasa also accused President Tinubu of Nepotism. He wondered why he decided to “yorubanise” his administration just like Buhari northernised his.
“Why is it that only people from Lagos and other Western states are running the show? Are we not all Nigerians? Where are Niger Deltans? They’re nowhere to be found in this government. Where are Yorubas from Ekiti? Where are the Hausa/Fulanis? Where are those from the Middle belt who openly campaigned for our party? They are nowhere in this government. Where are the South Easterners? They risk their lives for Asiwaju . Today, they’re not found in the government they helped brought.
“The president thinks he has conquered everybody and everywhere. Then we shall see in 2027”
Onokpasa also spoke about the removal of petrol subsidy and the hunger and hardship in the land. He appealed to Tinubu to have mercy on Nigerians.
“Asiwaju should do something fast. If he can’t reduce the price for Petrol, then he should reduce the price of food. They’re too many hungry families today. There’re too many poor people.
So further plunged because of this administration’s economic policies. Nigerians are going through a lot. What father is a man that cannot feed his family? What Nigerians feel now is unprecedented hardship and pains.
The earlier the president listens to us, the better for him and our party”; Onokpasa quipped.
