Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Olawale Oluwo has tendered his resignation from his position as Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources.
In his resignation letter dated December 3 to the state APC chairman, Oluwo, who is from Epe, the Governor’s home town, stated he decided to resign as he could no longer shoulder the “heavy moral burden” the contentious primary election conducted about 2 months ago placed on him.
He stated that his decision was informed by the outcome of the APC primary elections which he stated characterized by voter disenfranchisement, undue influence, violence, and intimidation to members among other activities that violate the electoral law.
The text of the letter to the Chairman, Lagos chapter of APC, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun reads:
“A few hours ago, I submitted to His Excellency, the governor of Lagos State, a letter of resignation of my appointment as the Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources. Consequently, as a registered member of All Progressives Congress. I have deemed it necessary to notify you of my intention to reconsider my membership status.
“My decision to resign is not unconnected with the event of the last few weeks, which have created a heavy moral burden for me. I have found it rather difficult to come to terms or rationalize the party’s conduct of the October 2018 primary elections, which were largely characterized by massive voter disenfranchisement, intimidation, violence, undue influence and non- compliance with all known principle of democracy. In the particular case of the gubernatorial primary which was conducted using the ‘open ballot’ option in violation of the guidelines of the APC that specified the ‘open secret ballot’ option, it is clear to me that the core principles of merit, competence, justice, and fairness have been sacrificed by the APC on the alter of political expediency.
“The integrity sufficient nature of the primary has significantly diminished the hard-earned reputation of our state as a reference point for free and fair democratic practice. I have struggled for weeks to understand the rationale for the apparent desperation and brigandage brazenly displayed by the party apparatchiks in the various elections. I had never thought such a vicious attack could be unleashed on the progress that the State had made in its steady democratic journey.
“The indifference of the APC to the continued use of an arm of government by a powerful group within the party, to intimidate critical institutions of democracy in the state, undermines the doctrine of separation of powers, creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and impairs government’s ability to implement policies and programmes that will benefit the majority of the people. The is in conflict with my strongly held belief that group interest, no matter how powerful, must be subordinated to the interest of the majority.
“I am convinced that the present atmosphere of encircument will not abate anytime soon. I, therefore, resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress, immediately.”
According to sources, he may defect to the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), because of his displeasures at the way the outgoing governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was allegedly treated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the primary election conducted about 2 months ago.
One of the sources added that Mr. Oluwo once contested for the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP
