*Vows to deploy his negotiating skills in solving internal crisis before elections
SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN CITY-IMMEDIATE past governor of Edo state and aspirant for the National Chairmanship position of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday disclosed reasons why he is enjoying the support of APC governors and other party leaders across the nation ahead the June 23 National Convention of the party.
He said majority of the leaders of the party are behind his aspiration because “they understand my person and because by the Special Grace of God I will emerge through a consensus leadership, my loyalty will be to the party and no more”.
Speaking in an interview Oshiomhole who said he will exercised his “ persuasive powers, negotiating skills” in resolving the crisis in the party, asserted that prominent leaders of the party are backing him because of the believe that he will improve the fortunes of the party.
According to him, “ If I have prominent people from the North, prominent people from the South, East and West it means I will be at the center. No one will say if not for my support you would not have been there. If you are a product of one section then you might remain detained by that section if you feel that to return to that office you must service that section because it is your support base. But when you have the privilege of a broad support, from many leaders then no one leader will say I put you there you must listen to me.
“But let me also say that what is also qualitatively different about this support is that there is no question about what is influencing this support because conventionally in our political environment, we hear that those who has the deepest pocket tends to buy the support. But these support is being offered from people who cannot be procured which tells you it is flowing from the knowledge of my person.
“Because I have been fortunate to work with all the governors, including past governors. Those I did not meet in office I met them when I was President of the NLC, we had engaged one on one they know what I stand for. So they offered this support based on their understanding of my person and not inducement and that makes a difference” he stated.
Adding that he was never a dictator as it is being alleged in some quarters, Oshiomhole said “some of the things I learnt in the labour union is negotiations and never dictatorial because even though I was the President of the NLC, I cannot even control my deputy because he was voted the same manner I was elected. In the NLC you must listen to everybody unlike in government where as an executive you can dictate decisions.
“So what my background prepared me for is to be able to listen and that is why in every fora, I kept saying contestation, disputes are not dysfunctional if you have the skills that I have to manage divergences. I have never exercised dictatorial powers, I have always exercised persuasive powers, negotiating skills and those are my skills. And when I negotiate with you and persuade and you accept you will feel obliged to do what you have to do.
“But if I dictate to you, when I am not watching you will do your heart. So I am not capable of being a dictator by the very nature of my background” he stated.