By Emeka Nwokocha
Against the backdrop of the misconceptions trailing the recent visit of the embattled Chairman of the Delta state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prophet Jones Erue to a staunch leader in the party, Air vice Marshal Frank Ajobena (rtd), the latter has said that there was no cause for alarm, stressing that the visit did not portend any danger to the progress of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Fielding questions from journalists recently at Mereje, in Okpe local government area of Delta state, the APC stalwart said that the visit of Prophet Jones Erue was aimed at brokering a truce in the internal dispute that has rocked the Delta state APC in recent times. He said that Prophet Jones paid a consultation visit to him in a bid to reconciling the aggrieved factions and foster unity in the party.
“I granted audience to Prophet Jones because I want political solution to the lingering crisis, not a legal solution. So, when he requested to visit me, I welcomed him without any iota of sentiment. I said to him, ‘you may come, let me hear what you have on the table for reconciliation,’ and as it turned out, Prophet Jones really came to seek quality advice to restore peace and unity in the party,” he stated.
The APC leader however expressed concern that most people do not understand the dynamics in politics, saying that when there is crisis in a party, there must be engagements to bring the aggrieved factions together to build a united and formidable party.
He said, “I am a leader in APC and belong to a faction, but my priority as a leader is to build unity in the party and make it a formidable entity to dominate the political landscape of Delta state.
“Though, some people would give wrong interpretation to my granting Prophet Jones audience and would go further to misconceive my decision as a sellout, while believing I have switched my support to a group. I debunk that misconception in totality as it has no iota of truth.
“I am in support of the party; I stand for anything that will bring about a solution to the lingering crisis. As you may know, there are legal and political solutions to a dispute. For me, I prefer political solution to the APC crisis.
“I liken the crisis in APC to a ‘shooting war’ but after the war has been won, you must win the peace which matters most. It is only when the peace has been won that the conflict can be said to be over.”
Air vice Marshal Ajobena reiterated his interest in the unity of the party, describing the crisis in APC as a family feud that could be settled amicably.
“What is happening in APC is a family feud; it is not a fight to kill one another. Recall I said in Orerokpe that no faction can win election on its own. So, my stand is to serve as a bridge, to build confidence in the party and to support any move to reconcile everybody so that we can be a united family to surmount any challenges and take over the government of Delta state in 2019. Then we will transform the economy of the state and rebuild its infrastructure for the wellbeing of our people.
